Kimber makes beautiful guns and they are quality, accurate guns.
The only drawback I am aware of, they usually need a several hundred round break in.

 

My perspective on kimber, is they are built to be externally flashy and pretty, without similar attention on the mechanics consistently.
while any company puts out the occasional lemon it seems kimber display a lot of variability in this regard.
I would not buy one myself, with the market flooded with so many other 1911 options

 

My perspective on kimber, is they are built to be externally flashy and pretty, without similar attention on the mechanics consistently.
while any company puts out the occasional lemon it seems kimber display a lot of variability in this regard.
I would not buy one myself, with the market flooded with so many other 1911 options

I've had this thought for years.

I have owned 3 of them. An early Target model, Super Match, and Gold Match II. At the time the Target model was their cheapest gun with target sights, and their Super Match was their top of the line gun. I accuracy tested the Target model and Super Match and found them to be equal accuracy wise. Price difference was about 900 dollars. The real difference was the Super Match was pretty.

Passed the base guns, you are paying for polish. I have never has issues with any of the 3 guns. My personal opinion is that older pre series II guns are superior to any guns they make now, no matter the price point. Most anyone would be ok with buying their newer base models. This day in age, I would pass over most Kimbers in favor of most other domestically produced 1911s.

 

Most of the Kimbers I’ve owned were purchased more than 20 years ago when Kimber was considered the “must have“ production 1911. The last Kimber I bought was a Pro CDP II, over a decade ago. I don’t know when Kimber’s reputation took a downturn, but I’ve generally had a good experience with them. I bought a Gold Combat in 2001 that performed as well as many of my higher-end 1911s. Whatever issues Kimber had, I hope they’re sorted if you decide to buy one. What model are you considering?

 

Same here, before the Series II.

 

I had a CDP II Compact and it was flawless and flashy. Never an issue and a very nice trigger. I've got one of their .22 slide kits that I've used on my Springfield Loaded. Has a slightly cheap feel/look to it but it's also worked flawlessly. However, for what that damn thing costs, I should have simply bought a 1911 airgun...

 

All style, little substance

Way better options available

 

All style, little substance

Way better options available

^^^^^

 

Hit and miss for quality. My one Kimber CDP Pro was extremely accurate when it wasn't jamming. Service absolutely sucks. I'd go with Springfield over Kimber any day, and if you do happen to get a bad Springfield it will be repaired quickly and properly by the company.

 

I bought my Kimber about a year ago. I’ve got about 2500 rounds through it and never a hiccup. Good mags are a must with any semi automatic firearm. Act accordingly.

 

Kimber makes good quality firearms. They also make more 1911s than the other vendors combined. Because they ship so many 1911s, they are more likely to be discussed on a forum when there is a problem.

The 1911 design is not the best for man-boys who believe that they shouldn't have to do anything to make a pistol run right. Like cleaning and lubing, using decent magazines, fixing little problems. That crowd should just buy a Glock.

Kimber makes 1911s in about every configuration thought of - other vendors just don't have the capacity to do that.

 

Kimber makes good quality firearms.

What’s good about them? The abundance of MIM parts or the fact that they charge forged part money for some of their models?

I think their base guns are a decent option, but the more expensive models are just ridiculous. Dan Wesson is a much better quality pistol in that price range.

 

Have 2. A CDP Custom and an Ultra-Carry....both have been great. No complaints.

 

I like the Stainless ll line and some of the TLE line of 1911’s .

 

I own and shoot 1911s from several manufacturers. A basic no-frills Kimber stainless lightweight purchased five years ago is the only one of the bunch that has never choked on anything from day one.

 

Kimber took a hit when they changed to the external extractor . They soon went back to the internal . Also the change to the II series was a turnoff to a lot of people including me . Although I had an external extractor compact II that was good after I sanded off a burr on the guide rod at the hole for the take down tool . I found that before I ever shot it and it wouldn’t come out of the racked position . It had such a bad burr that I could remove the tool from the guide rod with it out of the pistol and it wouldn’t come flying off of the guide rod . It was 100 percent after that and I shot it very accurately . I didn’t keep it that long before I sold it though and bought a TRP . I sold that without firing it , it felt so bad in my hand with that sharp front strap .

 

Kimber pumps out a lot of guns. They like to make them a bit tight. That's fine if you do proper QC. They don't. I think to a certain extent they want you to shoot the thing I think 500 times before they will even take it back for repairs.

I suspect they will be fine if you are patient and willing to work on them to the extent of your capabilities. Dry firing a few thousand times will go a long way to building your skill and smoothing out the gun without firing a shot.

 

My Kimbers were bought many years ago so I cannot say anything about Kimbers. Might want to check out what the G 2 is on the 1911 forum.

 

They are fine. That said there are just guns I like MORE in that price range than Kimber.

 

I’ve had two and overall like Kimber.

TLE II .45 built at the Alabama factory in 2018. Ran great, but the finish was absolute trash. I sold it because I had purchased it primarily for the unique finish (AL state bicentennial) and didn’t care for it when it quickly wore off.

Rapide 9mm built at the New York factory in 2022. Had a handful of jams in the first 100 rounds. It runs great on OEM Kimber mags since then. I tried Nighthawk mags and they were a disaster. Getting close to the 3,000rd mark now and I like it quite a lot.


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the finish was absolute trash.

The KimPro finish leaves a lot to be desired.

 

I have had a Kimber Pro Carry 11 for over 10 years, never had a problem, Mine was well worth the money.

 

Gf just bought a Micro 9. Put 50+ flawless rds through it on Thursday, 147 fmj and a few 147 silver tips, I wasn’t there.
I have an Ultra Carry II that I bought used in 2016 that has been flawless.
My buddy bought an Ultra Carry II new this year that has been flawless.

 

When students would show up with these at a 2 day class, I never saw one run flawlessly. Typically they needed to be cleaned about every 250 rounds. Other people have said the exact opposite, but my experience with them was not positive. Kimber's full sized 1911s all seemed to run flawlessly. The Commander sized were the worst.

 

I’ve seen their reliability and fit/finish vary from abysmal to superb. Unfortunately there were more than enough on the wrong end of the spectrum that I’ll almost certainly never own another. Too many other solid offerings out there to roll the dice on one.

 

I’ve seen their reliability and fit/finish vary from abysmal to superb. Unfortunately there were more than enough on the wrong end of the spectrum that I’ll almost certainly never own another. Too many other solid offerings out there to roll the dice on one.

I ordered a new Kimber in 2005 or 2006 it was my dream gun .40 cal 1911 Commander it was beautiful took it to Gunsite. It failed sent it back to Kimber when I got it back the ramp looked like someone took a grinder to it! Total POS

 

I only own a Kimber 3" K6S DASA 357mag revolver. The fit and finish and build quality is great. I have zero complaints.

 

Yes, that revolver has been good

 

I had a non-II version, I wish I never sold.

 

I have a Stainless II that has been very good. I have not had good luck with Kimber mags. I stick with Wilson 47Ds.

 

Have owned only 2 in 45 auto one was pretty nice the other not so, Sold them both for $1600. bought this for $500.00 and added the custom grips. Still have it. Kimber some really love them. like Glock or anything else. had this decades ago 9mm ASP special cased set. liked it and parted with it. They say always something cooler comes along. I keep looking everyday...

 

It doesn't matter if it is a Kimber forum or a Fiat forum, there will always be people sticking up for the brand. "I have 500 miles on my Fiat and it's run perfectly".
For that matter, Fiat wouldn't make you drive 500 miles in a defective car before fixing it under warranty....... Kimber on the other hand, will make you waste 500 rounds on a jamming gun before they accept it back for "repairs" and send it back with the same issues 6 weeks later.

 

I’m not “sticking up for Kimber”. Just telling my experiences.

 

In my completely anecdotal and therefore statistically worthless experience, I've seen a 50/50 success ratio among 4 people I know with Kimbers.

Even more unhelpful, I don't even know exactly which models they all are or how old they are.

But, since it's the Internet and sharing useless data is the thing to do...

1) micro .380 - multiple failures to feed in less than 50 rounds fired on two separate occasions.

2) officer sized (?) .45 - multiple failures to feed in less than 50 rounds fired on multiple occasions and some kind of guide rod failure with it protruding 1/4“ beyond the gun with the slide forward on one occasion.

3) government model .45 - no observed failures over a dozen different outings.

4) my own K6S 3" DAO - no problems yet, but it's rarely used and likely only has a few hundred rounds through it.


Personally, while I would buy another Kimber revolver, I have no real confidence in their 1911s and would be more likely to buy a Tisas than a Kimber.

 

The small Kimber autos are garbage