I found out a long time ago...like the XD...there is no love here for anything Kimber.
I too have a lower end Kimber (TLE II) that runs very well. However...I knew I was rolling the dice and I never tell anyone "go grab a Kimber...they're great." I know buying a Kimber is very 50-50 on whether you will get one that runs.
That said...yes...if you can get a lightly used "Custom II" series Kimber that runs well...that is a decent base gun. The resale on Kimbers is terrible so you might be able to pick up a Custom II or TLE II in the 600 dollar range. If you can test-fire it ahead and make sure it is reliable...even better.
However, due to the hit and miss QC of all things Kimber...I rarely tell anyone to run out and get a Kimber as a low end base 1911.
It is easy to toss the silly full length guide rod and you can deactivate the silly Swartz Safety by swapping the firing pin for a Series 70 one. That gets rid of the worst goofy parts of the Kimber. The plastic MSH is also easy to swap but many Colts came with these and the one on my M1991A1 never broke.
Do it if it is cheap, you can test it and you know what you are getting into with any Kimber.
I got lucky and my TLE II is accurate and reliable but my experience is NOT the norm.
-brickboy240


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