Kimber Ambi Safety Finish

[camxrr]

Hey guys/gals,

I have a 4 month old SIS Custom with about 300-400 rounds thru it. I clean and lube per the instruction manual and take super extreme care of my guns. Yet, although the gun looks like new the finish on the ambi safety looks like I clean it with sand paper!

What the...heck! Does anyone know if this is common or if its under Kimber warranty? Am I SOL?

thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

Do you mean that the finish is wearing off exposing bare metal? It is probably paint over slick stainless, not a real good bond. They might redo it for you if you complained but I would call it "character" and move on. My Springfield is similar.

 

[krs]

I think Jim's right in that they paint on stainless steel with less than perfect prep. It's supposed to be desirable to parkerize before GunKote and from what I see on the one Kimber I own the black finish has to be something akin to GunKote, call it what they may. I used Kimber ambisafety for my conversion of my Compact Custom and was a little surprised to find that paint came off of the levers when I smoothed them prior to installation.

I guess it saves money to make everything out of stainless, darkening those parts and guns that are to be dark nodels.

 

[Black Majik]

Kimber has never put really durable black finish on their guns, especially on the controls. If you stroll over to the 1911 forums and take a look at the Kimber picture threads, everyone's thumb safety, slidestop and grip safeties are worn. Those are always the first to go on Kimbers.

Kinda gotta just accept it, or have it sent out for Black T, Ionbond or an aftermarket finish.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

Yeah, the finish on the Kimber control wears off pretty easily. Mine started coming off after just a couple hundred rounds. The finish on the rest of the gun is fine, only some minor holster wear.