This has probably been asked, but I would like some candid assessments and comparisons of the Smith 1911 E-Series full size SS pistol with the Kimber Custom II SS. Both are priced similarly, are SS, have similar features/enhancements, and are precisely what I am looking for. The Smith is different with the 'fish scale' slide and is overly more attractive in my view, but reliability, performance (accuracy), fit and finish, and longevity are more important to me. Looking forward to your responses.

I don't like anything forward on the slide myself. I have this Kimber and don't like the forward cocking serrations on it. I never did see any use for the fish scale pattern but I don't own a S&W 1911 but I would prefer one over a Kimber.
TLE 11 in stainless.

It my opinion, both are good guns - maybe roughly equal in reliability and accuracy. As we all know, an individual example of either one could be outstanding, or a glamorized boat anchor. I do notice that Kimbers do not seem to hold their value very well in my area. I have always been a little surprised about that because I have liked the ones I have been around (all of them were full-size models).

I have a TLE II, too. It has been a good gun, but if I were buying another 1911 today, I think it would be an S&W. I do not like the looks of Kimber fixed-sights, and their grip safety is a nuisance, to me. The parts work fine. It is just personal preference. And I have always received good service from S&W if I needed it. I don't have any first-hand experience with Kimber C.S.

I do not object to the somewhat glitzy appearance of modern 1911s (viz. the fish-scale thing), but I whole-heartedly agree the forward serrations are more minus than plus.

One year latter and the answer is
The SW blows the kimber away !
I have the kimber and been shooting
The SW for a year
Sw out shoots the kimber
SW is better looking
Kimber - if you can get it to shoot,
Is about 1/2 in. Off target, then SW
Kimber $1000
SW-1911E-$800

I spent 4 months researching and looking at 1911's, my preference's were the S&W (108282) Stainless, the Sig TTT and the Kimber Custom II stainless. Lucked out and found a S&W within an hour of it being placed in the counter, and made the purchase. Purchase price had to be less than a $1000.- and i wanted a stainless model, the E's are not available in CA..

I have both and both are great 1911's. If I had to pick one it would be the smith.

Some 1911 enthusiasts will contend that one of the earmarks of a properly set up 1911 is the concentricity of the firing pin to the barrel.
They maintain that it reflects a properly fit barrel which locks up properly.


Two cases from two high $$ Kimbers.



Two cases from a SW1911E (#108482).

Then again some say it is completely insignificant and as long as it goes bang it doesn’t matter.

J.

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Hebrews 9:27

Im glad to see here some opinions about Kimber. but is not onlythe overprise squeme they place on the market but the costumer service too. I bought one of the first Kimvers a Custon Target, back them when not overprice I lost the front sight on the shooting range and when I call custumer service they told me to send the gun for evaluation ...? unveliavable. well I post that as a warning in the 1911 forum and I receive all kind of atacks and insults and I was ban from the site forever, reason - joint the grup to complain about a gun

I own a SW1911SC 5" (and 4 Colts).

I've handled and tried out a SW1911 E-series 5" for an afternoon.

I've seen a pretty fair number of Kimbers come through our range over the years.

I don't need another 1911, but I'm seriously considering ordering an E-series.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I own 3 Les Baers 2 Kimbers and a 1911 Sc S&w but Im getting the new E series 4.25" scandium Smith ( two tone, night sights) , is so beatifull

I was looking at a similar situation. I looked at a brand new Kimber in a display at a chain sporting goods store. There was rust on the muzzle of the gun and bbl. I could not believe Kimber had the nerve to put a $1200 price tag on a gun and allow surface rust to form on it. It is a match grade bbl, but not stainless. It needed oil is all, but if it comes from the factory with rust on it, we have a problem.

