Petition to Kimber?

Problem is, many THR members simply don't care. I own a half dozen 1911s, but they're all Colts.

-Matt

I guess you could , but since it interfaces the grip safety rather than the trigger, what's the point?
http://forums.1911forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4334&d=1039045624

I am at a loss to understand why people buy guns of any make when they have features they object to. You don't like Kimber's bliss-nanny safety? Buy some other make and model that doesn't have it. Smith & Wesson's internal lock makes you ? Buy an older one or a revolver made by somebody else. When manufacturers get hit with a decline in sales they'll make changes. Otherwise it's unlikely.

I don't understand why that sort of safety would even be a problem...

Just don't buy one...same with an S&W lock.

My pre-Series II Kimbers were finicky. Three strikes, Kimber is out, and I won't give them another inning.

I'm guessing that if every THR member wrote in stating that they wanted the Series II safeties removed they would produce more Series Is.

What do you think?

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The only thing that will effect Kimber is a reduction in sales, which they obviously have not experienced as a result of the series II models.

By the way, can you remove the Series II safety?

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The safety rests under the rear sight and can be easily removed when changing out the sight. I don't like that particular style of safety simply because without access for cleaning and inspection, I feel it is a risk to function as I can't tell if it's gunked up, damaged, or worn. Hence, I took it out when I went to a different sight set up. I like to be able to inspect and maintain ALL of my parts.

Problem is, many THR members simply don't care.

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I don't. Already given them their last chance.

People keep buying Kimbers.......and S&W's, regardless of the quality......or lack of quality, and regardless of what idiotic nanny devices are installed in them. They buy these handguns regardless, and pay ALOT of money for them.

Why? Don't know any better? Hopeless newbs taken advantage of at the gunshop? Brand loyalists? Who knows.

But as long as those two manufacturers are making profits, QA/QC will continue to decline, and they can put any crap they want in those guns......because someone will fork over the cash for them.

Not me. I'll give my hard earned money to Colt, Springfield, and Ruger before I give a thin dime to Kimber or S&W. My 0.02 TJ

What do you think?

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I have five Kimbers and they are my choice for carry. IMO it's a non issue.

On the other hand I buy pre lock Smiths.

This is a good thread to see that people that don't like Kimbers have had countless problems with the one, two, or three of the ones they had. Ok, that's fine but you can't assume that everyone that has had a problem with a particular firearm is on THR. You ask enough people and you'll find just as many mishaps with some of the other companies as well. That's just the law of averages.

instead of complaining about a Kimber, why don't you just buy another 1911 that works just as well without it, for less money? i'd never buy a Kimber, not because of the bad reputation they have, but i refuse to pay that much for one, when i could get one just as nice for much less.

instead of complaining about a Kimber, why don't you just buy another 1911 that works just as well without it, for less money? i'd never buy a Kimber, not because of the bad reputation they have, but i refuse to pay that much for one, when i could get one just as nice for much less.

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Bingo!!! S&W will never get any money from me on a revolver because of the safety lock...I buy used old models. Collectors stashed enough of them away to last my lifetime. I do have a SW1911 I bought used...I would stack it up against a Kimber in a heartbeat. I believe it's more the owner than it is the gun...in most cases. Problems: Maybe I am lucky, but I have never sent a gun back to the manufacturer for repair...have never taken a gun to a gunsmith. So, a warranty of any type or length doesn't really mean much to me. I just don't get it. Is there ANYONE on here that doesn't have problems with their guns??? I'm curious...starting to feel very lucky. Crap, I'm ranting and getting off topic...sorry!

I just bought Kimber #9 recently (actually my fiancee bought this one, a new Ultra CDP, after shooting my old pre-Series II Ultra CDP).

I have Series II and pre-Series II Kimbers, and have apparently had exceptional luck so far. I take one or more to the range every week, I reload and go through a fair bit of ammo.

I have owned Colts, Paras, Springfields, and others. Even a Les Baer. The Kimbers have been the only brand that have consistently worked for me. It it what is on my hip as I type this.

Bottom line--while I prefer the pre-Series II Kimbers, I have no issue with the Series II 1911s. IMHO, the Swarts safety is a better design than the Colt Series 80 FPS...less intrusive although perhaps more difficult to remove/defeat.

Odd world we live in, I buy guns to shoot, if for some reason I don't like them, I sell them and get another. I don't cry to the whole world about a feature that I personally don't like. As for as Kimbers, Maybe I'm lucky,because both of mine are reliable, accurate firearms. I have no reason to rag them.:banghead:

But as long as those two manufacturers are making profits, QA/QC will continue to decline, and they can put any crap they want in those guns......because someone will fork over the cash for them.

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I would think that if you really believed this: You would be awfully hard pressed to find a company up to these standards, and definitely not the ones you mentioned.

zstephens13 said:

I don't understand why that sort of safety would even be a problem...

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Because if you inadvertently depress the grip safety while removing the slide or reinstalling it (more likely), you're liable to shear off the piston for the Swartz safety, rendering the pistol inoperable. While I never had that happen with the two Kimbers I owned, it made field stripping them while being sure not to touch the back of the grip a PITA compared to my other 1911s.

I have owned a 70 series Colt, a Sig GSR, Springfield Loaded, Para GI, Springfield GI, Taurus PT1911, and 3 Kimbers all within a year as I searched for the perfect Goverment and Commander 1911 for my preference. I currently own just two Kimbers and if I buy another 1911 it will say Kimber on the slide. I don't care about a schwartz safety or anything else I like my Kimber the way it is and thats that.

........Les Baer. The Kimbers have been the only brand that have consistently worked for me.

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You had a problem with your Les Baer?

My Kimber is the best handgun I have ever owned.

No, I don't think that if we all wrote to Kimber they would change. If you don't like the series II safeties, buy something else. I've never had a problem with them.

It's a BAD idea to disable any safety on a handgun.

Kimber?! What's a Kimber? Never heard o' it. I've heard of Colts, and have a couple of those in the corral. Kimber, you say?! Hmmph. Guess ya learn sumpin' ever' day. And I learnt my lesson reeeal good. I buy myself Colts.

Geno

To me, the Series II marks when Kimber started having problems. There were quite a few NIB guns that wouldn't fire because the some of those new parts were out of spec.

When they got that fixed, small parts started breaking like crazy. Sometimes within the first box of ammo, sometimes a few thousand rounds later.

When I started seeing fewer broken parts threads, they went to the external extractor...

The four I have run flawlessly, and weren't expensive ($500 -$650). If I buy any more kimbers, they'll be series Is as well. I couldn't care less about what they do with their new ones.