Posted: 9/24/2010 3:04:10 AM EDT
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I have been bitten by the bug and currently have 2 springfield 1911's and want to move up a little.
I hear good and bad about Kimber, so much so that I don't know what to beleive. From my understatning (please correct me if I'm wrong) the base kimbers are a crap shoot and if the word "custom" is in the name of the gun it comes from the custom side of the house and usually has fewer issues than the base guns. My questions are: Is a kimber custom actually just that and is it worth the extra money? Also, would it be worth my while to go the few extra hundred over a kimber and go with a Les Baer? I was looking at the stinger model. Thanks, Jeff |
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What you're asking is very subjective and you'll never get the definitive answer you want because it is subjective. It's like asking what the best brand of car is. There's no right answer.
I have owned exactly one Kimber, and that's not enough to really make a clear judgment on the brand as a whole. My Kimber is a Warrior and is one of the best pistols I've ever owned. I wouldn't trade it for hardly anything. It's accurate, reliable, and just a great gun for me. However, based on your choices, I'd probably recommend spending a bit more and getting a Les Baer. I would personally go with the TRS, but that's up to you. I've been hearing great things about their pistols, and although I've never owned one, I would like to some day. In my opinion a Kimber custom is not in the same league as a gun that comes out of Les Baer's shop. I don't think anyone would consider a Kimber custom to be a "true" custom gun, although I'm sure they are very nice. |
| If you are talking about models like the Kimber Custom II, then no, that is not even close to a custom gun. It is a regular production model, and their entry model. If you want a custom gun, look elsewhere like Baer, Brown, Wilson, Nighthawk...the usual suspects. And I hear Springfield has a nice custom shop as well. |
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Get a Springfield Operator or TRP. They are part of the loaded line
of pistols and have a lot of custom work done on them at the Springfield Custom Shop. You won't be sorry. I have an Operator and it's rock solid! For what you get, they are probably the best bang for the buck! |
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I would go for the baer all the way. If a new upper end kimber is 1k and you can find a used but well cared for les baer(rarely is something like a bear abused or not maintained) for a few hundred bucks more, it is a no brainer. Since we are talknig subjective, I will give you my personal buy suggestions in 1911's (I rarely ever buy anything especially a full size gun,new)
under 500 dollar range- used colt 1991a1 500-750 used colt series 70 750-1k- sti trojan or ranger in commander sized over 1k take your pick les baer nighthawk wilson etc. in the over 1k range it seems les baer is the most bang for the buck - quite a bit cheaper than wilson or nighthawk but similar levels of performance. at this time with multiple 1911's in inventory the onlyy non colt I have is a les baer. |
Try calling Kimber and asking to speak to the Custom Shop about tricking out a 1911 just the way you want it. I'll save you the trouble: you can't do it. That's because they don't have a custom shop. Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. 
Call Les Baer and do the same thing. They'll patch you through and you can create the gun of your dreams. For a few hundred bucks more than a new Kimber you can have a truly high-quality custom 1911. That said, I have owned 4 Kimbers and all but one were very good shooters. They make some damn sexy looking guns but I would only buy a used one from someone I know who swears it has functioned flawlessly for him. A new one is too much of a gamble for me. |
| IMO, the base Kimber Custom is about the best gun they make. For $700 they have most of the features commonly requested and are built to the same standard as all their other guns. If they would offer a model without their generally unwanted firing pin safety for around the same price (instead of over $1100), they would be very hard to beat in that space. |