Why S&W and the boycotting of the Kimber 1911

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I have one Kimber and it's the 10mm target model. When I picked up this Kimber at my LGS (I've dealt with this shops owner since the late '50s) they had ordered 4 Wilson magazines for the Kimber.

The owner told me to try the mag that came from Kimber and when 1911 choked to load a Wilson mag or two and try them. The Kimber mag was junk and I didn't bother to bring it home with me; the Kimber has functioned flawlessly since purchase after the break in.

 

[bvd1]

I'm very puzzled by this.

You buy a new gun, and it is defective. So you send it back to the factory?

If your new washing machine had a dented lid, would you complain to Maytag, or Home Depot?

If your new computer did not work, would you send it back to Toshiba, or take it back to Best Buy?

And wanting a refund? How can Kimber "refund" your money? They didn't sell you the gun. They sold it to Davidsons, who sold it to Sports South, who sold it to Joe's Gun Shoppe, who sold it to you.

Me - I'd have been pounding on Joe's counter. "You sold me defective merchandise. I want my money back."

Let Joe go back to the wholesaler, who can fight with the distributor, who can argue with Kimber.

There are some manufacturers that want to keep their customers and will refund their money.
I purchased a new 4" Ruger Redhawk several years ago online since I could not find one locally. I could not inspect the gun in my hand.
It wasn't until I took it to the range that I noticed problems with it.
I returned it to Ruger, who supplied a free return shipping label.
I was told the gun could not be repaired and they offered me any revolver of my choice since they did not have the same model in inventory and did not know when the next run would be made.
I requested a refund including the shipping fee from the seller and the transfer fee charged by local FFL. Full refund arrived in less than a week.
That is how you keep a customer coming back. Since then I found and bought one locally that is fine.

Bill

 

[Old Corp]

I think the 'crest of the wave' passed for Kimber about 7-8 years ago. Now, with Remington, Ruger, S&W, DW and a host of other 'non-Colt' choices out there, I just don't see the justification for their prices.

I've owned a few. Even have a 3" UCII .45 that evidently never got the memo about how fail-prone 3" 1911's are supposed to be. Have tried every bullet weight and profile under the sun and it shucks them all through. Can't complain there/
But, also have a .22 RF Target where the breechface (soft aluminum) was peened out of round after about 4-5k rounds. That created terminal feeding and extraction problems. Had to go back to Kimber, who replaced the slide. When I informed them that even the cheap GSG .22 1911 had a steel insert for the breechface, I just got silence.

Have no torch to bear, but I've bought my last Kimber.

 

[BE Mike]

I'm glad I never drank the Kimber Kool-Aid, based upon so many negative comments from shooting buddies. Having said that, the items you point out look like they are purely cosmetic.

 

[holo]

I'm glad I never drank the Kimber Kool-Aid, based upon so many negative comments from shooting buddies. Having said that, the items you point out look like they are purely cosmetic.

Well said and I agree I would rather buy 2 of something than 1 kimber

 

[HARDWARE]

All my 1911's say COLT on em. The most recent are the 70 series reissue govt. model and the standard production commander....and both have been flawless.

The kimber always looked effeminate to me with its cursive script roll mark.

 

[arjay]

Currently have seven colts dating from the 60s-70s and a custom springfield that are reliable and accurate.Bought a Kimber custom II about a dozen years ago when I started shooting again.It was reliable and accurate too,gave it to my son a few years ago.His place flooded last Christmas,so now it's wearing a sexy two tone cerakote finish.


Duck!

 

[mrrick]

Why anyone would spend a bundle on a Kimber when there are so many quality 1911s on the market. Even the low priced Turkish and RIA guns are superior and for half the price or less.

I think Kimbers have a plethora of MIM parts. While that is not always bad, it shows cost cutting over quality.

 

[senecaap]

I had the Kimber bug bad (about 12ish years ago), till my cousin bought a stainless 9mm that could not get through 1 magazine without choking. Different mags, springs, you name it, it was tried. Two trips back to the factory did not fix it (contrary to their claims) but a third finally did, but by that time confidence in that gun was dead and buried.

It's a shame, I really like the Kimber Rifles I've shot, especially the big Rigby they used to make. Maybe I'm outside the norm, but Kimber is the only 1911 I've ever had trouble with. Colt, S&W, DW and RIA have all been great for me (especially the little RIA, I still can't figure out why I don't have one anymore......oh yeah, a 24 came along).

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I've owned just one Kimber. Purchased it about 15 years ago. It's been a remarkably accurate and flawless shooter. Swapped out the recoil spring with a Wilson Combat flat-wire kit and use Wilson Combat magazines.

 

[hoc9sw]

My Kimber Ultra TLEII, after one trip back for feeding issues, runs like a top. I've beaten up the finish, but I did that in daily handling.

I found their CS to be easy to work with, and never had to threaten or demand anything.

When I called to ask about recoil spring assemblies, they comped one that they could have charged me $50 for.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Purchased micro9 from kimber 6weeks ago. Sent it back to kimber because of the condition it was in. kimber took the position that this was normal wear on kimber firearms. I let them know that I sent them a new in the box firearm back to them. After 3 weeks (had to wait for decision from New York office), kimber told me the would replace the slides stop, barrel and refinish the firearm as a courtesy. I threw a fit and demanded a refund. kimber told me that (New York) stated they could only repair it. After I told kimber management that I was going to exploit there decision, management had the capability to overriding the decision (New York) and just replacement firearm (a month later).
I refused there offer after 2 months of BS. Even with a holster and extra clip I requested a full refund.
In the past 4 years...
Kimber refinished & repaired my solo, and 1911 HD Master Carry because of the poor kim-pro finish and poor quality assurance. WORLD Class Quality...not from my experiance.

I sent firearm back to S&W last week (only time I sent back a firearm to S&W) . The service I received was top notch! The customer service was friendly and precise. The quality of work was unquestionable. Thank you S&W for providing me with world class quality.

Pictures from kimber provided.

I dislike Kimber firearms due to quality issues related to personal experience I have had with fitting in their 1911s, but in fairness, if those are "before" pictures, I cannot see anything worthy of a full refund.

 

[TAC]

I've owned over a dozen Kimbers over the years. So many, I honestly forgot how many. Most new, a few used. Never, ever, any problems of any kind. Beautiful looking, and functioning 1911's!

I know there are a lot of haters out there for sure. But that goes with just about any gun.

 

[grover99]

I had a very early basic Kimber that worked perfect. Even after my cat knocked a glass of OJ over on it while I was out of the house. OJ is very hard on a gun finish. My now ugly 1911 still shot great even when I put a 400 corbon barrel in it. Sad that the newer ones cause problems and cost so much

 

[Laketime]

I stopped sending guns off to Wilson to have them perform their magic once kimber hit the market.The early kimbers were everything they claimed to be. Very few manufacturers can handle the insane demand for their product ( as Kimber had ) without the quality suffering. Remember Kimber went from a set up of being able to produce just under 10k a year to well over 90k annually produced . The 1911 market is where it is today because of Kimber. You no longer have to send a Colt to Wilson to get it right.

 

[Sayoc01]

I have 2 Kimbers,one is a Custom Royal 5" made in I believe 1995(could be before or a little after)& a Pro2 4"!Put a Wilson mag in the Pro.Never a problem.I like them both.
Jim

 

[model70hunter]

I own 2 Kimber Rifles, 7mm08. Love them as much as my pre 64 model 70's.

Maybe 8 years ago I had sold some stuff and went to a STL gun show looking for a series 70 GC. At that time I was replacing guns I had sold/traded and was pulling my foot out of my.

I went to several and did not find a GC. A guy I knew had a Kimber Custom classic target. Swore it was fine, no issues. He just bought a Colt 1911 from around 1914 and was in heaven but needed some cash. I bought it and have not had one jam, issue and have run many different magazines in it. It is more accurate than anything except a custom target, maybe as accurate. It is not for sale, I would not take a Colt GC for it.

I love the Colt 1911's and have since bought 2 National match ones. One is from 1959 and the other is a 1966. Ok, I love Colts, BUT neither will shoot as well as the Kimber, and I'm using WW 185 GR match ammo in the Colts. And no I won't trade them for a sack of new Kimbers.

What I hear and have read is the older ones were exceptional. I have not owned one but hear many folks complain of issues with the newer ones.

When I buy any gun I examine it closely. Serious flaws do not get bought by me.

Several have mentioned taking the gun back to the LGS, I have poor luck when Buying a new Remington, 3 new ones to be exact. Used ones work OK for me.

I took my first and 2nd 700 back to the dealer. He ended up sending the BDL in 270 back to the jobber who leaned on Remington.

I once bought a Ruger #1 and it was one of the salt wood ones, Ruger had me a new one back in 7 days.

I had a Ruger OU in 20, Sk1 and SK2 I believe it was. The fore end had a small crack, it quit cocking the hammers on one bbl, the ejectors went south. All in a short order. Ruger put a complete new front half on it and had it back quickly.

I had a brand new Beretta 303 explode on the first shot, they had me a new one in under a week. I was not injured, lucky day for me except I was shooting in the KS state sporting clays championship. I had one and had sold all my guns to get money for a child custody battle. My friend had a LGS, he lent me the new one. Needless to say I was ticked. but felt having all 10 fingers was a prize too.

I'm sure all companies have one or 2 slide by. It is when many folks yell that changes my mind.

I have had my lemons, guns, cars and one woman. I learned.

I probably would take the repairs they offer and let them know if it still has issues it's coming back. It's sort of hard for an LGS to take a new one back, it is now used.

Sorry some have had issues.

Caveat emptor; it is on the buyer to make sure all is right at the sale.
I keep relearning this one......

 

[Road Rat]

I paid a little less than $500 for this RIA Compact about four years ago. It's had about 300 rounds through it, including a lot of SWC which the instruction book says may not feed. Never had a bobble. Doesn't have the tool marks on the inside either. Inexpensive doesn't always mean cheap.

My 1911 is a Kimber Pro - but when my grandson wanted a 1911 I went to a local gun show and picked up an RIA for $399.11 OTD and the grandson has shot the devil out of it with never an issue!

My Kimber has been around here since 2009 and has not given me any problems!! JMTCW

 

[les.b]

Well, I have owned a Kimber Ultra CDP II for several years now,mans it functions flawlessly with all of the ammo that I have put through it. Bought several extra mags, just to have them. My only complaint is that it came with a PLASTIC mainspring housing!! On a $1,200.00 gun! I ordered a machined aluminum replacement, and am quite happy with the gun. Incredible accuracy for a three inch barrel.

On the other hand I bought a new made Colt Commander (all steel) about the same time, and it had a plastic mainspring housing also. I solved that by selling the gun to someone who wanted it more than me. I cannot complain about that Kimber, though.

Best Regards, Les

 

[sw dan]

kimbers

the kimber 1911's in 9mm seem only to run with kimber mags. i had called wilson, and they said in 9mm used the kimber mags. kimber 1911 45, use any mag.....dan