Kimbers: Why So Much Hate?

[TripleThreat]

I purchased a Kimber Stainless Target in the late 90's. It was my second 1911 but not my first Auto (the first being a Colt Gold Cup 80's series) which didn't even come close as far as accuracy and fit and finish.

My Kimber is a 70's series weapon which is slightly different than the current series available from Kimber. I've found the Kimber to be a very accurate and well made weapon. It is one of my most accurate, if not, the most accurate auto I own. Without getting into to many details, I'm very experienced when it comes to handguns in most every aspect and over 30 years of varying knowledge in connection to small arms weapons.

So my question is, how come I've heard so many negative comments regarding Kimbers?

Has something changed with Kimbers since I purchased mine back in the late 90's? Or is it like anything else, some people just hate the brand and some people love them.

A well made gun is just that. I'm having trouble understanding that if current Kimbers are as well made and accurate as the Kimber I have, it would be very hard for any gun enthusiast to not love this gun, even if you don't like the 1911 platform.

Let the argument begins!

Triple

[Trakker]

M I m parts is one thing but all makers do that now
I love my desert warrior but their magazines do suck. I think their tooling is a bit off for that. I get failure to feeds all the time with Kimber mags


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[boltmopar]

People say that the quality has dropped but I havent seen it. I have a Warrior II and it was new in 2006, and I have no issues with it. It is accurate and never jams. Even when I fire crappy Tula steel rounds. WHile not my favorite 1911, it is up there.

[gorenut]

Combination of rumored dropped quality and them only really warrantying their guns for 1 year of purchase to the original owner. I've heard of them both doing warranty work on guns beyond the year and turn customers down.. but it does raise the question of why they don't stand behind their products.

[boltmopar]

Combination of rumored dropped quality and them only really warrantying their guns for 1 year of purchase to the original owner. I've heard of them both doing warranty work on guns beyond the year and turn customers down.. but it does raise the question of why they don't stand behind their products.

That's weird, I sent my mini 14 to Ruger for repair and they didn't charge me. I wasn't even the original owner.

[lmudave]

I've got a custom II that's been flawless, accurate, and tight since day one. For the Price I can't imagIne that you'd get much more from other 1911s. Had a Springfield that was alright but didn't really match up to the kimber. I think the switch to MIM parts and the trouble they had with the old exposed extractor gave them a crappy name.

[LovingTheYear1911]

Its the internet so everyones a genius and knows everything about everything, including why milk is white and where bigfoot lives.

Over the years I have learned to ignore about 99.99 percent of rumors on the internet and do my own research from folks who have actually owned something in real person, not from a cool guy on the internet who heard that his neighbors cousin once had a Kimber that went kaboom, who later said it was a Glock. You get me?

[Josh3239]

Kimber soured a lot of people by a couple of poor runs and poor CS to back it up, now they hold grudges. I think also a lot of people don't bother reading that Kimbers usually require a break in period. They are great handguns, yes MIM but that can be changed. Where I work, we sell a lot of Kimbers. Never heard of a customer returning to complain about it.

[erik_26]

I think kimbers are excellent mid level 1911.

Use Wilson Combat mags and I think you have a solid platform. A great setup for those that can drop $2000+ for a Les Baer.

Or for people like me who aren't 1911 guys but have to have one in the safe just cuz.

[10mm]

I've read they come rusted from factory. I don't own one but rented a custom and it was prone to jam.

[bombadillo]

There are those who have guns who have been great, and there are those who have guns who have had complete lemons. I've seen a slide stop literally fall out of a Kimber before and others with rusted barrels. I've seen poor finish wear, and other random things that have just been poor workmanship. They don't have a very good warranty, and they don't stand behind their product. I wouldn't own very many of them, but there are a few that I like. I'm a fan of the Raptor and CDP. Compared to Springfield, Colt, or any of the production semi-custom guns like Baer, Nighthawk, and others, the Kimbers just pale in comparison. I wouldn't own but a couple of them but others swear by them. I don't know what it is, but it seems like all my experiences are bad with them.

[stormvet]

I've read they come rusted from factory. I don't own one but rented a custom and it was prone to jam.

Post like this have a lot to do with it.

All I know is I own four, from less then a year old all the way to 12 years old. Three are series II and one is series I, yes Kimber still makes good old series 70s with no FP safety. Mine have proven them self's with many many thousands of rounds fired. I like them so much I sold the three Colt 1911s I owned.

Oh, and never any rust on mine, amazing what a little bit of oil on a steel gun will prevent.

[Cali-Shooter]

RE: Kimber Firearms.

I love my gun, but I hate the company.

Their customer service is by far the worst. The 1-year warranty for original owner only is a joke. That being said, I got my TLE/RL secondhand.

[Cali-Shooter]

Also, here's a recent example of Kimber's superb customer service.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=610286

[gorenut]

That's weird, I sent my mini 14 to Ruger for repair and they didn't charge me. I wasn't even the original owner.

Thats because Ruger is a different company than Kimber. I know Ruger has an unofficial warranty, but they've been pretty consistent in honoring it.