Why do people love or hate Kimber?

[joe321]

Often times, when I bring up Kimber 1911's, the feedback is very polarizing. I hear people say that they're such high quality and well made guns. On the other end, I hear that they suck and they have all kinds of problems. I never hear anything in the middle. It's either one side or the other. So what's the story? Are they good guns or not?

[wash]

I know a guy who got one more than 10 years ago and it was fine, inexpensive compared to a Colt and with more features than a Springfield would have.

I've also heard of Kimbers that needed gunsmithing just to pass a standard 1911 function test.

Both first hand stories and both 100% true, that's kind of polarizing.

[corcoraj2002]

Some people are going to hate on any maker (see the many Glock threads on here)

[hyperion.excal]

I like Kimber 1911s (specially the Eclipse Targer II) but the best bang for buck goes to sig 1911s. The eclipse is one super fine pistol though.

[drunktank]

Though I'm pretty sure most of them work well, the two different ones I've shot sucked. FTF/FTE's all over the place with different ammo, mags, and loose nuts behind the triggers . Each had already been sent back for repair, but they still weren't reliable...

Others have sworn thousands of trouble free rounds regardless of mags and ammo (excluding pro-mag of course). How's that for polarizing!

Either way it's a 1911. Don't be surprised if it needs some work done to be reliable haha just kidding.

[SgtMerc]

When i first started considering pistols, a friend told me to check out the kimber 1911's, since they were the ones used by LAPD SWAT, Marine Recon/MARSOC and a couple of other units. I spoke to a gunshop owner and he agreed that Kimber makes a fine pistol, as long as you get one that was made in the factory on a wednesday.

He also mentioned that the Kimbers used by the above units were field tested, and anything not up to spec was sent back for replacements. Figure they would only carry the best, return the stuff that didn't work as well, reorder, and repeat until everyone had top of the line stuff.

I don't know, since i've never had a problem with mine. But i take the negative reviews with a grain of salt. It's entirely possible that a production pistol is going to have some duds in the batch, right?

Just like we have our 9mm vs .45 guys, or the glock vs 1911 guys, the firearms world is very argumentative.

[drkphibr]

I'm a Kimber fan...never met one I haven't thoroughly enjoyed.

[cgiomi]

I own Three of them

[KandyRedCoi]

i have a middle ground experience...function wise my kimber is 100% but the finish leaves something to be desired

i have a kimber raptor 2 not an entry level model

ymmv

[jeffrice6]

People that own/shoot Kimbers love them ~ Internet commandos that can only regurgitate what "they've heard" seem to be the only Kimber haters!

[joe321]

i have a middle ground experience...function wise my kimber is 100% but the finish leaves something to be desired

i have a kimber raptor 2 not an entry level model

ymmv

wow, you must have very refined tastes. The finish is why I want one in the first place. It's the functionality and dependability that i'm worried about.

[.45heat]

I have a Kimber Target Stainless II, only had issues the first 200 rounds down the pipe. I have about 2500 rounds now without a hiccup. My friend shot mine, loved it and he bought a Custom II. He shot close to 1000 rounds without cleaning it or lubricating it. He wanted to know how long it would take before he had problems. Kimber didn't have any, until he just had to clean it, he couldn't sleep at night. Haha

[KandyRedCoi]

wow, you must have very refined tastes. The finish is why I want one in the first place. It's the functionality and dependability that i'm worried about.

haha its not about the taste...the ambi safety, trigger and slide lock chipped very easily, the the polished blue finished scratched easily....keep in mind i do not baby my guns, they are meant to be shot and shot a lot!!!

functionality...me and 4 of my other close friends have kimbers and all of ours has been 100% reliable and just as accurate as we could be

[teflondog]

A lot of people bash the Kimber Schwartz safety. I personally think Kimber prices are too high for what you get. Some of their guns are priced at $1,500 without a lifetime warranty. For a couple hundred dollars more, you can get a Les Baer.

[C73P]

I am a Kimber owner I have had a few ftf but over all still a great 1911 to have!!!! all guns will have a hic up in there lifetime! In every brand there will be a bad apple just hope u dont end up with it! Even doh my Kimber has fail me sometime I still would Purchase another Kimber!!!!!!