1911: Kimber v. Springfield

[rogervzv]

Very good info from everyone. Not too many comments on Kimber's warranty and customer service. Anyone have info?

[guns_and_labs]

Both are good, well built and reasonably reliable. The Kimbers tend to come with more features out of the box, but the Springfield custom shop (and warranty, though I've never needed it from either) can tip the balance in their favor -- since I'm incapable of leaving any pistol stock.

Having owned several of both, I'm now down to one heavily customized 10mm Kimber, and two customized Springfields (both 9mm's).

[redcliff]

Springfields are made in Brazil, but made well.

While the forgings are all made in Brazil, not all are "made" in Brazil. The higher end models are machined in the US and assembled here.

[IPSICK]

Yes. You can change out the MIM parts, but, that could get costly. If your going to do that, you may as well get a 1911 that's around the same price range and are not made with MIM parts. Dan Wesson and Sig 1911s are approx the same price range and don't use MIM parts.

You sure about SiG not having MIM?

[Cyc Wid It]

Schwartz safety = automatic deal breaker for Kimber.

[guns_and_labs]

Schwartz safety = automatic deal breaker for Kimber.

Can't that be removed as an issue with a new firing pin and a quick pass with a file?

[Cyc Wid It]

Can't that be removed as an issue with a new firing pin and a quick pass with a file?

Could I guess. Ideally you'd be replacing parts on both guns.

[IPSICK]

Can't that be removed as an issue with a new firing pin and a quick pass with a file?

This begs two questions. Does anyone prefer to have the Series 80 firing pin safety? And, why should I have to buy a new part and use a file for a new gun?

Seems like a big hassle for a new purchase.

[BillPear]

Funny I just sent you a PM in regaurd to your other thread, and the 1911 in my avatar is a Springfield and I couldnt be more pleased with it and there customer service which I used to replace a grip bushing. I'd be happy to let you "test drive" it.

[Cyc Wid It]

This begs two questions. Does anyone prefer to have the Series 80 firing pin safety? And, why should I have to buy a new part and use a file for a new gun?

Seems like a big hassle for a new purchase.

The Schwartz is actually worse than the Colt Series 80 fps from a design standpoint.

[guns_and_labs]

This begs two questions. Does anyone prefer to have the Series 80 firing pin safety? And, why should I have to buy a new part and use a file for a new gun?

Seems like a big hassle for a new purchase.

I recall many complaints about the Series 80 firing pin safety, too, and it's harder to disable, IIRC.

And I buy new parts for all my guns anyway.

[IPSICK]

I recall many complaints about the Series 80 firing pin safety, too, and it's harder to disable, IIRC.

And I buy new parts for all my guns anyway.

So why buy a gun with the Series 80 safety to begin with?

[wildhawker]

I'll take a Springfield over a modern Kimber any day.

[Striker]

So why buy a gun with the Series 80 safety to begin with?

Because if you want to buy a Colt 1911 that's California legal, it has to have the Series 80 safety in it. You can do single shot exemption and get a series 70 in the state that way, but I haven't seen or heard of any quality 1911 smiths that won't work on a series 80, not that I can remember anyway. Almost everyone prefers the series 70 but the safety on the 80s isn't a deal breaker. Conversely the schwartz safety system on the Kimber is a deal breaker for some smiths and shooters. Something about disrupting the timing of the weapon.

[Ub3rDorK]

why do i even open these threads...