Best Bare Bones Kimber 1911

[Rivet]

That is before they moved the company to NY. It used to be in Oregon.

[bwiese]

Get a Smith & Wesson 1911. Have never heard any complaints, unlike Kimbers.

[randy]

Another unsolicted opinon. The Kimber safetys do fail more than the Springers because they have one. Yes the Kimber safetys have failed right out of the box. They fail after shooting them for awhile they require more maintenance. I work part time at a shooting range I see what breaks.

The Smith 1911's were recalled because the beavertail wouldn't release the trigger.

The Kimber has a one piece barrel the Springer has a two piece barrel.

Springer puts more money back into the sport I don't think Kimber puts very little if any. Their rationale was we spend enough $$ on advertising.

Every gun with a firing pin safety has more problems than one without.

To answer the orignal question the best basic model Kimber is the cheapest model they make.

The higher end guns have a different barrel. If you buy the most expensive or cheapest the frames are the same. (not counting alloy)

[johnny_22]

Reeds has a Kimber sale starting Friday

Sale ad is in the SJMN Sports Section (11/30/2006).

[madjack956]

I have a Custom Target II that I have been shooting for almost 4 years. I have used Kimber and CMC mags in it. I have run it hard through all day defensive handgun classes. I never have had a problem with the mags or with the firing pin safety. I paid $649 for it. I liked the performance of it so much, I bought another one Monday. A Custom CDP II. Took it to the range Tuesday and ran 300 rounds through it. It runs like I expected it would. Pull the trigger and it goes bang. If you talk to enough of people about their 1911's you will find that EVERY brand has had some type of issue. Some small, some not. Get on a 1911 site and go from one brand to the next and read the stories from owners.

[vikingshelmut]

Sale ad is in the SJMN Sports Section (11/30/2006).

Thanks for the notice. I went and bought a paper, prices are nowhere near $550 for a parkerized custom II. Oh well.

[Aluisious]

I have a Custom Target II that I have been shooting for almost 4 years. I have used Kimber and CMC mags in it. I have run it hard through all day defensive handgun classes. I never have had a problem with the mags or with the firing pin safety. I paid $649 for it. I liked the performance of it so much, I bought another one Monday. A Custom CDP II. Took it to the range Tuesday and ran 300 rounds through it. It runs like I expected it would. Pull the trigger and it goes bang. If you talk to enough of people about their 1911's you will find that EVERY brand has had some type of issue. Some small, some not. Get on a 1911 site and go from one brand to the next and read the stories from owners.

You're lucky with those mags...I had to buy Wilsons.

[Aluisious]

Get a Smith & Wesson 1911. Have never heard any complaints, unlike Kimbers.

An SW 1911 at Reed's was sometimes unavailable for renting because the extractor would break.

[M1A Rifleman]

I would suggest the Stainless TLE, which is the stainless copy of the LA PD 1911. I have the last generation with the exterior extractor. I wanted the Warrior, however, it was not for sale in CA at the time, and Kimber informed me it would never be available. Imagine my surprise when it was available a year later.

Anyway, beware, there have been may posts here and elsewhere regarding Kimber quality with respect to their new guns. I went into my purchase with this information and I DID have problems with it feeding and failures to lock back the slide, and a pitted barrel. After Three warranty returns to Kimber they seem to have got it right. My father on the other hand has never had a problem, and his gun is a few months older than mine. Go figure.

[zefflyn]

I don't think anyone's mentioned it yet, but check out Irvington Arms in Fremont for great prices on Kimbers. It's run by Martin, who is Big Mac on these boards.