Opinons on 2 Kimbers I am interested in

PrecisionRifleman · 02-01-2011, 22:45

Hello GlockTalk,

I'm really wanting to get a nice 1911. I have two pistols that I'm considering which are the Kimber Pro TLE II and the Kimber Eclipse Pro II. I really really like the finish and grips that come with the Eclipse Pro II and that is what I am leaning towards buying. I don't really know much about the reliability with hollow points with the 2 or of any other possible issues so I thought I'd reach out to you 1911's guys for some feedback.

glock2740 · 02-01-2011, 23:03

Between those two, I'd go with the TLE Pro.

dnuggett · 02-01-2011, 23:09

Why are you considering only Kimber?

PrecisionRifleman · 02-01-2011, 23:59

I saw the Kimber and Springfield in a local shop and I really liked them both however it seems Kimber has more options in the higher quality line. I could very well be wrong as I don't have much experience with the nicer quality 1911's. I do like Wilson Combat however they are more expensive than the Kimber by a fair amount. I'm honestly not wanting to spend more than $1,200, but I am willing to spend up to $1,500 out the door. That being said I've really liked the finish of the Kimber Eclipse for a long time now (ever since I first saw one at a gun show about 3 years ago). I don't want to pay for a gun that only looks good because I also want to CCW the weapon so reliability is high important to me. Any feedback from owners or anyone who has ran one through it's paces is appreciated. I am mostly looking for any potential reliability issues as I have heard of people having issues with high end 1911's not feeding hollow points without issues. If there are any other brands in my price range that I should be considering please let me know so I can make sure I'm getting the best bang for my hard earned dollar.

Below is a link to the pistol I am seriously interested in.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=214427494

kimberguy · 02-02-2011, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrecisionRifleman

I saw the Kimber and Springfield in a local shop and I really liked them both however it seems Kimber has more options in the higher quality line. I could very well be wrong as I don't have much experience with the nicer quality 1911's. I do like Wilson Combat however they are more expensive than the Kimber by a fair amount. I'm honestly not wanting to spend more than $1,200, but I am willing to spend up to $1,500 out the door. That being said I've really liked the finish of the Kimber Eclipse for a long time now (ever since I first saw one at a gun show about 3 years ago). I don't want to pay for a gun that only looks good because I also want to CCW the weapon so reliability is high important to me. Any feedback from owners or anyone who has ran one through it's paces is appreciated. I am mostly looking for any potential reliability issues as I have heard of people having issues with high end 1911's not feeding hollow points without issues. If there are any other brands in my price range that I should be considering please let me know so I can make sure I'm getting the best bang for my hard earned dollar.

Below is a link to the pistol I am seriously interested in.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=214427494

I dont know if you have a local you deal with but I got a great deal on my Kimber from Kentucky Gun Co. I dealt with a little lady named Sarah and she was awesome. They had several Ultra Raptors and she took several pics of the grips on a couple that she thought were the best looking so I could make the final decision. She shipped that day and I saw my new toy 3 days later. Flawless transaction, great price and great customer service. BTW, The Eclipse was my second choice, I do love the look. Its a bit heavier but I think that finish will hold up better for EDC. I bought my Sig from her too and the transaction was as seemless as the first. I am probably gonna call her today and order the S&W M&P I've been eye ballin for a few weeks.

For what it's worth, I have 900 down the pipe on my Ultra Raptor without one issue. Love my Kimber =)

http://www.kygunco.com/products2.cfm/ID/1848 It says out of stock but I know the website is not always up to date.

If you talk to Sarah, tell her the guy that named his Kimber after her sent you! lol

AZ Husker · 02-02-2011, 00:51

Sounds awful high to me. Maybe I'm just out of touch. That's getting close to Les Baer or used Wilson prices.

asiparks · 02-02-2011, 00:58

The Eclipse is very pretty, but the finish was notoriously prone to wear, especially if carried, which is what you want to do... of the 2 mentioned, i would take the TLE Pro. If you have your heart set on Kimber, you might also consider the Super Carry Pro or wait a while for the steel framed Super Carry Pro HD to come out. Both lack the shwartz safety ( generally considered a good thing) and have excellent sights and the 2 tone KimPro finish might be considered attractive.
The bobtailed butt may or may not work for you though, it's something you'd have to personally try.....
but....
...$1500 will get you a gently used Les Baer Stinger or a new stainless Dan Wesson VBOB, both vastly better than Kimber with regards to fitting and parts quality.

