Sick Of Kimber

[Jlduke]

Am I the only person who is sick of every gun rag having a Kimber ad on every other page? Yeah, they make pretty guns, but I can't see anything about Kimber 1911's to set them apart other than a way higher price for pretty much the same thing. I have a SW1911 Pro Series Sub Compact that costs $400 less than my Dad's Kimber. His has a 1 year warranty with a company known for crappy customer service and I have a lifetime warranty with a company known for great customer service.
I would honestly like to know what people think makes Kimber so much better.

Oh yeah, Kimber sounds like a girl's name, so there's that.

 

[TAROMAN]

You pretty well summed it up.
I never drank the Kimber Kool-Aid, either.
Seems to be a mass cult thing, sort of like Harley.

 

[aznav]

I wish I had a dollar for every forum post that said, "I just love my Kimber! Sure, I had a few kinks that needed adjusting, especially the feed ramp. But Kimber was great. Even shipped it back to me free twice and the turn around time was quick. Now, with a couple thousand rounds through it, it fires flawlessly."

 

[Jlduke]

To me its like saying that a Lincoln Navigator is better than a Ford Expedition even though they're the same vehicle. The lincoln just looks a little fancier. It's the same with Kimber and most other quality 1911's. Not sayin they're bad or anything, just overrated.

 

[Fishslayer]

They still have gun magazines?

I always thought the swirly rollmark looked like it belongs on a box of feminine hygiene products....

 

[Moonman]

Grow up son, Kimber's are A-OK, and along with that Advertising is putting food on the table for many people. People still living at home and not having responsible jobs and lives in the community are a drag and detriment to society. If no jobs are local, relocate. Spread your wings and fly, the world awaits your contributions.

Game playing youth and Mall Ninga's are letting the world pass them by. The Chinese, Korean, and Indian kids are studying math and engineering along with medicine to better themselves. These are the people you should emulate as the world is theirs to conquer. Education and Hard Work still do work. Set aside your Smartphone, Computer, Music, for a longer period every day, communicate face to face with real people and learn some social interaction skills.

Many people could and should also take time to use a BARBER and a TAILOR for a change. Image does rule the world.

JMHO & 2 Cents worth

 

[Jlduke]

Grow up son, Kimber's are A-OK, and along with that Advertising is putting food on the table for many people. People still living at home and not having responsible jobs and lives in the community are a drag and detriment to society. If no jobs are local, relocate. Spread your wings and fly, the world awaits your contributions.

Game playing youth and Mall Ninga's are letting the world pass them by. The Chinese, Korean, and Indian kids are studying math and engineering along with medicine to better themselves. These are the people you should emulate as the world is theirs to conquer. Education and Hard Work still do work. Set aside your Smartphone, Computer, Music, for a longer period every day, communicate face to face with real people and learn some social interaction skills.

Many people could and should also take time to use a BARBER and a TAILOR for a change. Image does rule the world.

JMHO & 2 Cents worth

What in the hell did that rant have to do with what I posted?
First I AM grown (almost 40), and second, I didn't say Kimbers were bad guns. I just don't think they're better guns. I'm not sure what all that other stuff you said pertains to.

 

[PA Reb]

Personally, I think Kimber's stink and don't deserve the attention they get.

 

[A10]

Kimbers were some of the first factory 1911's to come out with what were usually custom features (forward serrations, beveled mag well, polished feed ramps, lowered ejection ports, etc.) and back in the day they were GREAT guns. High demand and changing production lines seems to have had a bad impact on their QC. They are not what they once were. S&W has them beat hands down, so does Dan Wesson.

 

[Jlduke]

I know people with Kimbers who act like anything else is "low end" and not worthy. To me Kimbers are, "Hey look what I can afford" guns.
Did I mention that Kimber is a girly name?

 

[johngalt]

I have Kimber that I have been happy with. Yes, it was expensive, but it is also a great gun.

I have a Supermatch II (a custom shop model). I've read that their "custom shop" doesn't actually do much, but I can't confirm that.

Nits: expensive, very similar price to my Rock River 1911, but has MIM vs tool steel parts. Has a lot of doodads that I would rather not have paid for like ambi safety, magwell, beaver tail. Has a firing pin safety. Needed a trip to the local gunsmith to get the trigger cleaned to where I wanted it. Replaced the full length guide rod with the normal short version.

