Are Kimbers quality guns?

[SnowBlaZeR2]

SF's best super expensive pistol still has a few lame MIM parts with a questionable rough finish still. I don't know why/how they can feel good about that.

You'd think thier high end model would have all the good stuff. But, much like Kimbers higher end models, you're better off jumping to EB, LB, W, F, DW if you want a high end 1911.

I think Kimber makes a fine $700-800 weapon. But I'll never go over $1000 with one ever again. Same goes for Colt, Springy, Rem, Ruger etc. etc. You may have to tweak each of those a bit to get them to run well, but that's often just the way it is with cheap robot built 1911's. (except for the Colts that I mentioned)

Do you have any experience with the Springfield Pro and Custom Carry? The Black T finish is one of the better finishes I've seen and is far from questionable or rough. Also, I'm fairly certain that the slide stop, mag catch and maybe disconnector are the only MIM parts on the Pro, and with the Custom Carry you can tell them to put nearly anything you want in it. Besides, MIM parts aren't the lepers everyone makes them out to be. At least they aren't using a plastic MSH.

Also, I think leaving the TRP out of consideration for a good 1911 is a mistake by anyone. It's a great pistol at a great price and it doesn't get too much better for the price.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I'm a Kimber fan but I am a fan of all manufacturers who sell a nice product at an affordable price and they stand behind their product.

If they stood behind their product for longer than a year, I'd probably be a fan too.

The Kimber Desert Warrior I traded to my brother has given him nothing but problems out of warranty, and I almost feel bad for sticking him with it. Almost.

*edit*
Time for football now. You guys have fun.

 

[Rinspeed]

At least they aren't using a plastic MSH.

I'd rather have a plastic MSH than the two piece barrel SA uses on their lower end 1911s.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I'd rather have a plastic MSH than the two piece barrel SA uses on their lower end 1911s.

I've got one plastic gun, and that's one too many.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[EddieNFL]

That being said, the facts are the facts, there will be 10x more bad Kimbers out there simply because they sell 10x as many 1911 as brand X or any other 1911 maker out there.

The only fact (I didn't verify) you've posted is the number of 1911s Kimber builds. How many lemons they produce is pure conjecture.

 

[larryh1108]

The last reported annual sales for Kimber was (I believe 2009) 70,000+ units. I've seen it more than once but am watching football so looking it up is not a priority. According to Wikipedia, in 2005 the sold 47,820.

 

[MCMXI]

If you're happy with your Kimber, good on you. Someone has to buy them.

No, I don't have to buy them. I bought two Kimbers because I wanted to buy them, but that seems to bother some people.

Also, I think leaving the TRP out of consideration for a good 1911 is a mistake by anyone. It's a great pistol at a great price and it doesn't get too much better for the price.

No thanks!! I'd rather have one Ed Brown than two TRPs.

 

[garyhan]

Yes.

gary

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

No, I don't have to buy them. I bought two Kimbers because I wanted to buy them, but that seems to bother some people.




No thanks!! I'd rather have one Ed Brown than two TRPs.

Well, that's your choice. A mistake if you ask me, but yours to make.

 

[Moptop]

I am very happy with my Kimber Royal II. Has never missed a beat!

 

[MCMXI]

Well, that's your choice. A mistake if you ask me, but yours to make.

Funny how a person (bac1023) that owns all of these 1911s including production, high end production, semi-custom and custom 1911s ...



... has this to say about Kimber 1911s.

"I’m a Kimber fan and really like this 1911 overall. I find the Custom II a classy looking, good shooting pistol and feel it makes a good choice as someone’s first 1911. Mine has functioned perfectly at the range thus far."

http://www.1911addicts.com/showthread.php?511-Buyer-s-guide-for-all-you-1911-addicts...

 

[StrikeFire83]

^ I find this picture to be amazing, impressive, and incredibly stupid all at the same time.

 

[MCMXI]

^ I find this picture to be amazing, impressive, and incredibly stupid all at the same time.

