Springfield 1911 or Kimber 1911

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Desert Scorpion

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I am looking at two 1911's right now the Springfield 1911 TRP Model, and the Kimber Custom HD II. Which one do you guys think will be the best. I plan on carrying it on duty and off duty as a Police Officer; so I want it to work!
 
Kimbers are US-made, but only have a year warranty. Springfields are made in Brazil, but have a lifetime warranty.

I don't think you could go wrong with either.
 
TRP.
FWIW, the TRP frames/slides forged in Brazil, but put together in the US

The Kimber has the Swartz Safety, so that's 1 more thing to go wrong/fail.

here's my TRP
DSC_7426.jpg
 
Either gun is a hellava lot more than I would have carried.:eek:

Between the two, I'd buy the TRP. Soley based on the fact I hate anything marketed as "Tactical".


Dave
 
I'd be inclined to get the TRP over the Kimber. I've had a couple Kimbers that were a bit "iffy" in the reliablility department.
 
Between the two, I'd buy the TRP. Soley based on the fact I hate anything marketed as "Tactical".
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LOL at Springfield, either one is a great gun BTW.
Tactical
Response
Pistol
The Swartz safety deal is a bunch of c-rap and not a real reason not to buy a pistol unless you are familiar with 1911s and jump on the "not as designed" bandwagon. Never had my Swartz safeties fail on any gun I have had series 80 Colts also have something similiar. But I think the TRP and Kimber Tactical are very comparable and when shopping for a "Tactical" 1911 I looked at both and found a smoking deal on a used Kimber. I have owned 2 Springfields and 2 Kimbers now I own 1 Kimber. I say go with what is cheaper.
 
Never had my Swartz safeties fail on any gun I have had series 80 Colts also have something similiar.
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A lot of people HAVE had issues with the Kimber safety. Not all, but some. That doesn't negate the problem. Also, the Colt safety system in the 80 is nothing like the Kimber system.

To the OP:

If you are thinking of off-duty carry, then you might want to borrow a friend's .45 5" and try carrying it. It may make you consider a Commander length if that is a departmental option for you. They carry much more easily concealed. Uniformed carry would not be as big a difference in utility.
 
The Swartz safety deal is a bunch of c-rap and not a real reason not to buy a pistol unless you are familiar with 1911s and jump on the "not as designed" bandwagon.
Click to expand...
Really? Did you read the Hilton Yam article I linked to? The OP isn't talking about a range toy 1911. He's talking about a duty weapon, so elimination of potential points of failure is of utmost importance. If you're familiar with 1911s you understand why firing pin safeties don't belong on them. I can't describe to you the sick to the stomach feeling I had when a Colt Series 80 firing pin block plunger failed on me, and thankfully it was during post cleaning function check. Statistical improbability of failure doesn't comfort you when you're the statistical outlier; better to eliminate such unnecessary addition which can render the gun inoperable if they fail. With the Swartz safety you add parts that can fail just like the Colt Series 80 system, plus you add all the timing problems Mr. Yam addresses.
 
Yes I agree that it is one more part to fail but hey it already has 47 other parts that can fail as well. I think it's like saying you don't like the Springfield XD because it has a beaver tail safety unlike the Glock and that is one more part to fail.
 
Yes I agree that it is one more part to fail but hey it already has 47 other parts that can fail as well. I think it's like saying you don't like the Springfield XD because it has a beaver tail safety unlike the Glock and that is one more part to fail.
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No, it's not analogous at all. Glocks were designed without external safeties, and their strikers sit (roughly) at half cock. The HS2000 (now SA XD) was designed with a grip safety from the start because it's striker sits at virtually full cock. Further, the HS 2k / SA XD grip safety doesn't have the timing issues the Swartz safety in a 1911 has. Those two very new designs you mention were designed the way they are from the start. That's not to mention that many of the other 47 parts on a 1911 can fail, and the gun will still run.
 
I will never win this argument it has been going on since the model 80s came out I am sure.(before my time).
 
Mags, I'm not doubting that your Swartz safety equipped Kimber is reliable. I'm just taking into context that the OP is looking for a duty gun. Personal experience, combined with comments like those from Mr. Yam & others who are very knowledgeable of 1911s, makes me strongly caution anyone who's looking at a FP block / safety equipped 1911 for duty use.

