Over a decade ago I was coyote hunting with friends. A friend had a rifle borrowed from his brother. It was a stainless .243 Win. ( Kimber) with a black synthetic stock. Here is the interesting part. It had a butter knife handle and was cock-on-closing. I am certain about these facts. I am pretty sure it was factory and had not been messed with. My recollection is that it was fully stainless. Any way it was a cool little rifle and I have been considering trying to track one down. What model was this? When were they made new and how much are they worth?
looking for info about a Kimber
- Thread starter mshootnit
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At one time Kimber was buying up some old military Mausers, refinshing them and putting the in a pretty decent stock. It has been a while and I really didn't pay a lot of attention to them at the time so my memory is a bit fuzzy. I don't remember a lot of details, but I'll bump this back to the top so maybe someone else who knows more may see it and respond.
Kimber has a off/on history.
The company was originally "Kimber of Oregon" until it went bankrupt in the mid 90s and returned as a new company under new ownership as "Kimber USA".
The old company made a M89 rifle if I recall the model right that was hit and miss for quality from what I have read - I`ve no experiance with one- that went out with the bankruptcy. The new company started out with refurbishing old M96 Mausers in a few short action chamberings + the original 6.5x55 with plastic stocks and new barrels, then moved up to their 1911 handguns. I believe some M96s were offered with a stainless barrel in some variations but I don`t recall ever hearing of a butterknife bolt as a offering. That doesn`t mean it never was, just that I`m not aware of one. All the recievers were blued.
In 2004 they started building their M84 short action rifle which is still going today. The 1st few years they were all blued with a "normal" ball type bolt and wood stocked. Today you can get stainless and composit stocked versions of it, plus a couple of new models. All have "regular" bolt knobs though.
The company was originally "Kimber of Oregon" until it went bankrupt in the mid 90s and returned as a new company under new ownership as "Kimber USA".
The old company made a M89 rifle if I recall the model right that was hit and miss for quality from what I have read - I`ve no experiance with one- that went out with the bankruptcy. The new company started out with refurbishing old M96 Mausers in a few short action chamberings + the original 6.5x55 with plastic stocks and new barrels, then moved up to their 1911 handguns. I believe some M96s were offered with a stainless barrel in some variations but I don`t recall ever hearing of a butterknife bolt as a offering. That doesn`t mean it never was, just that I`m not aware of one. All the recievers were blued.
In 2004 they started building their M84 short action rifle which is still going today. The 1st few years they were all blued with a "normal" ball type bolt and wood stocked. Today you can get stainless and composit stocked versions of it, plus a couple of new models. All have "regular" bolt knobs though.
oneounceload
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BRNO and Mauser, among others, made butterknife bolt actions. Maybe it was one of these?
JohnBT
Member
There's no telling with Kimber. At one time Kimber of Oregon offered a special order Model 82 .22 called the Super Continental. It was nice gun with a checkered metal butt, metal grip cap, butter knife bolt handle, etc. And a Mannlicher stock.
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