PrecisionRifleman · 02-02-2011, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by asiparks

The Eclipse is very pretty, but the finish was notoriously prone to wear, especially if carried, which is what you want to do... of the 2 mentioned, i would take the TLE Pro. If you have your heart set on Kimber, you might also consider the Super Carry Pro or wait a while for the steel framed Super Carry Pro HD to come out. Both lack the shwartz safety ( generally considered a good thing) and have excellent sights and the 2 tone KimPro finish might be considered attractive.
The bobtailed butt may or may not work for you though, it's something you'd have to personally try.....
but....
...$1500 will get you a gently used Les Baer Stinger or a new stainless Dan Wesson VBOB, both vastly better than Kimber with regards to fitting and parts quality.

I'm not necessarily set on the Kimber. Honestly it's the only 1911 that I have held that felt to be made of superior quality. I would rather buy a slightly used 1911 that is of superior make to the Kimber if it is nicer. I didn't know that the Eclipse finish was prone to wear, and now knowing that it is removed from my list. I am only willing to spend this kind of money on a steel frame handgun. I want the most strength and quality I can get as this will likely be the only pistol I have in this price range.

I just took a look at the Dan Wesson you recommended and I have to say that is one fine looking 1911. Thank you all very much for the feedback.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=213824025#PIC

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=214340377

PrecisionRifleman · 02-02-2011, 01:21

Looking closer at both the Kimber and the Dan Wesson I notice that the Dan Wesson slide is a tighter fit. I had no idea 1911's got into such detail and quality. I feel that I may be willing to invest a little more money into this venture.

samuse · 02-02-2011, 01:55

If you can swing $1500, save a little longer and Get a Les Baer or have a Springfield Mil-Spec built at the Springfield custom shop.

Kimbers are fairly low on the quality scale, no matter what trim they come with...

PrecisionRifleman · 02-02-2011, 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuse

If you can swing $1500, save a little longer and Get a Les Baer or have a Springfield Mil-Spec built at the Springfield custom shop.

Kimbers are fairly low on the quality scale, no matter what trim they come with...

Came across this finish in the Dan Wesson. This finish is about $250 more than the stainless however I like the black finish much more. Is this price the going rate or is this too high?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=213370901#PIC

samuse · 02-02-2011, 02:22

That seems too high, but it is a nice gun.

For that much money, I buy a Springfield Mil-Spec and have it built exactly they way I wanted it.

This is a G.I. I had built at Springfield for about the same money as that Wesson would cost.

asiparks · 02-02-2011, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrecisionRifleman

Came across this finish in the Dan Wesson. This finish is about $250 more than the stainless however I like the black finish much more. Is this price the going rate or is this too high?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=213370901#PIC

the black finish is some form of salt nitriding aka Melonite aka Isonite aka Atrinite. Is is as about a wear resistant finish as you can get, I have it on my dan wesson CBOB and love it.... That black VBOB is a quality weapon, however,
it's worth checking GB and the classifieds here. I picked up this Ed Brown Kobra and this Baer Premier for less and there 's been quite a few other decent Kobra Carrys , Special Forces Carrys and Stingers in that price range...

Also check here on Elite deal seeker

here's my Kimber Super carry, Dan Wesson CBOB and Ed Brown Kobra. The DW and EB are so far above the Kimber in terms of finish, fitting, component quality etc that it's not even funny...Why do I have the Kimber ? because it was used, cheap and I was curious....or was that my first wife...?

jrs93accord · 02-02-2011, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuse

If you can swing $1500, save a little longer and Get a Les Baer or have a Springfield Mil-Spec built at the Springfield custom shop.

Kimbers are fairly low on the quality scale, no matter what trim they come with...

I do not agree. I like my Kimbers. I would recommend the Kimber brand to anyone as long as it fit their needs.

As far as the Eclipse being notoriously prone to wear, I am not aware of that and I own three of them.

I think that the Eclipse is one of the nicest looking models Kimber produces.

I carry a Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II in a Galco leather holster.

After six years of being in and out of the holster, you would never know it. I would be more concerned with its finish rather than the Eclipse.

I will say that there are other options. There always are. I have several 1911s in my collection that are nice options. I cannot tell someone to buy a certain model, but I can say to buy what you feel comfortable buying.

asiparks · 02-02-2011, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs93accord

As far as the Eclipse being notoriously prone to wear, I am not aware of that and I own three of them.

perhaps you are very lucky, you don't handle them much or they've changed the black oxide on the rounds to something more resiliant. But it used to be very sparingly applied and wear off and scratch like a mo fo....

I have 4 Kimbers now. I've had about another 6. They're not horrible and I don't hate them. Not sure I'd ever buy another new one, though...

PrecisionRifleman · 02-02-2011, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs93accord

I do not agree. I like my Kimbers. I would recommend the Kimber brand to anyone as long as it fit their needs.

As far as the Eclipse being notoriously prone to wear, I am not aware of that and I own three of them.

I think that the Eclipse is one of the nicest looking models Kimber produces.

I carry a Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II in a Galco leather holster.

After six years of being in and out of the holster, you would never know it. I would be more concerned with its finish rather than the Eclipse.

I will say that there are other options. There always are. I have several 1911s in my collection that are nice options. I cannot tell someone to buy a certain model, but I can say to buy what you feel comfortable buying.

Thank you for sharing pictures of your very nice collection. It's good to hear from someone with a lot of personal experience with the Kimber.

Hokie1911 · 02-02-2011, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrecisionRifleman

Thank you for sharing pictures of your very nice collection. It's good to hear from someone with a lot of personal experience with the Kimber.

James definitely has that.

bac1023 · 02-02-2011, 20:17

I like my Kimbers as well. I carry my Pro CDP almost daily.

rich n · 02-02-2011, 21:48

I just got an Eclipse Pro from Buds for $1038. Most accurate gun I own but I had to send it back to Kimber for what I think is extractor problems. It seems to be a common problem with Kimber theese days. It is a good looking gun though, but if Im ever going to carry it it better come back 100% or its down the road.

swinokur · 02-06-2011, 06:50

I have a full size TLE/RL II with several thousand rounds through it. It's been perfect and eats whatever I give it.This includes WWB, Speer Lawman, 230g +p HST, and Gold Dots.

I have no issues with the weapon. The only holster wear I can see is slight wear at the muzzle on either side of the slide, but it's minimal.

My guns are tools, so even if it does wear, to me it's not a huge deal.

Based on my experience, I would buy another Kimber. I am looking for a 10mm Eclipse right now.

craig19 · 02-02-2011, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs93accord

I carry a Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II in a Galco leather holster.

Where did you get those grips? Those are very nice.

jrs93accord · 02-03-2011, 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig19

Where did you get those grips? Those are very nice.

From Kimber.

craig19 · 02-03-2011, 06:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs93accord

From Kimber.

Those are pretty nice. Of course the Army ones are out of stock right now.

Rinspeed · 02-02-2011, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuse

Kimbers are fairly low on the quality scale, no matter what trim they come with...

The lower end Kimbers shoot as well as anything in their price range. Would they be better quality if they used the crappy two piece barrel that SA uses.

TKR Reptiles · 02-02-2011, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuse

If you can swing $1500, save a little longer and Get a Les Baer or have a Springfield Mil-Spec built at the Springfield custom shop.

Kimbers are fairly low on the quality scale, no matter what trim they come with...

That is probably one of the most ignorant statements I have ever read...

Ignore people that are obviously misinformed or just want to run their mouths on the subject... Out of the original two you mentioned I would go with the TLE Pro...