Whats the deal with Kimber?

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car analogies, I love them.

Kimber owners, like me, will tell you Kimber is the best. DW owners will say DW is the best. Ford Taurus owners will tell you the truth.

At the 5% defect rate 1 in 20 has problems, I have done allot of reading here and I see that the smaller the frame the more common the issues.

Also:
If a person has a problem with a Kimber they post it and post it often. If they have no problems with their Kimber they rarely post it. Thus the rate of complaint versus compliment can't be measured or managed.

I have 2 both in the full size/custom variety. Never had an issue with prolly 6-7K rounds fired through them combined. I have used all types of ammo, Wolf, reloads and new. Reloads have given me problems but it was deformed cases or cocked projectiles causing the chambering issues.

None of the MIM parts on my piece have every caused a problem. Thats why I love the Ford analogy. You either hate them or love them.
 
My google-fu is failing me right now, but the BATFE manufacturing and export numbers have been posted in here before, Kimber sells several times more .45 caliber pistols than their nearest competitor.
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The numbers for Springfield are highly skewed because they bring in Imbel finished units from Brazil by a 5 to 1 margin over what they finish in the states. The BATF only shows the numbers made (finished) in the U.S.

In total sales of handguns (Not just 1911's), Kimber does not even make it into the top three U.S. manufacturers.

The top handgun manufacturers:
• Smith & Wesson: 310,202 (+31.71%)
• Ruger: 184,008 (-2.8%)
• Springfield: 126,188 (+10.07%).

Now explain the high percentage of complaints against Kimber using the simple math as described earlier.
 
Long-term: Kimber has been making 1911s for several decades. Like any sizeable company, the quality of its product has varied over time. Whenever the quality of a company's product goes down, some people latch onto that and will never admit that the company later restored the quality of the product.
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Not true. Kimber has only been making 1911s since the mid-1990s.
 
Not true. Kimber has only been making 1911s since the mid-1990s.
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Correct; Kimber has been around since 1979, but has only been making 1911s since the mid-1990s.

And corrected...

Long-term: Kimber has been making 1911s for a decade and a half.
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As statements are made regarding Kimber's numbers versus others, human tendencies on being quick to gripe yet slow to praise, the embezzlement debacle, etc. should be taken into consideration to some degree, I have formed my opinion from a different angle. (Please pardon the run-on sentence).

Kimber's Clackamas/Series I 1911s are IMO some very well made pistols. If I were offered one today, I'd jump on it like flies on stink.

After purchasing a Kimber and going through the problems with the gun itself, the all around terrible dealings with their CS, money spent on "breaking in" the gun, shipping costs etc., only to STILL have an unreliable firearm, I have a sour taste in my mouth for the company. It doesn't stop there. When I looked at trading it in, four of my area gunshops wouldn't even give me a trade-in value. I was absolutely stunned. I was told to sell the thing privately. The advertisements in magazines and on their firearms screaming "custom shop" when, in fact, they don't have one really grates my nerves. Recently, I was at Cabela's at Hoffman Estates, Illinios. They had several under the glass. Performing a cursory inspection of three different models, two of them IMO shouldn't have even left the factory. The third was nearly flawless.

With many other companies out there that have provided 1911 style models that suit my taste and are backed by reliable CS, I found no reason whatsoever to give Kimber another chance. Does this mean that all Kimbers are garbage? Absolutely not. This only has been my long-term experience with Kimber and should only be viewed by others as that. Nothing more.
 
Kimber owners, like me, will tell you Kimber is the best. DW owners will say DW is the best. Ford Taurus owners will tell you the truth.
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What does that say about you and the DW guy?

If a person has a problem with a Kimber they post it and post it often. If they have no problems with their Kimber they rarely post it. Thus the rate of complaint versus compliment can't be measured or managed.
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I'm not sure that's always the case. Head over to the 1911 forum and post a problem with a Kimber. You'll get a flood of folks telling you, "I have X Kimbers and all have been flawless." I've even seen a few, "I find that hard to believe," type comments.

I agree, it can't be measured.
 
A buddy of mine has had a Kimber for years and loves it.

IMO Kimber get's bashed too often by people who have no personal experience with them. I think if you talk to most people who actually own Kimbers the general consensus is that they very decent guns.

I've considered many times buying a Kimber but when it comes to 1911's I prefer Colt, to each his own.
 
I bought a Stainless II from a "don't want-er" last year. Got a good deal on it. The overall quality is very good. Its not as tight as my National Match. But, its barrel lock up and slide to frame fit is much better than several new pistols I've looked at at the dealer. I haven't had any FTF with this pistol.
 
I've got five and they are my carry choice.
It's simple, if they weren't the best I've found I would be buying something else.
 
• Smith & Wesson: 310,202 (+31.71%)
• Ruger: 184,008 (-2.8%)
• Springfield: 126,188 (+10.07%).
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Aside form this being 2005 figures:

For S&W, revolvers, the Sigma and the M&P make up the vast majority of that.

Ruger? They don't even have a 1911, but since we're trying to compare problem guns vs. production, let's remember that of late Ruger can't seem to put out a new (or plagiarized) design that doesn't require a recall.

And though I don't know where to find the numbers, I would bet XD's are outselling Springer 1911's 20 to 1 or more.

Kimber, OTOH, makes only 1911's and long guns. per the information you used, 1911's account for 5 of every 6 guns they sell.

But if we're gonna start citing this stuff, let's provide the source:

http://www.shootingindustry.com/Pages/SpecRep1.html
 
47,820 Kimbers.... By far the most produced which again IMHO is the origin for their problems. They are all about pushing metal. They sacrifice quality of parts, quality control, hands on the gun in production time (finishing) and testing.

It also attributes directly to their problems with customer service. They are understaffed when you take into account their volume.
 
found this quote:


Larry Vickers

I agree with what is being said here - Ken Hackathorn and I have seen the same exact issues that Tim is mentioning - the Warrior has fleas straight from the box

The worst one I have seen to date was a gun that Ned Christiansen and I both worked on at different times and was still a jamamatic - when that happens to you that gun needs to go away

In addition I always felt the Warrior was way overpriced for what it is; combine that with some obvious problems and it screams stay away

Cheers

Larry Vickers
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What does Vickers or Christiansen know. That is just their opinion they need to back it up with facts.......

:what:

LOL
 
If Kimber quality is hit or miss, then I reckon I missed, at least initially.

That said, I think I may have it straightened out now. It had a very easily corrected problem but took a gunsmith to identify and fix.

Wouldn't buy a new one again but might (actually did) buy a used if a really good deal.
 
It had a very easily corrected problem but took a gunsmith to identify and fix.
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That's a common remark on the 1911 forum. Ya gotta wonder why Kimber let's 'em leave with simple problems.
 
I just picked up a NIB Ultra CDPII yesterday, and the I shot 50 through it flawlessly. Kinda like it so far. Dad has an Ultra CarryII, and he was saying about how the night sights seem like they have a battery, cause they just seem to always last, well I found the answer to that one on a legal disclaimer in my case about disposal of radioactive material...ohh well, just don't eat the sights.:D
 
Kimber is the company everybody loves to hate.

I think they are overrated but I have never owned one.

I respectfully dont buy them. I never bash them though.
 
People may love to hate them but they sure love to buy them. In my opinion the proofs in the pudding. If they were all that bad there would not be a demand for 50000 of them per year. I dont own one but would have no problem buying one as I said earlier.
 
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