I don't ever see myself owning that many 1911s but I can understand bac1023's passion for the platform. Good for him for having the drive and disposable income to assemble such an impressive collection, and then to take the time to help others choose just one 1911. I think his posts were the reason why I bought my first Ed Brown.

 

[gyvel]

Are Kimbers quality guns?

Overpriced and relying on a "name" to sell, much like some cars.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Funny how a person (bac1023) that owns all of these 1911s including production, high end production, semi-custom and custom 1911s ...

... has this to say about Kimber 1911s.

"I’m a Kimber fan and really like this 1911 overall. I find the Custom II a classy looking, good shooting pistol and feel it makes a good choice as someone’s first 1911. Mine has functioned perfectly at the range thus far."

http://www.1911addicts.com/showthread.php?511-Buyer-s-guide-for-all-you-1911-addicts...

Funny you should mention that article. In the same article you posted, he says the following of the TRP that you seem to push aside:

"My first entry here is an extremely solid production pistol in the Springfield TRP. I have the stainless model, but the TRP is available in two other configurations with a black finish. Many consider this to be the best production 1911 built by anyone and I wouldn't argue that point of view."

 

[MCMXI]

Funny you should mention that article. In the same article you posted, he says the following of the TRP that you seem to push aside:

I read that too, but the quality of the TRP isn't the thread topic. The discussion is about the quality of Kimber 1911s. I made no mention of the quality of the TRP, simply that I don't want one.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I read that too, but the quality of the TRP isn't the thread topic. The discussion is about the quality of Kimber 1911s. I made no mention of the quality of the TRP, simply that I don't want one.

No thanks!! I'd rather have one Ed Brown than two TRPs.

Yet you saw fit to post this in response to a reply I made to another member. You can't pull the off topic flag out when it suits you. You're right about one thing though. This thread is about the quality a Kimbers. I'm done posting about this nonsense. If you need to get the last word in on it, be my guest.

Back to the topic:
"Are Kimbers quality guns?"

Well that all depends on the individuals definition of quality and personal experience. Based on that, I'll say a nice final "No".

Good day, sir.

 

[Siggyboy]

They have earned an iffy reputation, especially due to the external extractor BS they were selling years ago. However, if you get a good one, I think they are good quality for market segment they are in. I got a TLE when they first came out and it has been a fantastic pistol with no problems. Maybe I just got lucky.

 

[FruitCake]

I hope so for the prices they charge, they sure are pretty and feel great in my hands at the LGS. Their prices are out of my league.

 

[schmeky]

My Kimber has been nothing short of amazing, lazer accurate, tight, butter smooth, unflappable reliability, and just a joy to handle and shoot. And I've owned a truck load of 1911's.

 

[VJ]

Charlotte ALE doesn't think so (Feb 2011). In their defense, they were using officer length barrels. 3.5" barrels don't cycle as reliably as 5" models and this should have been a major factor in selecting a 1911 for duty use.

Some of the issues commonly seen in Kimbers:

Poor extractor fit, geometry, and quality
Poor quality sear (does not hold trigger job)
Chamber too tight
Magazine release traps mags when depressed all the way
Feed ramp geometry is wrong
Unstable slide stop causes false lockbacks
...
PS. For the sake of clarification, we are discussing the original Warrior pistol, not the Series II variant. The Series II system is fraught with issues and cannot be recommended.

Some of the other issues include:
-plunger tubes become loose within 3-5000 rounds
-barrel bushings break
-rear sights become loose in dovetail
-grip screw bushings aren't Loctited or staked, so they frequently come off with the grip screws
-slide stop lobe dimensions more typical of 9mm/.38 Super, so they are too long and strike the top round in the magazine of a .45
-feed ramps too shallow and may have Kimpro paint finish on them which can become sticky and retard feeding

After the various issues are ironed out, the guns work well. However, as noted, they are no longer a viable candidate for any type of use as they come out of the box. As a "Parts Kit, 1911 - Some Assembly Required" they can do well, especially if you accept that many of the factory parts are merely placeholders and hole fillers.

