ltwguns.com

Just curious,the overwhelming majority of customs I see here are built on Colt or Springfield guns. Is there a problem with Kimber or a reason some smiths don't like them?

I'm not a pistolsmith nor play one on tv but I'll throw in my 2 cents. The Colts and Springfields that were used as base guns were plain, unmolested as John M. Browning created them. They're like a clean canvas, not limited to any particular grip safety, sight cut, with or without serrations. They allow more freedom for the 'smiths and owners to choose what modifications to perform.

A Kimber and other guns from Springfield (i.e. Loaded models) are rarely used because you're limited to only a certain type of parts that could be used, they're not bad guns but just not good candidates for extensive modifications.

Along the lines of what Smooth One said. If Kimber were to offer a reasonably priced GI/MILSPEC 1911 with an internal extractor and no Series II firing pin safety I suspect that you would see a lot more full house Kimbers.

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"Domari Nolo"

I am a huge fan of Series-1 Kimbers and believe they are ideal candidates for a "small" pistolsmithing job, especially if you get one with good barrel and slide/frame fit from the factory. In fact, I have 2 customs built on series-1 Kimbers..

In my experience, Kimber barrels perform as well out of a barrel tester as other "big name" brands.
I have had a few out of the box that were 1"-2" guns at 20 yards, handheld off a rest, and that is good enough for me.

They make nice "budget" customs, but because they have much of the work already done to their specs-sight dovetails, slide serrations, and ejection port cut, they aren't really suited for a "full house" gun.

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Speaking solely from my own experience, Kimbers make excellent base pistols. Sights are really a non-issue as there are MANY different sights that can be installed from many of the top name manufacturers. Barrels such as Kart, Schueman, Ed Brown to name just a few, are easily installed in a Kimber as they are in a Colt or SA. Grip safeties take a little more effort to fit, but fit well just the same and in most cases take no more time to fit on a Kimber than the time spent installing on a SA. There is nothing at all wrong with a Kimber.

That being said, I DO prefer a Colt simply because I find the "lines" on a Colt much sharper. Not to mention, I simply like the way a custom "Colt" looks when reassembled.

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Classic Custom

I am always curious as to others testing apparatus and would supply a cold beverage for a peak at that barrell tester

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Rio Rancho New Mexico

"I like double barrels....Aprilia, Ducati, and sxs rifles"

For one thing, which I realize is totally cosmetic, I hate the look of Kimber's slide rollmarks.

Oh, and I hate angled and wide-spaced slide serrations (and front serrations). GI all the way!

So for a full house custom job that you plan on shooting and/or carrying on a regular basis, I'd say go with a Caspian slide and frame and let the gunsmith fit every other part. For one than you plan on shooting a small amount and keeping in pristine condition I'd say go with a Colt Series '70.

I agree with JoeD. That extremely ugly "Kimber" rollmark on the left side really turns me off. Not suitable for a fine, expensive custom IMHO.
Marsh

Don't mind the rear serrations, but I'm not a fan of front ones on any 1911.
I love a deep blue finish, but the Royal aside, most all of kimber's guns are built of stainless or aluminium so that would rule out my picking it as a base gun

I have to agree the FUGLY roll mark doesn't help it's case .....

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Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun
"You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman

The Kimber rollmark doesn't bother me nearly as much as the "made in Brazil" mark!

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

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
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Unfortunately many of the Springfields bear the same mark. Could be worse I guess, could say "Made in Venezuela".

1) Rollmark
2) Front Cocking Serrations
3) Series II issues
4) Until recently, external extractors that may or may not work, certainly not "traditional"
5) Starting maybe 4 years ago, frames made of stainless, limiting finish options.
6) Sometimes over-radiused dehorned job. If you like a clean carry bevel on the edges and they've already radiused it heavily you're out of luck.

I have a custom built up on a Ser I gun that we put a caspian slide on and it looks and runs great. But that gun had a carbon steel frame and so we had plenty of finishing options.

Just my .02

I'm not going to restate some of the items set forth above - to me the clearest reason why people avoid Kimber is the now nortorious change to the external extractor. I had a Gold Combat II, that had the internal extractor - that was a great shooting gun and I regret trading it off to this day.

I also know that many smiths will not work on Kimber because of their Series II safety.

That having been said I recently picked up a Seris I steel classic custom and it too is a great gun. If I find annother series I Kimber for the same low price I found this one I would strongly consider buying it too.

JeffVN

One thing I'll say about Kimbers-- their barrels are good. Not always textbook fitted but usually fitted better that the others. And pretty much always they are a little to a lot more accurate.... one of the best groups I've ever fired with a 1911 was with Kimber I had customized, using its stock barrel.

But the external extractor-- wow did they not get that right. It really looked like they decided they wanted it for marketing and production cost reasons, and those two aspects were so dominant that they skimped big-time on the engineering end. Could have been just fine but it seemed like they never understood the dynamics-- I fixed a few of them and they sure didn't miss it by much, but miss it they did.

The passive firing pin safety, quite a bit of added inconvenience in my opinion, and I don't believe I've seen one yet that came timed just right. Other than that they're OK.

Ned ,
What do mean about the passive firing pin safety "not being timed right"?
Can you feel it function or does it interfere with trigger take-up?

