OLDFED
Member
Three pages of KIMBERS on GB and very few bidders. Why??? Price, quality, competition, service?????
KIMBER Question
- Thread starter OLDFED
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Well, I dunno...I haven't looked at the ads, so I don't know what models, what prices, etc. I can tell you from my own experience (I've owned three Kimbers, and none now) that they are overpriced, the CS from Kimber is poor, and it really annoys me to pay over $1200 for a pistol and get one crappy magazine (and Kimber even makes a decent magazine - the Kim Pro Tac Mag - but Kimber includes a botton of the barrel one in the box.) Kimber only has a one year warranty, and I have made myself a promise not to buy a gun from a company that won't stand behind them. Ruger doesn't have a stated warranty, but they will take care of their products irregardless. S&W and Springfield have the best warranty service in the business, and RIA is giving them a run for their money...and so is STI. With these good choices, I don't know why anyone would over-pay for a poor choice like Kimber.
But then I may be a tad biased by experience...
But then I may be a tad biased by experience...
My experience with Kimber has been a good one. I own a Kimber Super Carry Pro. I bought it about two years ago. I shopped for a 1911 for quite a while. I did my research and looked at all of the major manufacturers and shot many of them before I purchased anything. I decided on the Kimber because it had the best combination of features that I wanted. The Meprolight sights are awesome! I already planned on purchasing Wilson Combat mags for any 1911 I purchased so the 1 mag wasn't a bid deal. I will say that the slide fit seemed the tightest of any I looked at. I work on my autos myself so a written lifetime warranty wasn't at the top of my list as far as deciding factors. With all that said, yes, they are expensive and probably overpriced. I haven't had any dealings with their customer service besides ordering springs, and S&W released the "E" series 1911s about 3 months after purchasing my Kimber. I have about 4k rounds thru it and no problems at all.
I only have one Kimber, an Ultra CDP II. I purchased this used but like new, it had barely been fired. When I purchased the gun it was a big time jam-a-matic, and had an external extractor. I contacted Kimber explained the problem to them and they had me send it in. They replaced the slide and converted the gun from an external to an internal extractor and didn't charge me a nickel, even though I wasn't the original purchaser. I have put more than a few rounds through the gun since its return a couple years back, it hasn't missed a beat, and accuracy is top notch. So other than a rocky start I have no issues with Kimber at all, and I think that their customer service is as good as it gets.
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I won't own another Kimber unless I find an older used one.
Kimber is full of themselves and arrogant. Seventy five percent of their line is ugly over priced junk.
Heard yesterday at the LGS that Kimber is raising prices significantly and still have a 6 month backlog. And two local gun shops have stopped carrying Kimber due to poor service.
No thanks. When brands like Dan Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, S&W and others are making a better product for a much more reasonable price, there is no reason to buy Kimber.
Kimber is good at one thing and one thing only. Marketing.
Kimber is full of themselves and arrogant. Seventy five percent of their line is ugly over priced junk.
Heard yesterday at the LGS that Kimber is raising prices significantly and still have a 6 month backlog. And two local gun shops have stopped carrying Kimber due to poor service.
No thanks. When brands like Dan Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, S&W and others are making a better product for a much more reasonable price, there is no reason to buy Kimber.
Kimber is good at one thing and one thing only. Marketing.
Fishinfool
Member
Kimber is probably the biggest manufacturer of 1911 style pistols out there. That, coupled with the fact many of the ads are from dealers is the most likely answer.
As far as the quality of Kimber firearms, I own a total of 8. 4 1911's, and 4 rifles. I like quality firearms that work, so I would not own 8 of them if that was not the case.
I did have problems with the function of a 1911 .22 conversion kit I bought used about 10 years ago. Sent it in to Kimber for adjustment last year, and they sent me a new replacement, no questions asked.
Must be the odd man out, but all mine are accurate, reliable, and well made..... The fact that Kimber has been in the 1911 business for only a relatively short time, but own the lions share of the market should tell you something..
Larry
As far as the quality of Kimber firearms, I own a total of 8. 4 1911's, and 4 rifles. I like quality firearms that work, so I would not own 8 of them if that was not the case.
I did have problems with the function of a 1911 .22 conversion kit I bought used about 10 years ago. Sent it in to Kimber for adjustment last year, and they sent me a new replacement, no questions asked.
Must be the odd man out, but all mine are accurate, reliable, and well made..... The fact that Kimber has been in the 1911 business for only a relatively short time, but own the lions share of the market should tell you something..
Larry
bushmaster1313
Member
My Kimber looks good:
Shoots as good as it looks:
And was:
Shoots as good as it looks:
And was:
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crofoot629
Absent Comrade
Kimber and RRA's. The king and Queen of marketing.
Kimber of Clackamass is a go. Hard to find though.
Emory
Kimber of Clackamass is a go. Hard to find though.
Emory
Yes. It's tells me that they have one hell of a marketing department. Nothing more.
