Sick Of Kimber

[aphelion]

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.

It might be that he made some assumptions about your age and occupational status based on the subject and tenor of your rant. I am only guessing though.

 

[therevjay]

I don't see anything wrong with a Kimber. But they are rather spendy, if resale value is a major concern and you don't mind paying a bit more up front. How 'bout a Colt? They do have some experiance at building 1911's.

 

[BBQLS1]

Interesting article. Who's Hilton?

Hilton Yam

10-8 Consulting - Instructor Biography Page

 

[BBQLS1]

When it comes to 1911's I just will not trust a "production" gun. If you want one to defend your life with then get a Nighthawk, Wilson, Ed Brown or Les Baer. All of those makers will deliver a weapon that will function flawlessly because much of them are hand built and fitted by competent craftsmen. With the 1911 platform this is a must!
If you cannot afford one of those then get a Glock, Walther PPQ, or a S&W M&P. These are all reliable weapons that are affordable and can be made with modern techniques and still be reliable.

Alot of people think along these lines. I tend to think if it runs, it runs. Those guys you mention are more likely going to consistently deliver a gun that runs without any tweaking though.

The only problem is that a 1911 does need more attention the more you run it than say a Glock or maybe a M&P.

 

[Stonecove]

Kimber can be good guns all they want, I still get hacked off when I pay $10 for a magazine just to see Kimber on every other page. I never really criticized the quality of Kimber, just that I'm sick of seeing the ads everywhere. You're not going to convince me that Kimber sells more guns than S&W, but I don't see every ad page monopolized by S&W.
Furthermore, if you have a Kimber that will do some trick that my Smith or any other quality 1911 for that matter, won't, please demonstrate as I'd love to be amazed.
The fact is, people drop large wads of cash on these Kimbers then try to justify the expense by acting like all others are junk by comparison. How arrogant. There's absolutely nothing wrong with liking Kimbers, but just call it preference and leave it at that. Round counts and all that other B.S. don't impress me because I can do that too. If your gun works well, then good for you. Me and countless other people can meet you at the range with other brands that cost half the money and match you shot for shot even WITH external extractors (with S&W does well by the way).
Again, I never said that Kimber weren't good. I just said that they're not better. For every round count you post on here I can find two just like it about a "lesser" 1911.

Duke-- Apparently you don't understand how a printed magazine works. If everyone who hated Kimbers (or S&W or Glocks or Sigs or whatever) was like you and you got your way, there wouldn't be enough advertising revenue to print the magazine. Do you read Playboy and crab about the ads for male enhancement products or crab about motor oil ads when reading a Car magazine??? Maybe you just got out of bed on the wrong side, but I think you were just looking for a fight. Chill out and turn the page if you don't want to look at Kimbers.
Stonecove
ps Kimber sells more production 1911's than anyone else because they put semi custom features in a production gun that you sometimes have to pay more from when ordering a custom Brown or Wilson.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Love my Kimber of America Hunter .22; much better than the Clackamas .22 I used to own.

Kimber did revitalize the 1911 market when they started making production guns with the custom features you used to have to send off for, and I give them credit for that. Although some of the first 1911's that they sold were marked "Clackamas", that's because that is where the headquarters were still located at the time, they actually were made in New York, as they are today. I remember reading years ago in gun magazines that more than one writer scoffed when Greg Warne said he was going to start making 1911's, saying they would believe when they saw it happen.

There has been a lot of talk about their drop in quality, but I've never owned one, so I can't speak to that.

Kimber is a place in Australia where the original founder of Kimber of Oregon, John (called Jack) Warne, came from, and you would not call the folks from that area girlie to their faces. There is definitely more than one explanation of the name; some say the name of the town he came from was Kimba, and that Kimber was the aboriginal name for a brushfire. I'm no expert on that (or anything else), but it is a rather harsh area.

 

[Stonecove]

You're not going to convince me that Kimber sells more guns than S&W, but I don't see every ad page monopolized by S&W.
Duke,
Smith & Wesson does indeed sell more pistols in the category of "over 9mm to .50 Cal. However S&W's numbers include dozens of non 1911 models where Kimbers 80,000 piece production of pistols is all 1911. Here is a link to the ATF numbers so you can see for yourself:
http://www.atf.gov/statistics/download/afmer/2010-final-firearms-manufacturing-export-report.pdf
Have a good day!
Stonecove
ps. I only gave you a round count on my Kimber as evidence of why they might be popular. I didn't suggest others were less so, I'm sure there are better pistols out there, but apparently alot of guys think the value of a Kimber is there or they wouldn't be #1 in 1911. Just saying.

 

[wheelgun28]

Ahhhaa, Now I see the problem, they are made in New York , right close to the city proper no less.