I've owned quite a few 1911s from various manufacturers in my relatively short time with the platform. Of the 1911s I currently own, three are Kimbers, and one is a Springfield. Two of the Kimbers are Pre-Series II guns, and the other is a Warrior. The Springfield is an old base model loaded with parkerizing, a pinned solid black front sight, and solid black Novak rear. All of the Kimbers (from the early Yonkers Classic Custom, to the later Stainless Target, to the recent Warrior) can interchange field stripped frames & slides; and the frame rail / slide rail tolerances are nearly identical. Kimber's tolerances remaining that tightly controlled over a pretty wide production period is very impressive to me. If I could only keep one 1911 it would be my Warrior. I'm not knocking Kimber, but I wish they'd offer their full line without Swartz safety, at least as an option.
 
Many of the guys I work with have the Springfield 1911 TRP; and I know two who have Kimber Desert Warrior's in FDE. I decided to go with the 1911 after shooting many sidearms, some sidearms were better than others, and at the end I just loved how the 1911 felt. It is heavy compared to others but I decided to go with the 1911 model. Next was the CZ 75B and then the glock 17, I hate XD's and XDM's.

I may go with the Sprigfield now, hearing about this swartz safety gets to me, I have to depend on this pistol with my life.

So which of the kimbers do not have the swartz safety is it just the Warrior and SIS series. I may go with the Desert Warrior, but holster options are hard to come by for a 1911 railed sidearm.:confused:
 
Scorpion, the four SIS models, Warrior, and Desert Warrior are the only current production Kimbers without the Swartz safety. All Swartz safety equipped models are denoted by the Roman numeral II suffix on the model name (i.e. Custom II). Blackhawk, DeSantis, and Galco, among others, all offer a pretty wide range of holsters for railed 1911s. I've also heard great feedback on Raven Concealment Systems and Comp-Tac kydex holsters.
 
Thank you ugaarguy, I will take a look at some of those holsters, I am now thinking the Kimber Warrior, and Springfield TRP are my main choices. Now I will go to my local gun shop and hold both and see what I like, maybe they even have them both for rent to shoot in there range.:rolleyes:
 
TRP ...FNG here

IMO who cares about the word tactical, at least its not rollmarked 'Special Forces' for alot more jack.
redactor; it is my understanding that any Springer with NM prefix in the serial
number is made in the USA not Brazil.
Desert Scorpion; I walked away from a Warrior not 90days ago due to prior experience with Kimber and went with the TRP and was not disappointed it is a death ray.
My Kimber experience was from a close inspection of the inside of the barrel just in front of the chamber where impressions in the rifleing from where the lugs were machined into the bbl shroud. Sent it back to Kimber and they said all was well. The day the dealer shipped it back I/we inspected several Kimbers, and all showed the same mine still shot good but you'd think QC ???
It was a Custom Covert now talk about having TACTICAL stamped imagine living with 'COVERT' :eek: ! Its your call but look close at the inside of the Warriors bbl I'll bet you see the same. Your call.

Michael



IMGP0093.jpg
 
I looked at both the Kimber Custom II and Springfield Loaded for a LONG time

After shooting my friends Custom II, went with the Loaded and haven't looked back.

Liked Springfield's customer service reputation and the feel/look better than Kimber.


The TRP, IMHO, is without a doubt the highest quality 1911 for the money.
 
My Kimbers must have forgotten how crappy Kimber's QC is. I am not saying Kimber is better than the Springfield as a matter of fact if the Springer was priced the same as the Kimber I would have bought the Springer. I just get sick of these "Mimber" "Swartz/Series80" "non fact based" threads. Show me 10 documented failures out of 1000 (one percent) Kimbers with MIM parts and Swartz safeties and I may join you guys.
 
Contact SA and let them you are LEO and interested in a "Professional" . They might cut you some slack. (It's what the FBI SWAT carries) And if you ever get a chance to shoot one DO IT you will love it.
 
Imbrel only forges the frames for Springfield they are machined and built in the U.S.

The springfield TRP is one of the finest pistols on the market, some of the Kimbers are Ok, but they lack quality control and that is a proven face just do a search on the net.

But they all have their quirks and what might run all day for one person might not get through a full magazine for another.
 
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