The first one I ever shot, misfired.

You can have the grip safety pushed in just far enough to let the trigger pass and thus enable the dropping of the hammer, without having the grip safety in far enough to get the firing pin block out of the way. Click. This can be tuned out but it means taking the rear sight out, removing a smidge of metal from the FP block, replacing the rear sight and re-sighting-in.

Easy to test for: with the gun checked to make sure it's unloaded-- put some slight backward pressure on the trigger-- the hammer needn't be cocked. Push the grip safety in slowly until you can feel it kinda slip over the trigger bar-- at this point the trigger can be pulled all the way back. At this point in the grip safety's travel, push the FP forward with a pen or something and see if it's free to go all the way forward. If it stops short or hesitates, you've got that condition.

Never, ever buy a series 2 Kimber!

The safety is bad but the external extractor is a pox!

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CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

Never owned a Kimber and probably never will due to the firing pin safety.Also don't like the fact that Springfields are made in Brazil,so I guess Colt would be the only logical choice.

Series I Kimbers had no real need to be customized. They were "budget customs" out of the box and performed as such. I have yet to own a Series I Kimber that wasn't a performer.

What do you do to one? Replace the sights? You can but the factory sights are fine. Trigger work? Triggers were/are pretty much always good to excellent. I recently sold a Series I Kimber Classic Custom that had a better trigger than any custom pistol that I've ever had.

You can do some sort of grip treatment and replace some parts but you really don't get a "better" pistol, overall. Perhaps more pleasing to your individual tastes but that's about it.

Con's? Girly-looking logo and front cocking serrations. I prefer no logos of any kind and no front cocking serrations, personally.

I don't like Series II Kimbers for a variety of reasons and will not own one.

Chalk up another "Series I" fan, not so much for a full custom build for reasons already mentioned, but just as a super practical "shooter". There are some systemic reliability peculiarities, um.... I mean "features", that have been with the Kimber pistols from the beginning, but these are easily cured and spotted by a smith who knows what he's about 1911wise, in conjunction with a reliablity tune. 5" S1's are what I always try to put my buds on a budget into when they just need a shooter.

In my "personal" shooting and training (as opposed to test firing), I've been shooting mostly .38 Super for the last several years. However, when Ned C. began to drag me kicking and screaming to this year's Single Stack , I began kicking around the idea of shooting/training with some 45 ACP again. To get up and shooting ASAP to see if I wanted to go that route, the first thing I grabbed was my "truck" gun, a nearly stock 5" S1 with reliability work done to it. A new set of sights, carved a beavertail and thumb safety the way I like, a trigger job, Kart barrel and bushing (not really necessary) and I was off to the races. Slide isn't as tight as I'd like, but I live with it. It was my intention just to shoot the gun for a while then build me a "proper" 45 if I was gonna stick with it, ......and I've decided to do so. But we've been getting along well enough that I've been able to procrastinate quite a bit longer than I intended. That was 2 cases of primers ago......

Series 2 is a different matter, unfortunately.

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Stan Chen Customs
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I've had a Kimber S1 SuperMatch for many years. It probably has 12,000+ rounds through it and still runs great. When it comes to selecting a base gun for a full-house custom, however, I much prefer the classic looks of a Colt.

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"When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation." ~Alexander Hamilton

Did Kimber's 1911 lose it's appeal?

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Cheers

I wouldn't say that, I'm just not sure they ever had appeal as a base for a full custom job.

I personally like them and feel they offer excellent value to dollar.

I have Clackamas Series 1 gun that has over 10,000 rounds and guess what? No broken parts and still 100% FACTORY, other than springs being replaced and new grips installed.

I have Kimbers that have been worked on by the late Joe Bonar from Novak's and Larry Vickers. While they are not as pretty as a lot of the weapons posted here - they have been excellent, utilitarian carry pieces.

As good as they are, I guess I would never use one as a "full house" base because of tradition - Colt's and Springfield's just look "good". A maker's decision or choice not to use them is also a pretty good reason, I guess. Gotta go with what the artist likes.

I like the Pre-Series II Kimbers, and share in the opinion that the Series II models are not worthy of owning. Here's a photo of a Stainless Covert Ted did for me about 5 years ago...



-Tim

Edit: Repaired broken link after modifying Photobucket account settings.

I have S1 Stainless Target,I have rep'd the recoil spring,and nothing else.no problems out of it,I am a 1911 fan.However i have not owned a "pony" yet,but I have bought and sold a "Springer "Compact ,as well as currently using a modified Para P12 .
I am proud of mf Kimber.

I actually like Kimbers as well. I have a Classic Series 1 Stainless with all factory parts (currently) and was able to get a sub 2" group within my first 30 rounds. Now a Pro Carry Series 1 Stainless is being added to the family.

There are a series of enhancements to be done and another Classic to be added. I have fired Kimbers, Colts and Paras, and have found most Kimbers to fire well out of the box. Stay away from the Series II because of odd changes to the safety mechanism and the external extractor.

Because they usually fire so well out of the box, you can get one of the top-notch smiths on this site to do a small amount of customization to get a realiable, good-looking shooter for less than you will pay for a full custom.

Just my 2 cents.

Rupes

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"God created all men, Sam Colt made 'em equal"