4" Custom Shop Kimber.. input needed

[Lonestar49]

...

I'm looking at a, what appears, a very nice, hardly used Kimber Custom Shop 4" 1911 45.

It is all steel, black and stainless combo, a tad heavy, but if I got it, it would be a constant shooter IF..

Given your input, the pros and cons, they're asking 875 for it..

It has a custom, crisp, trigger, and it cycles like on ball-bearings.. with all wolfe springs.

Also, the clerk said it has, needed, an *L-pin that goes into a small hole in the return spring guide rod. Is this a good thing, or is it a pain in the arse, *for disassembly and reassembly?

Need some help in this decision, asap..

Thanks,


Ls

 

[MK11]

Is it a Series I or II? If a Series I, it might be worth it (but $875 is no steal). Series II tends to have its critics. My first gen Pro Carry is a sweet shooter and a joy to carry.

The take-down is a pain but it's not too bad. You can use a paper clip if you lose the original takedown tool. I'm far more frustrated with the full length guide rod in the five inch model.

Is it a true Custom shop special or just says Kimber Classic Custom?

 

[GunNut]

Also, the clerk said it has, needed, an *L-pin that goes into a small hole in the return spring guide rod. Is this a good thing, or is it a pain in the arse, *for disassembly and reassembly?

A bent paper clip will work. Some do not like to need extra parts to take down a gun, for me it's not a big deal.

Series I or II gun?

If it is a I it sounds like a decent deal, but is still pretty expensive. For that price you are in the range of a STI Ranger II, which would be better IMHO.

If you are in love with the gun and have the money then get it, if not wait for something you really want.

 

[Lonestar49]

...

Appreciate your quick responces..

It says Custom Shop Kimber on the sides of the slide..

Where can I find, on the gun, if it is a series I or II ?


Ls

 

[MK11]

Typically there's a "II" on the slide but I don't know if that applies to the Custom Shop models.

Years ago I remember looking at a Commander-sized Kimber from the Custom shop that was reverse two-tone with night sights and rosewood grips. At the time it was going for $1,100 and was definitely not a Series II. If that's the same gun, that would be a decent buy.

In terms of weight, the Pro series is nice to carry but the metal is very soft and the feed ramp gets scuffed up pretty fast. An all-steel model wouldn't have that problem (I know there's the Pro HD series) and would be much more preferable as a range gun.

 

[Lonestar49]

...

I just called the shop and asked if it was a Custom I or II series, and all my clerk could say was:

"it only says Custom Shop Kimber on the slide, but it has the internal extractor.."

Thanks again,


Ls

 

[Lonestar49]

No One else?

...

Anyone with any further comments, good or bad, on the latest questions and my answers?

Relying on your help,


Ls

 

[GunNut]

Does it look like this?

Is this the "Custom Shop" logo?

 

[Lonestar49]

No,

It is a 4", all steel, sides of slide are polished stainless, top of slide is black, along with frame is mostly black (steel) with light, thin parts of polished stainless, along some of the back and lower edges. I'm not sure if it went Custom Shop Kimber, or how yours reads, Custom Kimber Shop, but it was Custom Shop for sure.

It also has Novak night sights, and Hogue, rubber-fingered, wrap-around grips, which IF I were to get it, I would change to slimmer diamond wood grips. And all the corners have been rounded and smooth for CCW, along with a slightly different looking trigger, and hammer.


Ls

 

[burk]

Sounds like your describing a Custom Eclipse. the Series 1 was a custom shop model the first year and then they became an in line model. If it's a series 1 thats not a bad price. I've got the Eclipse Target from the same series, and it's a reliable sweet shooter.

 

[Lonestar49]

...

Yea Burk, that looks very much like it, except it says "Custom Kimber Shop" on the side of the slide.. Not sure, don't recall, what it said on the side you show in your pic, but that looks very much like her.

You say yours is a reliable shooter.. We talking about FMJ only, or both JHP? And if so, what brand ammo JHP's are you using with success, no jams?

That's a 4" all steel model?

Thanks,


Ls

 

[SRJim]

It says Custom Shop with the Kimber logo on the left side, and I bet on the right it says Eclipse Pro (since it's a 4")

Since it says Custom Shop, I think that has to be a Series I and a limited run. The rest don't say Custom Shop in them. Not sure it does anything for value, they have the same Custom Shop features, but a Series I like that is sought after. I just picked up a series I Pro Carry HD that's like new and I bet I could have 10 buyers lined up within 2 hours.

$875 sounds a little steep though. But if you like the gun, and it's really clean, someone will give near that. A new one can be had for about $950. I was quoted $911 2 weeks ago by a local Master Dealer.

I'd snatch it up for $700-$750. If you rally like it, $800 wouldn't be a bad deal. From there it's all about how bad you want it and how bad they want more money.

 

[colubrid]

A new one can be had for about $950. I was quoted $911 2 weeks ago by a local Master Dealer.

They don't make the series 1 any longer.

 

[AZ Husker]

Grab it, it's a Pre-Series II, probably an Eclipse model. I don't like their finishes, but it's easy to fix that when necessary. There are NO MORE original Kimbers.

 

[dmftoy1]

It sounds like you've already worked out Series 1 vs Series 2 but if you're still in doubt the easiest way is to break it down and look at the bottom of the slide. If it's got a little "plunger thing" sticking down that mates with a pin sticking up out of the frame then it's got the firing pin safety and it's a Series II.

FWIW I've never had a single issue with my Series II. I think most of the bad press for Series II was related to the external extractor and not the fp safety but that JMHO.

Regards,
Dave

 

[burk]

Lonestar, I have the 5" adjustable site model. When the first introduced the Eclipse it was a Custom shop limited run. I believe they did three models, a 5" Target (the one I have), a 5" fixed site, and a 4" Pro. They were custom shop models and all came with mepro-light night sites, they are polished stainless, not alloy. I believe the sold so well Kimber decided to catalog them. Mine has been exceptionally reliable. With Ball ammo, I shoot a little bit of everything, Blazer Brass, some Wolf (dirty), USA, and Magtech. For JHP. I've been shooting Hornady XTP's 200 gr. with no hiccups. Thats been my go to defense round for years. I've done some mods on mine. I had Trijicon, install dots in the rear site (the mepro-light straight line was hard to see). I had a Dawson light rail installed (at the time their were no commercial 1911's with rails) and I run the Surefire Combat light on it. And I also replaced the grips with Wilsons. I've been running the original Kimber mags no problems, but I recently switched to there new pro mag and I'm about to order a couple of Wilsons. I carry a CDP pro, and use the Custom Eclipse as my night stand gun.

 

[Walkalong]

Also, the clerk said it has, needed, an *L-pin that goes into a small hole in the return spring guide rod.

A bent paper clip will work just fine, although I bet Kimber would just send you one.

 

[SRJim]

They don't make the series 1 any longer.

I thought that was a given, but I could have clarified that by "new one", I obviously meant new Eclipse which would of course be a series II.

I still thing $875 is steep considering a series I vs. series II is really personal preference.