(Question was originally about Kimbers. Now it's more about "affordable" 1911's, in general. [See later posts.])

So there's this used Kimber Custom II, all blued with wood grips, at my new favorite LGS. It has a couple minor cosmetic issues, one of which is some finish wear on the frame from the slide stop lever. Feels good in my hand. Sights work real well with my eyes. Trigger feels great. It's tagged at $699 or there-abouts.

Quick check on GB looks like that's not an atrocious price.

I'm thinking of going for it.

Good? Bad? Meh?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ensigmatic,

I had a Kimber II pro carry and it was the most expensive paperweight I ever had, had couple of issues and after some research seem like a lot of other people too. There are some that really like them but in my area non of the small shops are Kimber dealers and that on itself says a lot.

There were a couple of nice Kimber Raptors that I passed on in the last six months. Dubious reliability reputation was too much for me to get past.

Run away!!!!

I used to own two Kimbers but not any more. Neither one would fire more than 100rds without some sort of problem. Even after I sent one back it still was never reliable. I sold them telling the new buyers history. Chris

A new Kimber custom II costs like $599-$650 new online. That price is awful. Newer productions custom II’s are light years better than older custom II’s. Your new favorite store kinda has shitty prices...

https://www.familyfirearms.com...66-9bfe-08152cfb3ec9

https://www.sportsmansoutdoors...ducts2.cfm/ID/214586

Various Kimbers throughout the family. Biggest problems are Kimber mags and limp wrists.

Got a buddy who's a 1911 aficionado. His take: Kimber QC has been somewhat variable, but, if it runs out of the box it's generally going to be GTG. *shrug*

I've done some reading on Kimber quality since my OP. The opinions are all over creation. Interestingly, though, the opinions on the Custom II are pretty solidly positive.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
A new Kimber custom II costs like $599-$650 new online. That price is awful.

Hmmm...

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
Newer productions custom II’s are light years better than older custom II’s.

I've no idea how old this particular one is. For all I know it could be a "newer" one.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
Your new favorite store kinda has shitty prices...

Maybe, but they're more-or-less in line with gunbroker prices.

quote:

Originally posted by ukhayes:
Various Kimbers throughout the family. Biggest problems are Kimber mags and limp wrists.

That's two of the things I've seen before.

I don't know how good this particularly one is, and it's hard to form an opinion based on input that's all over the map, but I gotta tell you guys: Fondling this thing at the store--it feels like a quality piece of hardware.

Thanks for the input, everybody. I'll sleep on it.

Friends don’t let friends buy a Kimber!

I have a Kimber Custom II. I probably have about 5000rds through it. Using factory, Wilson, and GI mags, I haven’t had a single failure of any kind. BUT the manual states to use ball ammo only. It is the most accurate handgun I own. The trigger is amazing.

I think the issues/complaints with Kimber is they are a built with very tight tolerances from the factory. Throw in the usual 1911 magazine and ammo issues, and the higher end models don’t shoot as expected.

If you are looking for a very basic 1911, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a very basic Kimber. If I was looking at something more high end, around the same price point, I’d probably go with a Dan Wesson.

I use to CCW my Kimber. Never had a doubt it wouldn’t work properly if needed.

Do yourself a favor and pass on the Kimber. IMHO, their 1911's are problematic over-priced junk.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Quick check on GB looks like that's not an atrocious price.

I'm thinking of going for it.

Good? Bad? Meh?

Are you looking prices of Kimbers currently listed or prices of Kimbers that have sold in the past six months.

There are plenty of things listed on GunBroker at outrageous prices that never sell.

I have a Kimber from the mid-90's with thousands of rounds thru it without a failure.

I have an (almost) 20 year old 3" CDP that's been 100% reliable. In fact, mine never got the memo about 3" 1911's being unreliable. However silly me picked up 2 more Kimber's over the past few years. Failures to feed and failures to eject were the 2 biggest complaints.

I sold those 2 lemons, brought a Rock Island, a couple cases of ammo and never looked back.

My buddy lives in Yonkers, NY near Kimber, and he picked up a Raptor thinking that he could just drop it off if need be, but his has been flawless.

My first and olny 191 is a Kimber Custom II in the 5" model. It has been 100% since I bought it in 2002. Its my nightstand gun so I 100% trust it to go bang. Aside from ammo issues when I first started handrolling ammo, it has been flawless. Its very accurate and the trigger is better than average.


I do know they had serious extractor issues in a few versions. I guess if I had to get one now that was new, I would likely pass and save some extra money for a used ed brown or dan Wesson.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I have a Kimber from the mid-90's with thousands of rounds thru it without a failure.

Is it a Series 1? I have a Series 1 from around that time and there is a difference in quality between a 1 and 2 - it is almost like a completely different gun/company.

Check out the Tax sale at Kygunco out of Bardstown Ky. 45 or 10mm. Kimber just over $600 NEW. I just watched their promo on their FB page.

the II designation on the name mean it is a II and will have the Swartz grip safety...many don't like it but I haven't had an issue with my Custom II from 2001...

I've never had an issue with the original Chip McCormick magazines, Colt's, Tripp Research or MetalForms...

I believe my Kimber Custom II to be of similar quality to many 1911s in this price range and certainly similar to those from SIGArms or Springfield Armory...

I have had mine gone over by an Action specialist as well as added Virgil Tripp's hard chrome back when he was doing these but mine was fine before the work and better after the work...in all it has been 100% reliable...

I haven't looked at prices for Kimber in a long time but some of the new prices quoted above are pretty nice if you can get new for what this used one you are looking at is going for...

Good luck with your choice.

Bill

I have 4 different Kimbers (3 pro sized, and Gold Match) which run very well, no complaints at all about my older series II models.

I wonder if this isn't similar to many other gun companies which run into management and mfg changes which sully their reputation from time to time. Anyone know??

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:
Are you looking prices of Kimbers currently listed or prices of Kimbers that have sold in the past six months.

I was looking at prices on "closed" auctions/sales. Problem is: They don't give you an option to list just those that sold, so you have to manually sort through them.

Based on what I found, though: They're about $100 high, based on GB prices. That is not unusual for a LGS vs. GB.

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:
There are plenty of things listed on GunBroker at outrageous prices that never sell.

Yup.

quote:

Originally posted by Timdogg6:
My first and olny 191 is a Kimber Custom II in the 5" model. It has been 100% since I bought it in 2002.

I picked you to quote, but you'll notice there are a couple or more others with one thing in common: Custom IIs. This reflects what I've seen elsewhere: With all the complaints from people that have actually owned Kimbers, I don't think a one of them I've read so far has been a Custom II owner.

Maybe Kimber got that one "righter" than some of their others?

Anyway: I've decided to slow my roll a bit. Maybe I'll go back to a different LGS and see if I can't wrangle a better deal on a used stainless Ruger SR1911 they have. They've got it tagged at $695, IIRC, and I think that's definitely high for a used SR1911. It, also, felt very good in the hand, had a nice trigger, and I liked the sights. (Which were adjustable, I believe?) And Ruger is one of my favourite firearms makers.

Or maybe I'll decide I really don't need another handgun, right now, being as I haven't even had my new P210A to the range, yet