In the interests of establishing context, the above two statements were made in reference to the reliability of gen1 Kimber Warriors.

Still, there are many people who are very happy Kimber owners.... this is something which simply cannot be denied. Ultimately, the consumer will do their research and come to their own conlusions based on their needs, desires, and interpretations of the information available to them.

 

[1stmarine]

I am not expert in 1911 but the other day I was going to get one and I was deterred by a good friend that I consider an expert on this field. He suggested to leave the new kimbers alone due to the nr. of issues they are having in the last few years. He is a shooting instructor and he knows all of them.
I went with Les baers but it could have been an Ed Brown should I had the extra moola. I am very happy wiht it.

 

[Zerodefect]

Charlotte ALE doesn't think so (Feb 2011). In their defense, they were using officer length barrels. 3.5" barrels don't cycle as reliably as 5" models and this should have been a major factor in selecting a 1911 for duty use.





In the interests of establishing context, the above two statements were made in reference to the reliability of gen1 Kimber Warriors.

Still, there are many people who are very happy Kimber owners.... this is something which simply cannot be denied. Ultimately, the consumer will do their research and come to their own conlusions based on their needs, desires, and interpretations of the information available to them.

There are quite a few 1911 makers that fit into that 10-8 quote every bit as badly as Kimber deos. Both those 10-8 quotes could just as easily be about SF, Para, Sig, RIA etc.etc. Different companies, same problems.

 

[FlyinBryan]

I went with Les baers but it could have been an Ed Brown should I had the extra moola. I am very happy wiht it.

ya, i hear good things about those.

my carry pistol is a kimber pro-carry. i bought it new back in the early 2000's.

i had a colt government model that i liked as a range gun, but wanted something much lighter, and with a 4" barrel, and checked out the pro-carry at a gunshow.

i liked that it weighed only 28oz, and i liked that my 1st generation ctc grips would fit it without any mods, that it had a highgrip beavertail safety, and other little features here and there, and i liked that it was less than $600 dollars, so i bought it.

after my first range trip i didnt like it as much anymore. it was amazingly reliable in the fact that you could pretty much rely on a ftf or a fte just about every magazine. i also didnt like the fact that kimber told me i needed to put 500rds through it for it to become reliable...... in fact i hated that. (hang in there, this tale of woe takes a turn for the better in a few hundred more rounds)

ended up sending it back to kimber, they did some work on it, and sent it back.

it still was not perfect, but it did start improving with better magazines (wilson combat 8rd mags) and kept improving, but still not great.

what finally really did the trick i think was a buddy with a finishing reamer with a pilot and about 5 minutes work. (literally,,,, 5 minutes)

turns out the chamber was a but rough. his words were "just needed a bit of cleaning"

i have 3000ish rds through since and it has run absolutely 100%. i carry it in a highnoon skingard concealment holster and have total confidence in it willingness to go bang.

to be honest, if i had it to do over, and knowing i would have to do all that in order to be able to trust it enough to carry it, i would have gone in a different direction.

however,,,, it now runs great, it is very accurate, and its very light for a 8+1 1911. i like it now and have no intentions of replacing it.

 

[VJ]

Zerodefect - It may be true that those quotes could be applied to other companies, but that's not the context in which they were used. Other companies certainly have their share of of issues, and to omit those issues from a discussion would make for a pointless and flawed comparison.... but this topic is not a comparison. This topic is about the quality of one specific company.

In my opinion, the quality of Kimber's products is undeniably a mixed bag: On the one hand, you have professionals like those from 10-8 who feel that Kimber needs a lot of work on QC. On the other hand, you have thousands of people who love their Kimbers and have had few to no issues.

If you're reading this thread because you're considering purchasing a Kimber, then there is plenty of information out there to help you make an informed decision. I would recommend that you look closely at ALL the manufacturers and try to see what issues are common with each company. When you have a feel for what to expect, then you are better prepared to make a decision you'll be comfortable with.