Who would buy a gun made in an elitist area of gun control laws, its unconscionable.

I also know that theres a 7/11 store close by the factory....





What, you mean, Springfield is in Massachusetts, since when.....


Oh ok, never mind....




I dont own one yet, waiting for the LGS to get in a Super Match...

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I only have two 1911s. The Kimber Pro Tactical II SE shoots a little better than the Colt. Kimber has had no reliability problems. The only thing I don't like about the Kimber is that a takedown tool is required.

As far as advertising... There are so many gun manufacturers and 1911 makers that I certainly couldn't criticize Kimber or anyone else for keeping their brand in front of potential buyers.

I have the May 2012 issue of Guns & Ammo right here on my desk. S&W, Beretta and Kimber each have two full pages of advertising. Springfield has two full pages plus a partial page.

Kimber has a lot of back page advertising. Try placing your gun magazines on the coffee table cover page up.



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[Kanewpadle]

The sole reason Kimber is successful is their marketing strategy. Which happens to be better than their guns.

I've owned 6 different Kimbers and sold them off. I'll put my Dan Wesson up against any Kimber any day.

Kimber is overpriced and if you ask anyone at Kimber, they will tell that they are simply the best. They aren't.

IF I were to buy another it would be the entry level Classic Custom. The others ain't worth the money.

Why do I dislike Kimber? Two salesmen walked into my friends pawn shop and tried to convince him Kimber was absolutely the best and that he would surely sell more than he could keep in stock. All he needed to do was buy $10,000 worth to start. When they tried to give him the hard sell, he told them to get the hell out.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Kimber makes a nice rifle, even compared to my 1949 Model 70.

 

[roundgunner]

The ads don't really bother me, I like the looks of a nice 1911. None of these give me any problems and the black Custom Target has had a boatload of ammo put thru it. You can tell from the way my left thumb has rubbed the finish off by the slide release.

 

[wuluf]

Bought one 8 yrs ago,external extractor and all.Accurate,reliable,boring.

Me as well, except it was nine years ago, an Ultra that I carry every day. I liked it so much I bought a full size Custom II 3 years ago. This thread reminds me of the things folks say about Harleys. Oh wait, i ride one of those too....

 

[COL Jagdog]

I have 3 Kimbers -- Eclipse Custom II, Custom Covert II and Custom II
(also have S&W and Colt .45 autos and a Rock Island .45). Have had no problems with the Kimbers -- accurate and reliable -- I clean them thoroughly as I do all of my pistols. To each his own, I guess.
As our silverback leader suggested, nice to see another American manufacturer doing well and ad money does employ folks. I have a Marias -- very well-built shotgun -- but no Kimber rifles.
I am very happy that the US Army is evaluating a group of 12 (at last count) .45 autos to replace the M-9 -- I have carried an M-9 on many deployments (and usually also carried an M-4 or M-16 A2) -- and just never cared much for the 9 mm M-9 (other than carrying 15 rounds in the mag, and always carried two extra mags -- 45 rounds total) -- but would have really liked carrying a .45 (8 rd total, 1 chambered, 7 in mag) and would have carried 3 extra mags -- 29 rounds total -- and a comfort factor that anything I hit would stay down) --
so, my brothers, as the song goes (re your choice of .45):
"Love the one you're with" -- has always worked well for me with
pistols and women.

 

[Fishslayer]

Kimber has a lot of back page advertising. Try placing your gun magazines on the coffee table cover page up.

Good idea...

OOPS!

 

[Kevin G]

Have had a Kimber, blued custom target .45acp for about 10yrs, stainless one in .38 super for 7 or 8yrs. Both good guns, a good value at the time. I think Kimber's have gotten rather expensive these days, I'd look to S&W 1911's if I were shopping.
Kevin G

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Good idea...

OOPS!

LOL!

I can't believe you posted a magazine pic of a Kimber in a thread created by a guy suffering heartburn over Kimber magazine ads. Have you no mercy?

 

[jlrhiner]

Hilton Yam

10-8 Consulting - Instructor Biography Page

Did you ever notice how most of these experts never actually say where they work? I wonder why.

 

[jlrhiner]

One other thing.

Why is it some of you believe that the (come on now, admit it) best combat handgun ever made has to be "fixed" before you'd trust your life to it. AND it requires more maintenance than (oh horror of horrors) a GLOCK? I can sit under a tree (or in a trench, jungle or desert) and disassemble and repair my 1911, and never had to go to 1911 Armorers School.

I like my Kimber Ultra CDP, just like all the others I've got. I'm glad they're successful, and not foreign made (well, ok, New York). Don't be a hater.

 

[arjay]

I don't get it either.Out of the 9-10 1911s I've bought over the years,they all ran fine.