On another occasion I had a question that I emailed Kimber about. I was ignored, and my question was not answered. These two things have made me a life long anti Kimberite. I don't care if they are pretty. I don't care if they are accurate. I don't care if they are reliable. They are overpriced, and as far as I can tell, their CS is subpar. JMO I'll give my money to S&W over Kimber any day of the week. Here is mine. Grips are by Adam Brown. Holster is by El Passo Saddlery.

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What's that ringing?

Bought a custom II about 7 years ago,very reliable,but I wanted a higher poi,they had me send it back,replaced the front sight and had it back in 2 weeks,no charge.No experience with the Smith.

Sold my CDP II when I got this, never looking back.

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Sure you did

None of the above.

I have had both Kimber and S&W 1911s.

Kimber has problems. Every one I have seen and the one I owned suffered from consistent lock up issues and "snake-eyes," which is the problematic making of two distinct groups. I am not the only shooter who has noticed this.

S&W has a pretty good 1911, but their E-Series is mostly a rehash of the Colt Enhanced models from the 80s or 90s, all of which have been wisely discontinued over at Colt's (the guy in charge of pistols at the time the 1911s were introduced over at S&W, Joe Bergeron, used to work at Colt, and he is still at S&W, perhaps in a higher up position, or so I read).

The "improvements" in the E-Series are good in some cases (getting rid of their version of the Swartz internal firing pin block which operates off the grip safety) and silly in other cases (fish scales, Joubert trigger fitting pad, round butt treatment, serrated top of slide, those revolting stocks, etc.).

The external extractor in the S&W is ok, I guess as S&W has mastered those, unlike Kimber who had to get rid of theirs as their engineers could not figure them out. Kimber, of course, claims they were listening to clamoring consumers and the marines, who bought a couple hundred Kimbers because they could not build custom guns over at Quantico fast enough. (For anyone keeping track, they also bought a small number of Springfields.)

In an interview on one of the gun programs, an S&W employee as much as said that most of the E-Series improvements were made so that the S&W would have a unique appearance when sitting side-by-side in the case with 1911s from every one else.

The first thing I would do with any E-Series is get rid of the FLGR and replace it with a standard GI system. The FLGR is a solution to a non-existent problem. Manufacturers like it mainly because it prevents the "old-style" press-check, thereby preventing some fool from blowing his finger off, not because it does anything. The fact that consumers think it does something and are willing to cough up extra for it is a bonus. Those really silly looking spider-web stocks and the hex or torx or whatever stock screws have to go also!

As die hard as I am about S&W revolvers and their M&P Series pistols, I vote for the "real deal" as far as the 1911 goes. Get a Colt. Hands down winner in all areas including parts availability, resale value, long-term performance, etc.

This is a no-brainer, in my opinion. Perhaps the most extensively tested is the new Marine pistol, which really does have some subtle design changes that make their 1911 even better.

For your purposes, get the S&W if you cannot bring yourself to wait for a Colt. While Kimber gets credit for making Colt and others step up to incorporate custom gunsmith features into production guns, now that the better companies have done so, Kimber is now properly considered an "also ran" in the 1911 race.

After much experience with Springfield, I would recommend them over Kimber as well. Plus, the people over at Springfield are really nice, easy to reach and responsive to the needs of the customer.

There are so many dimensions that could be off that would cause the firing pin to hit off-center one way or another that it is useless to generalize about it. If the gun goes bang every time, and it is not harming itself, and it shoots accurately - then it doesn't matter. (IMHO)

I am never quite sure what to think about the anti-Kimber sentiments. I have had been around more Springfields that caused trouble than Kimbers, but very few of those - certainly not enough of them to think there is some sort of problem inherent with the manufacturer. The two Kimbers I have the most experience with shoot very well and are reliable. People complain about price. These days, I don't see any quality 1911 that is inexpensive. They are all sky-high, as far as I can tell.

What strikes me (no pun intended) is the depth of the firing pin indention from the Kimber. I would be thoughtful of pierced primers.

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Evil, Wicked, Mean & Nasty!