Kimber Eclipse finish

[The Wiry Irishman]

I'm well aware of all the typical criticisms of Kimbers. My Kimber and those my friends own are great guns and exhibit none of the symptoms people on the internet tell me they'll exhibit. Every manufacturer has to put out a bad gun every now and then, but from my experience it seems like the chance of getting one with a Kimber is just as low as every other reputable maker.

In researching the Ultra Eclipse I'm looking to buy, I came across a few criticisms of its finish durability on a couple forums. Usually in such threads, there's always one person that will show up and say "There's nothing wrong with mine!" but these threads showed an unusual lack of such posts.

So I figured I'd come here to a forum I trust and see what experiences people have had with the finish durability on their Eclipses. Bad? Good enough? No problems?

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

bump

 

[Ken Rainey]

I got my Ultra Eclipse second hand with only about a box of ammo fired thru it but the finish is about the only thing I didn't have to complain about on mine! Well, the barrel did have some spots around the muzzle on it that needed some polishing but nothing that affected it's function....still for a "Custom Shop" pistol, you'd think that they would pay a little more attention to ALL the details. The finish on the frame and slide is fine...and all those other things I "could" have complained about, I have fixed and now it's runnin' as good as it looks...

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

THANK YOU FOR RESPONSE!!!

Really, I just got on THR to bump this thread for the last time before I let it die.

So there's one vote against an uncommonly weak finish, but one case is hardly enough to base a decision on.

Anyone else want to chime in here? If you've got one and its fine, all you need to do is post "its fine" - Or if you've got one that's peeling and wearing, now is the time to vent your Kimber hatred. Rip on them all you want, just please describe in detail how the finish is wearing, how old the gun is, and what sort of use it gets. I'd be especially interested to know how the finish wears in Kydex holsters as opposed to leather ones. If it comes off with cleaning, mention how you're cleaning it and with what.

Thanks!

 

[M2 Carbine]

No problems with the finish on my Ultra Eclipse, but then I don't carry it.

Unlike our other Kimbers the Eclipse that friends and I own did need a couple hundred round break in period.

At 50 yards my Eclipse shoots a little low compared to my other Kimber Ultras. I used the dot as a aiming point.

 

[M2 Carbine]

just please describe in detail how the finish is wearing

My Ultra Tactical is showing a little wear on the slide edges. The gun is five years old.

now is the time to vent your Kimber hatred. Rip on them all you want

Not me.
I've got five Kimbers and friends have 8-9 more. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up any one of them in a life and death shootout.

Even my old (1998) Plain Jane inexpensive Ultra Carry is a keeper.

 

[steelyblue]

I bought my Kimber Eclipse Target II, because of the finish. I have a freind that has a couple, and I wanted one real bad. It is beautiful, but the brushed stainless flats are very prone to scratches. I have so many idiot scratches to confirm my intellect, that I'm affraid to take it out to the range. OK, I still take it to the range, but I do think I would rather bead blast the rascal, or hard chrome it for a more durable finish. The only thing that keeps me from doing so, is that the black finished part is so dang durable. I can't seem to do anything to hurt it. I also love how the black top is so nonreflective. All in all, it is a sweet gun. I just wish I had more ammo to shoot with it. I've been forced to buy a 22 conversion and 2 9mm's, so I could afford to shoot more. Now, it is primarily just an HD weapon. Let's see, have I typed enough? Yeah, I think so.....

 

[Stasher1]

Steelyblue, if you get tired of the scratches on your slide you can polish them out with a piece of glass, a bottle of light machine oil, and some 800-1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

My Stainless Pro Carry started out with the standard bead-blasted finish, but now looks like this...

It's a nice satin polish, kinda like a very smooth brushed finish. Shiny without looking like a pimp gun.

Just be sure to keep the slide going in one direction while you're sanding or you'll wind up with scratches in every direction that'll look even worse than the scratches you started with.

 

[CPshooter]

I once had an Eclipse Custom Target II on order. When it came in I changed my mind. The black part of the finish did not seem durable at all. It looked like it would scratch easily, and already had marks on it. I was expecting something more along the lines of the black finish that is used by the M&P or the XD pistols. This didn't seem up to par, and I wasn't going to pay $1200 dollars for something that isn't up to par.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

Well, if the black stuff is in any way similar to the finish on my Custom Target II, yeah, it marks real easy, but the marks come off with a little rubbing with my thumb, or at worst some CLP. Its tough stuff though.

I appreciate everyone's responses. Thanks!

 

[hankdatank1362]

A piece of glass? What's the glass for?

 

[HisSoldier]

I think he wants the glass plate as a flat surface to put the sandpaper on.

 

[Stasher1]

I think he wants the glass plate as a flat surface to put the sandpaper on.

Exactly. I use a glass door from an entertainment center or stereo cabinet that I found in my basement. It's about 3/16" thick and doesn't seem to have much flex, if any.

 

[steelyblue]

Good info. I may try it if I ever get the guts. She is my baby after all.

 

[Wes Janson]

You'll most notice wear on the grip safety, and on outer edges of the thumb safety. I've been carrying my Desert Warrior for a while now, and shooting it even longer, and the wear is pretty noticeable there because of the thin finish on the small parts. OTOH, Duracoat is cheap and easy, so who cares on a small black part...just refinish it when you decide it needs it.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

You'll most notice wear on the grip safety, and on outer edges of the thumb safety.

That's not unique to the Eclipse. I'm pretty sure Kimber uses some sort of spray on finish (or just plain paint) for these parts. I figure they're MIM, anyway, I'll keep shooting my gun til one of them breaks, then replace it with a non-MIM part with a better finish.

 

[steelyblue]

Stasher1, I just bought that same Stainless Pro II in 9mm three weeks ago. How is the aluminum frame holding up? I wasn't going to buy an aluminum frame, but figured it may hold up longer with 9mm.

 

[Stasher1]

I've only put about 2K rounds of factory ammo thru it, but it's not really showing any wear at all. It took some of the silver coating off of the frame rails, but not much. I could tell people that I only put 500 rounds thru it and they would never know the difference.

 

[steelyblue]

Mine has been flawless for 500+ rounds and puts a hole where I put the front sight. I'm very pleased with it, so far. I bought some McGar mags that are almost identical to the Kimber mags. They have performed perfectly as well. It's good cheap practice.

I haven't had time to try sanding the finish on the eclipse yet.(to get back on topic)

 

[HMMurdock]

Interesting how different the reviews are. I've considered getting one myself, but I'm afraid of the scratches on pistol designed to be so beautiful (the duo-tone effect of the eclipse).

Anyone have any photos of how dinged up theirs is?