Kimber Clackamas Mystique???

Ah, Clack-my-ass. My old homeland. Those Kimbers are the only famous thing associated with that country apart from Tonya Harding.

I believe the real difference is when the original owners still had control and demanded the highest quality parts. The company went through reorganization and came out producing a larger volume but not as finely crafted.

I have a Custom Classic (not II) and it is absolutely fantastic. It is completely reliable and very accurate. Over on the 1911 forum, the general consensus is that Kimber got a bit crazy with the success of the early models and began mass producing many different models, and quality has suffered.

So, it is my understanding that when someone raves about their 'clackamas' it is similar to someone talking about a pre-64 Winchester, or a pre-Garcia Sako. It is something that is generally held up to be of higher quality than the current offering and is thus, more desirable.

One thing I do know for sure, I've only seen a handful of them for sale at gunshows in the past 5 years.

IMHO it really comes down to this... Any pre II Kimber is a good Kimber. Better QC, absolutely amazing fit and finish. No series 80 safety.

This being said, Clackamas has a very special place. They are the first few thousand guns made by Kimber and they are exceptional. I would say that they are on par with semi-custom guns being built today. I have two and will pass them to my kids (if i ever have any) on my deathbed and not a minute before. I actually have a fund in reserve in case I ever run across one...

Dont get me wrong, the new Kimbers are just fine. Yes, they do let a lemon go from time to time but they do have good customer service and will fix it right. If you cant find a Clackmas, get a pre series II pistol. You will not regret it...

Is there any reason to seek a Clackamas (I know...made in Yonkers) Kimber over say something else or new from any other brand???

Click to expand...

Cosmoline said it short and sweet. I agree with all the posts. They are worth seeking out. The Trophy model I spent some time shooting was about equal to a Gold Cup - they aren't that way anymore. That was 10 years ago almost, and they weren't cheap then, either.

Yeah, but for 8 to 9 bills, what comes close? Seriously, I just dont know so if there is something out there in that price range of the same quality, please let me know since I am about to drop 2k on a fusion...

V.

I'm not lucky enough to have a Clackamas, but I do have a 1st series Classic Gold Match built in 1997. The fit & finish is tremendous and it's extremely accurate and reliable. This is my main bowling pin gun and it's done very well in that regard. I've put thousands of rounds through it since I got it 2 years ago with zero problems.

I've also owned a Colt Gold Cup Trophy and a Dan Wesson Pointman and my Kimber was at least the equal of these. I only really needed one target grade 1911 and I sold the Colt & DW. Besides, I'm a sucker for guns with a real polished deep blue finish. I trade lots of guns and I've probably had 2 dozen different 1911s in the past couple of years but this Kimber will go to my son...

If Kimber would have kept up the level of fit and finish and been able to hold the price they wouldn't have anywhere near the competition they have now. The thing about the Clackamas marked guns is there are only 7000 of them so while not rare they are a bit special. I'm quite fond of mine.

They were all made in New York. The ATF required the use of the west coast address because that's where the paperwork said the company was located.

"Then in late 1996 Edelman purchased Jerico and changed the name to Kimber Manufacturing. In April, 1997, Edelman closed Kimber's riflemaking facility in Oregon and moved the entire operation to Yonkers.
That's the history of how the Kimber 1911 came to be...

~ American Handgunner Sept/Oct 1997"

John

So, that would mean Clakamas is more of a temporal identification than a location.

I had no idea that Kimber never made 1911s in Clakamas.