Why do you think that you must order direct from Kimber? No middle man. Order from us or tough luck! Want to be a "MASTER DEALER"? Order this many guns or else.
I listened to the discussion between a local store owner and a Kimber rep several years ago. The rep was an arrogant jerk.
" You HAVE to sell our guns! We're the BEST!"
"It's only a $5000 buy in!? But not all of our guns are available at present. They are ALLOCATED"
Kimber is six months behind. Yet Ruger can crank out 1,000,000 guns.
So what happened to the "lions share"? 
Gunslinger808
Member
When I was shooting competition and I went up against someone using a Kimber, I felt confident they'd blow it due to a jam.
Very seldom did THEIR pistol let me down (except for the older Clackamas ones)
Very seldom did THEIR pistol let me down (except for the older Clackamas ones)
When I was shooting competition and I went up against someone using a Kimber, I felt confident they'd blow it due to a jam.
Very seldom did THEIR pistol let me down (except for the older Clackamas ones)
I've never had a problem with their entry level guns. I just can't stand the company and I will not buy a new one.
But did you ever take a look at a Grand Raptor? What an ugly ***!
I will give you that one, about the magazine...I use Wilson ETMs in all my 1911s, regardless of make, and the magazines that come in the box remain in the box, so I guess I shouldn't slam Kimber for that. However, all the rest of my experiences with Kimber were not good, and I stand by that.
I'm glad they work well for you, and I mean that sincerely.
I can't speak to the quality of their handguns but I own four Kimber rifles, all are accurate with beautiful stocks. Early production turned out a high number of flawed guns but they seem to have gotten past the QC issue.
I own two Kimber firearms...a TLE/RL II and a Super America 84 in 325WSM. Both guns have performed flawless. The biggest problem I have is that everytime someone shoots the 1911 I have to listen to "why dont you just sell me that gun?" I have never had to get involved with their customer service because so far I have had zero reason to. I do not particularly like the way they advertise a gun just to get a feel for whether or not it might be a success. Then either dont produce it or dont produce it for a year or two. I have been hearing about this Solo thing for two years and have yet to see one or have a dealer say "yep, got one on the way." All I hear is " yeah, they aint out yet." Some posters in this thread seem to be saying bad guns, fantastic marketing. I am saying, that's backwards to me.
sipowicz
Member
I had a TLE2 but I overbought...didn't like the aggressiveness checkering on the front strap... also, for target shooting, I find the Novak combat sights a bit big, plus, I didn't need night sights...so I sold it....I have been looking at plain Jane Gi's for the past year and luckily one fell in my lap...
Probably all those things - and a few not mentioned.
The Kimbers I have been around have been good. (maybe 6-8 full-size guns, none of the super compact models) I have a TLE II that I have had great luck with and I consider it in the same class with my other 1911s in roughly the same price range. I did make some changes to it that were just to suit me (not necessary). The gun worked fine as it was, shot up to my expectations, had a decent trigger, etc. I bought it used at what I considered an attractive price. No complaints.
Kimber does make a LOT of guns, and a lot of different models that likely don't appeal to everyone. SIG is playing the same game - dozens and dozens of models with largely cosmetic differences that don't have much to do with shooting. And as you say, there is a lot of competition right now. That may explain some of what you see on GB.
I also notice a "Kimber vs. The World" mentality that some people have - an almost Glockish cult-type mentality that I think odd. Then there seems to be a reverse camp that thinks all Kimbers are useless junk. My own opinion is that they are good guns, but not particularly special; not something to ooggle and ahh over, but not something to deride.
I have owned a few different Kimbers. Mine were made prior to 2000 when they were actually a good value.
At the present time there are too many companies that offer better quality and more features for the same or less money. It's much more difficult to find someone saying good things about them compared to just 5 years ago.
At the present time there are too many companies that offer better quality and more features for the same or less money. It's much more difficult to find someone saying good things about them compared to just 5 years ago.
novalty
Member
Spoke with a salesman at LGS, and he said he was done with Kimber. He bought a new 1911 from them and it was having issues with jamming, so he called their Customer Service. They told him to put 1,000 rounds through it, this after he said he had one of the most frustrating range trips just trying to get 100-200 rounds through it.
Seems like a good idea to ask the customer to try putting another $300 - $400 worth of factory ammo through a gun that jams every single magazine.
For the price that Kimber asks for their 1911's, I'd buy a Dan Wesson.
Seems like a good idea to ask the customer to try putting another $300 - $400 worth of factory ammo through a gun that jams every single magazine.
For the price that Kimber asks for their 1911's, I'd buy a Dan Wesson.
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This was my problem with Kimber, although they told me to put 500 rounds through it before calling them.
When you call S&W, Ruger, or Springfield with a problem, you get a shipping label to send it in. You don't get told to burn more ammo (which is VERY frustrating with a pistol that is constantly malfunctioning.) Like I said, I've owned three...none now, no more, and never again. I may learn slower than some, but eventually even I catch on.
