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I just thought I would share a few pictures of my Kimber that I just had completed by a little-known 'smith in Arkansas City, KS. This project has been 2 years in the making, and three trips to Greg's shop. It started out as a bone-stock Classic Stainless Gold Match. I think Kimber would have put more words on the right side of the slide, if they offered it in a 6" version!

I will try to post a list of the build parts a little later. I just got off duty, and at 1 am, I am not thinking straight. This gun is a tack-driver, and perfectly reliable. I apologize for my poor photo-taking skills, and I welcome any comments.

Best,
Dave

Extraordinarily-nice gun! And no need to apologize for the quality of the photos, they are also very nice. I am inpressed by the workmanship. Please post the particulars of the build. Dave

Very nice! Congrats. That is a neat touch to the grip screws.

Is this going to be a duty weapon?

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

NICE GUN! I used to live in Wichita, KS (for most of my life, actually) and I had a friend suggest Mr Copeland's work. I lost the name but remember he said Ark City. When I saw this posting, I immediately remembered.

We need details!

again....nice Kimber!

Outstanding machinist! Very interesting treatments all over it! I like the aggressive carry bevel, too.

Very nice work.

Congrats on your new gun. Very aggressive looking frontstrap and stocks. I tell ya after Chuck Rogers started that fronstrap style it has really taken off with some people.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. All the credit belongs to its creator, Greg Copeland of Copeland Customs in Arkansas City, KS. I hesitated posting pictures here, since the gun didn't come out of one of the shops of our resident gunsmiths, but it came out too nice NOT to share. This apprehension was suppressed by how the folks here has an appreciation for everyone else's hard work, regardless of its origin. Greg is a credit to his profession. He runs a one-man shop, and you can tell by talking to him that he comes from the "old school" of pistolsmithing.

Anyway, as some of you have requested, here is a brief rundown of parts and treatments:

Heinie Straight Eight night sights
Kart NM barrel and bushing
Ed Brown Hardcore Components: Hammer, sear, disconnector, hammer strut, Firing pin and FP Stop, Slide Stop, and Extended Magazine Release
Ed Brown NM Trigger
Smith and Alexander flat magwell, plain texture, and then scalloped
Ed Brown Wide Ambidextrious Safety, recontoured and narrowed
Ed Brown Memory Groove Grip Safety
Ed Brown Hardcore Pins and Itty-Bitty Springs
EGW Tungsten One-piece FLGR and recoil plug
ISMI Recoil, Firing Pin, and Mainsprings


Flush-cut and recrown barrel
Simonich Green-Black Gunner Grips
Texturing of frontstrap and MSH to replicate the Gunner Grip Pattern
"Dimpled" grip screws - Greg's "unsolicited" extra touch
Ultra-high undercut of trigger guard (to accomodate my golf-ball-sized knuckles)
Hand filed magwell to frame transition
45 degree bevel on bottom of slide
Slight bevel on the barrel bushing
Magazine release de-checkered and smoothed
Slide stop edges given Greg's "Faceted bevel"
Slide stop recessed, and slide stop hole in the frame chamfered
Cryogenic treatment at CryoNebraska, here in Omaha


And other details I am overlooking at 1:00 am...


This gun is carried mostly for CCW and off-duty carry. It rides around in Lou Alessi's PCH and CQC-S. This gun has seen somewhere between 8-10,000 rounds by me in the past few years, and I can't recall even one malfunction. Not very fun, if your idea of fun is clearing stovepipes or doublefeeds. The new barrel was this last trip to Greg, and I am pretty pleased at the outcome.


Thanks for allowing me to share.

Dave

WOW!!! That golf ball treatment is really starting to grow on me. Nice pistol!!

Dave... the stainless has a remarkable, brilliant sheen to it... has it received a surface coating of something, a polishing, or is that the result of the cryogenic trreatment? Sure looks nice.

DHart,
The pistol has no special metal treatment, other than a very fine bead blast. The "flats" started out as highly polished from Kimber, so that might add to the sheen. The cryo treatment didn't do anything for the finish, although cleaning is easier and the gun seems to shoot better, and possibly a little smoother. From what I understand, cryo treatment could alter the color or hue of bluing, parkerizing, or other finish.

I might have just happened to take some pictures on a day that the gun didn't have holster lint and powder residue on it. Those days are few and far between, as this gun sees some pretty regular carry and range time.

Thanks to all for the kind words, and stay safe.

Dave