Seriously, Kimber? WTF?

[MrPlutonium]

They had some manufacturing issues with the slide stops before: they were out of spec so every once in a while a round would engage the slide stop and lock open the pistol.

[Doheny]

I took a defensive handgun class with two guys who had Kimbers. Both had issues during the class; one wouldn't cycle unless it was real wet and I don't remember what the issue was with the other one. Those of us w/ Glocks and M&Ps didn't have any problems at all.

[asgalindez]

That's what I thought at first too, but the slide-stop doesn't just drop out of the way when the slide is no longer exerting pressure on it. When the slide is pulled back all the way it should ride up over the slide-stop, pushing it back down. Then, barring the presence of an empty mag forcing it up, the stop should stay down and allow the slide to travel all the way forward.

The notch on this particular slide has been cut out so far forward that it cannot ride up over the stop to push it back down.

--B

I just whipped out my Kimber Eclipse Custom II and the slide-stop in fact does not drop free. That was my mistake. Sorry buddy.

Comparing the slide-stop location on my full size 1911 to yours, it seems like your slide has less travel to the notch (i.e. mine is farther forward). I would agree with ke6guj and check to see if something is hindering your slide from fully cycling.

[G-forceJunkie]

Dumb question, but is there a shock buffer in there? I had a guy bring me a Colt that would not work. Had two buffer in it...he figured if one was good, two would be better

[Taildraggerdave]

What's with the attitude? You're perfectly correct about the extractor. It's an issue I wasn't aware of on a firearm I didn't purchase and hadn't even fired until yesterday.

I asked the question about whether or not I had a chance of getting Kimber to fix it because they clearly state on their website that their warranty is only good for a year.

When I read your first response I thought I detected a bit of "lrn2google, RTFM, N00b" snarky-ness in there, but I wasn't sure and didn't mention it. Now this. What gives?

--B

No, not even. I thought Kimber had a lifetime warranty (like Springfield, etc.) You replied that they only had a year -- I guess I was wrong.
Then, you said you were already a member of 1911 Forum, as am I, and this was not your first 1911, so it seemed to me you were already versed on them.
When I read your first post, the first time, I thought you were new to 1911's and was trying to steer you in the right direction. No attitude just trying to help. If I came across badly, then I apologize as that was not my intention.
Dave

[CSACANNONEER]

Call Kimber and ask them. I sent them my Custom PRO CDPII after 25K rounds of reloads and several years of hard service. They fixed everything that I wanted them to and even repalced the night sites because, they thought the sites were dim. It cost me shipping to them and that was it. They have GREAT CS!

[glockman19]

Have a look here

http://forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27

It's a dedicated 1911 forum and the link is right to the Kimber forum.
Take care,
Dave

Your gun has the External Extractor and has some known issues. I believe Kimber even had a program where they will replace your slide with an Internal
Extractor slide. Kimber has a lifetime warranty policy but I bet you can figure it out for yourself using the above link and learn more
about your 1911 in the process.
Otherwise, give em a call.

Yes check out the 1911 forum.

Theonly issue I've had wiht a kimber also came with the Pro model. FTF, FTE FTRTB, you name it. After 500 rounds I sent it back to Kimber and they returned it with a laundry list or repairs and modifications. After that it has run flawlessly. Of the four other Kimbers I own, I have had NO issurs at all.

[sfwdiy]

No, not even. I thought Kimber had a lifetime warranty (like Springfield, etc.) You replied that they only had a year -- I guess I was wrong.
Then, you said you were already a member of 1911 Forum, as am I, and this was not your first 1911, so it seemed to me you were already versed on them.
When I read your first post, the first time, I thought you were new to 1911's and was trying to steer you in the right direction. No attitude just trying to help. If I came across badly, then I apologize as that was not my intention.
Dave

Cool, no hard feelings. Tone can easily be misinterpreted when you only have written text to go by.

Thanks for the info on the extractors!

--B

[sfwdiy]

It almost appears as if the slide is being prevented from fully cycling. Perhaps by something in the recoil spring/guide rod area. I don't have my SA 1911 handy to see the how much rearward travel is available past the slide stop notch, but on my Llama 1911 I'm getting much more slide travel than your video shows. Perhaps that is the issue, that the slide isn't going back far enough to move the slide stop, not that the slide stop cutout is too long.

Yes, the slide stop might be in the wrong spot or be too large, I'd compare it against another 1911, but I'd suggest pulling the recoil spring and guide rod and see if you get enough slide travel then.

ke6guj is the winner.

I took the spring and barrel out and checked the action. Sure enough, it did go back far enough to disengage the stop. There weren't any visible obstructions, and I couldn't figure out what was causing it.

Turns out, someone was retarded and for once it wasn't me. I remembered that when I was gathering up all the 1911 stuff lying around the garage at my Mom's place, I had picked up an extra recoil spring. I went digging through my box of assorted gun parts and found it at the bottom.

I pulled the spring that was in there off the guide rod and compared it to the one I had found. The one installed in the pistol was about 3/8 of an inch longer than the loose one. It was also a heavier spring. It was hitting full compression before the slide reached the full extent of it's rearward travel.

I put the other spring back in and it disengages properly now. That's one problem solved. Hopefully Kimber will help me out with the extractor.

--B

[ke6guj]

glad you got that part figured out. sounds like it might have had a "full-size" recoil spring for a 5" 1911 installed, and with your gun being a 4" model, as you mentioned, it was coil-binding before the slide completed it normal travel.

One thing that did concern me is the potential that even the new spring that you found may not be the correct one. Wolff lists the recoil spring for your gun to be a 22lb spring, whereas a full-size spring is usually around 16#, meaning that the spring you found should have been a heaver spring, not a lighter one. http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?...s&cID=1&mID=32

For piece of mind, it may be worth getting a new recoil spring that you know is correct for your model. They run <10$.

[sammy]

Kimber had lots of problems with the external extractor. I have read in previous forums that after mutiple trips back to the factory they replaced the slides with the internal extractor version. The problem is compounded with a barrel length less than 5". I personally have never seen a smaller Kimber run right but that is just a hand full of shooters I have run into at the range. At my local club I shoot with a few guys that have high round count Kimbers with external extractors that run great. Not sure if they had problems in the begining but they run great now.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I would send it back and make a fuss or if you don't want the headache just sell it as project. Sammy

[glbtrottr]

they had similar problems even with the new models.

I paid a little extra for them to do a trigger job on mine...if their slide is defective, they will fix it for you or get you a new one.

Call them.

[G-forceJunkie]

I would test fire it again. The extraction problem may be related to the incorrect recoil spring. If you did have a much too light spring in there, the action may have been unlocking too early when there was too much pressure stillinthe case holding it to the chamber wall. A temporarly "stuck" case, the extractor overrides the rim and you get the failure in your picture. Just a theory.

[bruceflinch]

The video looked weird to me..The slide lock & ejection port were on the opposite of normal sides..???

[ke6guj]

I think he was filming it "through" a mirror.

note that all the print on the gun and his shirt were mirror-imaged as well.