1911 Fever- Going Over the Edge

A

AR-10

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This year has been very sparse in the gun-buying department.

For the last six weeks I have been struck with a fever every Saturday about noon. Gunshop Fever. I want a Kimber Compact, bad. Prefferably a CDP.


It has taken a concerted effort to find projects to keep me occupied until I know the shops are closed. This weekend I gave in to the impulse, grabbed a couple of guns I figured I could live without (yeah, right) and headed to a gunshop to see what was in stock, and what I could get for trade-in on my sacrificial specimens.

The proprieter had a stainless Pro Carry , and a stainless Ultra Carry. Tempting, but not what I wanted. I milled around for twenty minutes, trying to find something I could not live without, to no avail. Finally decided I really did want the Ultra Carry. The fever was obviously making me delusional. ;) I mean, the Ultra Carry is nice, but it is not what I want.

So, I go to the truck and grab a gun, and we start to haggle. I showed the owner a six inch nickle Python that is in very good shape, although the ratchet is starting to show some wear. He looks at it for a minute or two, and I ask him if he is willing to trade straight up. He was asking $725.00 for the Kimber. He inspects it very closely for another minute, and offers me $300.00 dollars for it!!!!!!!!

Say's nickel is not desirable, out of timing, can't just put a new ratchet on it. