early Kimber... how early is "early"?

[MIgunguy]

I have read several exhausting forum threads on Kimber 1911's and the back and forth debate on the quality of Clackimus (sp?) produced / marked guns versus early-Yonkers versus later-Yonkers, etc., etc. I bought a Kimber when the only other players were Colt, Springfield, and Norinco (!) based on the fact that, well, the Kimber I saw just seemed really tight and well-made, back when I thought that tightness of slide to frame on a 1911 was all that mattered. Actually now that I think about it Wilson was of course in production at the time but $1000+ for a gun was out of the question back then.

So can anyone tell me with any certainty:

When did Kimber 1911's hit the market?

When did the external extractor / Series II models come out?

What would you consider an "early" Kimber and / or when did quality control first become an issue (it seems Kimber became a victim of their own success, like S&W in the 60's (or 70's, or 80's, or 90's, depending on you you ask))?

 

[Rinspeed]

Kimbers came out in late 96 and the first 7000 or so were marked Clackamas OR. but were made in Yonkers NY. The series II models came out around 02 or 03 I think. The first of them still had the internal extractor with the FPS but then 8 or 9 months later they all were made with the external extractor wich was one of Kimbers biggest mistakes. I'm sure it cost them quite a bit on warranty work. They finally gave up trying to fix them and started just replacing the slides with one that had the IE.

 

[Rustynuts]

The early early history began long before that! The pre-Kimber years started way back after WWII in south Australia, Adelaide, per Wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimber_Manufacturing

Not sure what the first guns down under were, but early Kimbers (1979) were 22 rifles.

This thread also has some good history.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=183961

 

[loop]

What has not already been mentioned is that in the early years, around '96, Kimber made the slides and frames for Wilson. Wilson also made most of the parts used in Kimbers at the time.

Kimber also had a deal going with IMI. The Israeli maker was producing the poly frames for Kimber high caps and Kimber was making the slides and steel frames for the BUL M5, which also was built primarily using Wilson parts.

For about two years Kimbers were an incredible buy. They were a handfitted frame and slide with handfitted Wilson and McCormick parts.

Wilson and Kimber also indulged in an advertising war that precluded Kimber's manufacturing of its own parts, mostly by MIM.

If you are lucky enough to have purchased a Kimber during the two years in which they were basically Wilsons you have one heck of a gun.

Kimbers of late are still better than your average RI or SA, but are not the same as the early models (prior to 2000).

I have one of the early ones. I had a coupon that gave me $200 off the $650 retail price. It's a long story, but I knew the right guy. In 10 years I put between 20 and 30,000 rounds through it. The only part I replaced was a slide stop that wore out.

I recently rebuilt and refinished the gun. I replaced all the spring, the pins, the slide catch, extractor, mainspring housing and sights. It was, and still is, the best 1911 I've ever shot. And, now it is real pretty too.

 

[MIgunguy]

For about two years Kimbers were an incredible buy. They were a handfitted frame and slide with handfitted Wilson and McCormick parts.

If you are lucky enough to have purchased a Kimber during the two years in which they were basically Wilsons you have one heck of a gun.

Kimbers of late are still better than your average RI or SA, but are not the same as the early models (prior to 2000).

I guess that makes mine an early one. I stumbled accross the original reciept the other day, I had completely forgotten where and basically when I bought it. It was dated August '98 which doesn't prove anything except that it wasn't made in '99. I was considering selling it and wanted to know if I'd be lying if I described it as "early" production, but I think I'll just keep it. It's worlds better than my '03 purchased Colt.

I knew Kimber for many years made excellent .22 rifles but never got one (yet). I'll have to read about Australia.

Thanks for the repsonses!