Old Gen Kimber Classic Custom

[ClearedHot]

Are the old Series 1 Kimber Classic Custom 1911's a good buy? I have an opportunity to buy a very good condition (less than 200 rounds) Classic Custom from a local gun shop for around $650 out the door.

How does this Kimber pistol compare to a Springfield MC Operator?

[17K]

That's a great price for a pre-series 2.

They're about the same quality as an MC Operator/Loaded.

[Gary1911A1]

Yes, I'd buy it in a heartbeat even if I had to use plastic credit card.

[gaijin]

They're good guns- before Kimber went all nuts with "MIM/Firing Pin Safety".
I had one and it was a shooter, well made.

[sagecarbina]

Years ago a friend of mine got one, they are okay but don’t expect much from them.

[Vandal]

The Series 1 Kimbers are where they made their original good name.

[17K]

They're good guns- before Kimber went all nuts with "MIM/Firing Pin Safety".
I had one and it was a shooter, well made.

They were always made with the same mim parts.

[PapaFoxtrot]

I purchased new a low 2,000 serial number, in 1996, with the Clackamas rollmark.

It was essentially a Chip McCormick/Wilson type frame & slide, forged by Jerico, produced on modern CNC equipment, nicely dehorned, and with a very good fit. At that time, the Kimber 1911 was a rare option for an off the shelf 1911.

It had MIM, and the finish was poor, but the slide didn't rattle, the edges weren't sharp as a razor, the VIS was correctly milled, and they were forged. They could easily be built into dependable, accurate guns.

Mine got checkered, refinished, all parts upgraded to Brown, Wilson, C&S, etc, and a Kart barrel. Fire control, slide stop, extractor, sights, etc, replaced with best materials available.

It was an accurate and very reliable pistol, and held up perfectly to a brutal period of shooting. Yes, I retrofitted many parts, but I knew that going in.

Obviously, the company has changed, but the very first Kimbers were solid and worthy base guns.

[17K]

Their frames and slides are still good stuff and make fine base guns, you just have to get rid of the firing pin safety junk.

[glazer1972]

Their frames and slides are still good stuff and make fine base guns, you just have to get rid of the firing pin safety junk.

There is no firing pin safety junk in the early models.