Kimber Tale

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popeye

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About 2 months ago I bought a used Kimber Pro Carry II at a large sporting goods store. It was priced at $550 but I got a discount of 10% because of a used gun sale they were running. They applied a couple small discounts to the remainder and I wound up paying $490 for the gun. This particular sporting goods chain now puts trigger locks on all their guns and will not remove them for inspection of the gun. So about all I could inspect was a few minor generalities and the feed ramp. Since the ramp is integral on this aluminum frame I made sure it was OK. Gun was about %90 because the whole thing is matte black and the finish was a bit thin on the slide. I get it home and then I see it has an external extractor. I guess I missed it on inspection cause I wasn't looking for it and I'm an idiot. Turns out Kimber tried external extractors on some models around 2000. Lot of problems with the design and a lot of complaints from owners. After some research I find out Kimber abandoned the ex extractor and went back to the standard extractor. If you had a complaint about the Ex Extr you sent the gun back to Kimber and they replace the whole top end with standard extractor gratis. I call Kimber and they want $275 for that repair / replace now since the freebe deal is no more. I brought the gun back to the store and they recite their no return policy. The place is right down the street from me and I buy a lot of guns and stuff there. Finally they tell me they'll send it to their gunsmith, which they apparently did. I get a call from the store 2 weeks ago and they tell me their gunsmith wants $600 to fix the gun. They won't pay $600 to fix it but they'll send it to Kimber and pay the $275 "is that OK with me" they say. So with any luck the gun may be on the way to Kimber for the repair. Wish me luck.
 
Good luck my man, boy, Kimbers can get spendy. Hope you can get off spending less on one though.
 
Why don’t you get the Kimber back and shoot it before you give up on it? That extractor wouldn’t bother me at all.
I have an Eclipse Pro with an external extractor. I’ve owned it for over a decade and have found it to be 100% reliable.
I would definitely give your Kimber a chance first.
 
I lent the gun to my son and he tried to put 100 rds. thru it. He told me about every 10th round the extractor would fail to grasp the spent case and result in a double feed. When it did extract properly the cases would come straight back. Kimber is out of parts for any of the 4 different extractor designs of this type. Wolff has extractor springs but there's no replacement parts. So if I get a new slide for nothing whats not to like? I'm not a Kimber fan, but I do like their Pro Carry and Compact models. Theirs a LW compact for sale here abouts and I'm trying to work a deal on it.
 
My second 1911 was a Springfield stainless Government model... it had the nasty habit of bouncing empties off my head, or worse... I got a case stuck between my shooting glasses and my forehead, once. I still have the scar. I wound up selling it (to my brother, who didn't seem to have that problem. He still has it.) and moving on to Kimber. What I know now is... I could have just changed or tuned the extractor and everything probably would have been fine.

The external Kimbers got sort of a bad rap... but, remember, all you ever read or hear about is the problems, not necessarily the guys that haven't had problems with them. They are fixable... in lieu of sending it off to Kimber, I would have tried working with it. I'll bet there is a YouTube video somewhere that explains the problems and how to fix it... there is a YT video explaining everything these days...

I have a non-external PC II as well, it functions 100% and is a fantastic pistol... yours is worth the effort. Personally, I hope Kimber can wave their magic wand over your pistol and you get back a 100% gun.
 
Did Kimber want $275 to replace the slide or to tune the extractor? I can’t imagine them wanting that much to tune it.
In any case, since the store offered to send it to Kimber, I would go that route since it won’t be an expense to you. Once it’s fixed, you’ll have a nice pistol.
 
Did Kimber want $275 to replace the slide or to tune the extractor? I can’t imagine them wanting that much to tune it.
In any case, since the store offered to send it to Kimber, I would go that route since it won’t be an expense to you. Once it’s fixed, you’ll have a nice pistol.

I talked to them about a month ago. It seems like $175 for the complete slide assm. and $100 for labor. The shipping was on me also.
 
A whole new top end for $275 is honestly pretty good, especially if they're doing any fitting to the frame. I wish I could get a new top-end on my various competition pistols for $275!!
 
$100 labor to put a new slide on seems excessive to me. There must be something I don’t understand about the process. Still, if the store was willing to pay for it . . . . . . . . . . .
Shipping shouldn’t be expensive if you have the store ship it for you. I'm pretty sure FFL holders can ship guns via priority mail so shipping should be about $15.

Unless I’m mistaken, which I often am, Kimber was able to produce quality handguns at a reasonable price due to its use of CNC machining and MIM parts. Both processes enable them to hold much closer tolerances than machining parts the “old fashioned” way so fitting should be minimal.
 
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$100 labor to put a new slide on seems excessive to me. There must be something I don’t understand about the process. Still, if the store was willing to pay for it . . . . . . . . . . .
Shipping shouldn’t be expensive if you have the store ship it for you. I'm pretty sure FFL holders can ship guns via priority mail so shipping should be about $15.

