ltwguns.com

Greetings fellas! I've been wanting to try out the 10 mm in 1911 and I finally found a Delta Elite in fair condition in a local gun shop. I also learned Kimber is putting out a 10mm. So it's a choice between a Colt with the associated romance and recognition but rough machining, loose fit, and some blemishes and a shiny new Kimber with series II safety and decidely less "genuine" appeal.

Would like to hear what some of you guys would do.

Thanks for your responses!

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Steve

A Colt has class and style. A Kimber has......nevermind.

I had a Kimber before I had a Colt. If it hadn't been for the external extractor, it would have run fine . The machining is already done on a Kimber, and done relatively poorly. You don't get to choose your sight cut or the radius' on the frame. It has front serrations, etc. Then there is the Series 2 BS.

Colt. If the Delta Elite your local dealer isn't that great, look around for one in better condition.

Cult... Errrrr... Colt!



~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Sparky's nailed it, IMHO. A custom gun, by definition, is something special. For that reason, I'd go with the right Colt base gun, even if it takes you a while to find it. Compared with the wait time for the custom work, what's a month or two more?

Besides, minor blemishes are typically easily corrected in the build process. Might it add a few bucks to your total bill? Yes, but again, it's a matter of perspective.

Seen in the proper context, you will have waited a little more, and maybe spent a little more, to get the end result you really want, not one that was a little faster and a little cheaper (but which leaves you wondering, "What if I'd held out for the Colt?").

YMMV, of course. I'm not exactly objective - I own a couple of Colts, both customized by people whose names you'd know, and zero Kimbers. I've never regretted the decisions.

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NRA Endowment Member

Guys,
I realized that the COLT rollmark means the world to some folks, but to me, in the case of a DELTA, the series 80 parts kill it for me

I've had 2 custom 10mm based on Deltas, and while I've been very pleased with both, I decided I didn't want those extra little parts rattling around in my custom pistols anymore....sooooo

I have one 10mm built on a Wilson Frame and Caspian slide, and my latest 10mm, is a KIMBER Series 1 Stainless .40, converted to 10mm and finished out by Jim Garthwaite. The gun shoots great with the factory barrel reamed to 10mm, with 25 yard groups running just under 2 " from my hands, Garthwaite's test target is smaller still. The KIMBER frames and slides are great, and that is the basis.....the rest is easy to have replaced

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Best Regards,

Will Fennell
http://www.willfennell.com

I am dying for a 10mm conversion on my Operator as well....can't wait to see it happen!!!

-B

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Brandon Crooms
http://www.customknivesandguns.com
http://www.burkeknives.com

It's fairly well know that Kimbers are a little skimpy on the upper lug engagement, which may be fine for a 45, but I wonder if they have added a bit more engagement on the 10MM's.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Kimber is getting rid of the external extractors.

I agree. Series 80 kills it for me too.

Just a thought... if you do not care what gun you use, why use a "name" gun? You'll never get a better fitting/longer lasting gun than if you start with a Caspian (or other high quality maker) frame & slide, and you can get them without any rollmarks at all or have what you want put on. Buying a Kimber or Colt and scrapping the small parts makes no sense at all unless you wany a pony or a gun from Yonkers.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

They never used externals on .40/10mm guns.

Didn't know that. Thanks.

One thing I can say for Kimber is that their slide to frame fit is usually awesome. Aside from that, no way with Schawrtz system, all the cheap MIM parts, and as Don indicated... a *possible* issue with the upper lugs. Kimber's rollmark does nothing for me either... but that can get gone with a little grinding. The Colt on the other hand does have a great heritage (if that aspect of the gun is important to you) and a wonderful rollmark (again, if that matters to you), good quality materials throughout (typically) and the Delta grip medallion is cool. I really like the Delta for those reasons and I'm not bothered by Series 80 parts at all. The Delta would need custom work to make it really great, but so would the Kimber.

Jim's point is a good one, if the brand, charisma, history, rollmark, etc. is unimportant to you, just have one built from scratch.

I think any of these options are good ones, just different.

And there is yet one more option to consider: Dan Wessons new issue Razorback, which is due out in the near future. Excellent slide to frame fit, some nice parts, good build quality, cool flat-serrated-top on the slide, Series 70 firing system... not a whole lot you'd really have to change to make it really cool. Or pick up one of the last issues of Razorbacks... there are still a couple of NIB ones available... I just found one on Guns America last week... should have it this week. They are reputed to be really nice tens... much better than Deltas right out of the box. Still would do a little customizing to make it even better.

You've got some nice options to consider. If you can, buy a Delta and a Razorback, shoot them both for awhile, then decide what to do... that was what I decided to do.

I would go Caspian slide/Wilson Combat frame

But thats just what Heinie is building for me

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"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

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