Pros: Accurate - it came with a 25 yard test target with a 1" group, and I believe it. Wilson doesn't promise any better with their $5000 gun. It is reliable - it has never malfunctioned. Ever.

I use it as a target gun, but it would serve as a SD weapon also.

The doodads make it more expensive than it should be, but it is a quality pistol.

 

[Moonman]

I do believe Kimber had a CEO change.

 

[thndrchiken]

Grow up son, Kimber's are A-OK, and along with that Advertising is putting food on the table for many people. People still living at home and not having responsible jobs and lives in the community are a drag and detriment to society. If no jobs are local, relocate. Spread your wings and fly, the world awaits your contributions.

Game playing youth and Mall Ninga's are letting the world pass them by. The Chinese, Korean, and Indian kids are studying math and engineering along with medicine to better themselves. These are the people you should emulate as the world is theirs to conquer. Education and Hard Work still do work. Set aside your Smartphone, Computer, Music, for a longer period every day, communicate face to face with real people and learn some social interaction skills.

Many people could and should also take time to use a BARBER and a TAILOR for a change. Image does rule the world.

JMHO & 2 Cents worth

I have to agree with JLDuke, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

 

[Rule3]

Grow up son, Kimber's are A-OK, and along with that Advertising is putting food on the table for many people. People still living at home and not having responsible jobs and lives in the community are a drag and detriment to society. If no jobs are local, relocate. Spread your wings and fly, the world awaits your contributions.

Game playing youth and Mall Ninga's are letting the world pass them by. The Chinese, Korean, and Indian kids are studying math and engineering along with medicine to better themselves. These are the people you should emulate as the world is theirs to conquer. Education and Hard Work still do work. Set aside your Smartphone, Computer, Music, for a longer period every day, communicate face to face with real people and learn some social interaction skills.

Many people could and should also take time to use a BARBER and a TAILOR for a change. Image does rule the world.

JMHO & 2 Cents worth

It wasn't worth .02 cents. Although I agree with you second paragraph, it has nothing to do with Kimber and advertising.

 

[Gunslinger808]

The older Clackamas Kimbers were great, some of the newer ones not so much.
They still were nice, but plauged with problems for a while.

 

[Jlduke]

I've heard that there are some plastic parts in Kimbers like the guide rod. Any truth?
Also I heard they are tought to take aprt and put back together.
I have only held them and really have no first hand experience.
I have a problem with a company that vomits out so much advertisement, charges such a high price and then only offers a 1 year warranty. Even Taurus gives a lifetime warranty!

 

[Revolver-time]

When your $299 Norinco 1911 outshoots your $1,200 Kimber 1911 what else needs to be said...

Cost alone isn't the measure of a good shooting iron.

I don't know if its accuracy is better as they all shoot pretty good but, my low life Taurus PT 1911 is approaching 13,000 rds. while my Colt, Sig, Remington, and Kimber have been shot much less. Guess which one I think is best.

 

[steveno]

I bought a Kimber sst compact when I worked at cabela's 13 years and hands down it was so much better than the 2 colt 1911's it wasn't funny. it has over 6,000 rounds through it without one problem and yes it has a plastic spring housing and that hasn't been a problem either. at the prices back then I wished I had bought a couple more. I have a full size S & W basic 1911 and while i like it a lot it isn't that much better than the Kimber.

 

[forresth]

what does Kimber sell a year? 50,000 guns maybe? (a somewhat accurate number based on some 10 year old numbers round way up) If they spend $5,000,000 per year (a wild guess) to sell them, you are paying an extra $100 per gun for the privilege of being suckered into buying it.

I'd be very curious as to what the real numbers are if anyone has them.

I'm guessing there are plenty of high quality 1911s out there with a very minimal advertising overhead. I'd rather buy one of those myself.

 

[Stonecove]

It would seem some like to criticize Kimber but have never owned one. My Kimber Eclipse Pro II is all stainless (no plastic) is more accurate than I am and functions as well as new after 7500 rounds. The 4" likes to eat recoil springs so I have had to replace it twice, but I think that is somewhat common for the shorter barrel 1911. Perhaps the reason Kimber sells so many guns is they advertise alot and make a wide range of quality products that are attractive to a wide audience. Sounds like what Ford is doing. Now lets start the Ford vs Chevy wars! Wahoo! (personally I drive a Toyota Tacoma TRD.)
Stonecove