Unless I’m mistaken, which I often am, Kimber was able to produce quality handguns at a reasonable price due to its use of CNC machining and MIM parts. Both processes enable them to hold much closer tolerances than machining parts the “old fashioned” way so fitting should be minimal.

$100 isn't that bad. Barrel fitting at most places will run ya $200 and up.
 
You're on the money. 1990 and before, It used to be you'd buy a new Colt 1911 and to get real accuracy out of it you'd need additional fitting and maybe some after market internals. When Kimber hit the market they were tight as a bulls butt. When they caught on Kimber then released more models with pretty nice finishes. I have never liked the forward slide serrations but I guess the guide rod eliminates the ability to "press check"
 
I’ve owned a number of Colts over the years and, in my experience, none have shot as well as the Kimbers I’ve owned. I’ve had a number of various model Kimbers and each has been 100% reliable and very accurate. I’ve never understand why some folks hate them.

None of my Pro length Kimbers have forward serrations. My target model does even though it came from the factory with a short GI style guide rod.
At least Kimber does a good job of de-burring those forward serrations. I once had a Springfield Armory Loaded model with serrations so sharp that it shredded every leather holster I tried to carry it in. I didn’t keep that one very long.
 
About 2 months ago I bought a used Kimber Pro Carry II at a large sporting goods store. It was priced at $550 but I got a discount of 10% because of a used gun sale they were running. They applied a couple small discounts to the remainder and I wound up paying $490 for the gun. This particular sporting goods chain now puts trigger locks on all their guns and will not remove them for inspection of the gun. So about all I could inspect was a few minor generalities and the feed ramp. Since the ramp is integral on this aluminum frame I made sure it was OK. Gun was about %90 because the whole thing is matte black and the finish was a bit thin on the slide. I get it home and then I see it has an external extractor. I guess I missed it on inspection cause I wasn't looking for it and I'm an idiot. Turns out Kimber tried external extractors on some models around 2000. Lot of problems with the design and a lot of complaints from owners. After some research I find out Kimber abandoned the ex extractor and went back to the standard extractor. If you had a complaint about the Ex Extr you sent the gun back to Kimber and they replace the whole top end with standard extractor gratis. I call Kimber and they want $275 for that repair / replace now since the freebe deal is no more. I brought the gun back to the store and they recite their no return policy. The place is right down the street from me and I buy a lot of guns and stuff there. Finally they tell me they'll send it to their gunsmith, which they apparently did. I get a call from the store 2 weeks ago and they tell me their gunsmith wants $600 to fix the gun. They won't pay $600 to fix it but they'll send it to Kimber and pay the $275 "is that OK with me" they say. So with any luck the gun may be on the way to Kimber for the repair. Wish me luck.

Sounds like you bought the Kimber at Cabela's. The trigger lock policy was instituted after some lunatic went into a BassPro in Kansas and popped a loaded magazine he brought with him into a 1911 and blew his brains out. My local Cabela's has recently installed bullet traps in both the new and used gun departments so that outfitters can take trigger locks off with the muzzle in the trap to let the customers check triggers.

If it is Cabela's, their used gun purchase paperwork specifies their return/repair policies. Their policy is "Buyer Beware." Their offer to pay for sending it to Kimber sounds eminently fair. The only issue is with Kimber...and good luck.
 
I had an external extractor Kimber that had issues, they sent me an newer style extractor for it and that cured it. Maybe they will still do that.
 
I called Kimber this A.M. and asked about my Pro Carry. I fully expected a "we've got it and we'll let you know" from their rep. Instead after a short wait she tells me it should be delivered today to my "large sporting goods store". I picked it up this evening and it looks great. This is a far cry from my usual gun repair experience.
 
I called Kimber this A.M. and asked about my Pro Carry. I fully expected a "we've got it and we'll let you know" from their rep. Instead after a short wait she tells me it should be delivered today to my "large sporting goods store". I picked it up this evening and it looks great. This is a far cry from my usual gun repair experience.
Pics? What did they do?
 
I called Kimber this A.M. and asked about my Pro Carry. I fully expected a "we've got it and we'll let you know" from their rep. Instead after a short wait she tells me it should be delivered today to my "large sporting goods store". I picked it up this evening and it looks great. This is a far cry from my usual gun repair experience.
Popeye.....I really hope it turns out to be a winner for you........slip us. A photo when you get a chance......take care
 
They put a new top end on it with all associated parts.I want to put some other grips on it and I'll take some pics. It looks like a new gun.
That's great service! Looking forward to the pics!
 
Pic is nothing special. I lost patience trying to get lighting right, and I'm not much of a pitcher taker anyway. I like plain looking utilitarian guns. I had a Stainless pro carry but it was just too gaudy for me, so it's gone. This gun has a shiny trigger soon to be replaced by a short black one.

EuvpKtV.jpg
 

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I like guns that are completely unassuming except for a gaudy trigger. It reminds me where to put my finger to cover up all that unsightliness. ;)
 
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