It’s been a good year! Another bucket list snag

GunNut

I’ve been wanting a first gen steel framed Kimber for a long time.  TOUGH to come by specially in good shape.  I’ve also been wanting a CCO for a long time too since I shot Mr. Larsen’s.  Not a lot of those around.  And then I just ran into this for a really good price. 

Called the guy and ask him if he can drive a few miles in my direction since he’s like 3 hour away.  Older gentlemen and super nice he says he really doesn’t drive much these days but to make it worth my while he drops the price by $120!!!!!  I say when and where do we meet.  

When we meet the gun is better than I expected AND in the original box AND he gives me a 100 round unopened box of Winchester White box .45s “for my troubles”.  One fine gentleman!  Says he’s happy his gun is going to a good home.

Original Kimber first gen Custom Compact!

Elk creek

Love that gun! I carried one as my backup on duty when I was anLEO. Major score! Well done my friend. 

earlyagain

I like the sights.

zorba

Niiiiice!

This is how we downsize!!

Diver43

zorba said:

Niiiiice!

This is how we downsize!!

Its is a compact after all

Good score !!

Zee

What makes it special, different, desirable?

GunNut

Zee said:

What makes it special, different, desirable?

All steel construction, al forged parts, CCO configuration (don’t need a round butt anymore), no firing pin safety (trigger on it is amazing), and heavy match barrel with no bushing.

Historical significance. When the original Kimbers came out the market for 1911’s was basically dead, Colt had killed it.  Folks that loved the 1911 where buying colts and immediately sending them to gunsmiths for modifications.   Kimber took all the top mods and put them on a production gun that was still hand fitted, called it the Custom, and sold it for a reasonable price.

I remember my first mentor putting one in my hand and saying, this is the company that’s going to revive American’s love for the 1911.  He was right!

GunNut

Elk creek said:

Love that gun! I carried one as my backup on duty when I was anLEO. Major score! Well done my friend. 

That makes it extra special brother!

GunNut

earlyagain said:

I like the sights.

They are old school Kimber 3 dot sights.  They are superbly usable but they are getting replaced with something fiber optic.  I’ll keep the originals but this was bought so I’d be one of my main carry guns so an upgrade to new tech is in order.

GunNut

zorba said:

Niiiiice!

This is how we downsize!!

Diver43 said:

zorba said:

Niiiiice!

This is how we downsize!!

Its is a compact after all

Good score !!

There is that! 😁

earlyagain

I didn't know those were old school forged bits. Very nice! You're a fountain of good info, as usual. Nice gun.

GunNut

earlyagain said:

I didn't know those were old school forged bits. Very nice! You're a fountain of good info, as usual. Nice gun.

Thank you!   Been waiting for the right one of these for a looooong time.  Now I can stop being nice to Larry 🤣

Just kidding, I love that guy!

Make_My_Day

Congrats...Nice gun. My Ruger 1911 stainless looks a bit like that.

GunNut

Make_My_Day said:

Congrats...Nice gun. My Ruger 1911 stainless looks a bit like that.

Those are great guns!

Bigslug

Sweet!  I was working at the LGS when those first Kimbers showed up.  That was during the troubled period of the '90's when the Colts were not much to write home about.  Springfield was really only in the business of the more basic Mil-Spec type guns at that time.  AMT was still floating around (blah), the Norincos were a pretty impressive mil-spec piece that some guys would build on.

Outside of the super high end stuff like Wilson and Baer, that was about the extent of the market, and those early Kimbers were a real game changer.  Nice that you found one without the Swartz safety.

GunNut

Bigslug said:

Sweet!  I was working at the LGS when those first Kimbers showed up.  That was during the troubled period of the '90's when the Colts were not much to write home about.  Springfield was really only in the business of the more basic Mil-Spec type guns at that time.  AMT was still floating around (blah), the Norincos were a pretty impressive mil-spec piece that some guys would build on.

Outside of the super high end stuff like Wilson and Baer, that was about the extent of the market, and those early Kimbers were a real game changer.  Nice that you found one without the Swartz safety.

Thanks! And absolutely spot on.  I remember buying a Colt Government in Stainless during that time and how much cursing and bleeding I did while modifying and tuning it to run right...

GunNut

Version 1.2.  Slim grips!  

Every time I buy a new 1911 and switch to my preferred slim grips it reminds me that even St. JMB was not infallible.  Why oh WHY did you give us those damn bushings when a simple drill and tap would have done just FINE!!! 

HappySquid

GunNut said:

Version 1.2.  Slim grips!  

Every time I buy a new 1911 and switch to my preferred slim grips it reminds me that even St. JMB was not infallible.  Why oh WHY did you give us those damn bushings when a simple drill and tap would have done just FINE!!! 

Quality GunNut, no cheap shortcuts   

GunNut

HappySquid said:

GunNut said:

Version 1.2.  Slim grips!  

Every time I buy a new 1911 and switch to my preferred slim grips it reminds me that even St. JMB was not infallible.  Why oh WHY did you give us those damn bushings when a simple drill and tap would have done just FINE!!! 

Quality GunNut, no cheap shortcuts   

Sure, let s go with that 🤣

jbohio

Very nice grab! I'm always looking for those first gen.   I have a Warrior.  The non swartz safety triggers are fantastic.  

GunNut

jbohio said:

Very nice grab! I'm always looking for those first gen.   I have a Warrior.  The non swartz safety triggers are fantastic.  

Yep they are!  Kimber really paid attention to fitting those triggers back then!  That is so cool you have a first gen Warrior!!!

Jayhawker

Grrrrr....I can only tell you how badly you suck so many times...

GunNut

Jayhawker said:

Grrrrr....I can only tell you how badly you suck so many times...

🤣🤣🤣  I love you too brother 😘

Japhy

Ahhh, yet another GunNut sweetheart de jour this time a classy petit model!

GunNut

Japhy said:

Ahhh, yet another GunNut sweetheart de jour this time a classy petit model!

   Thanks!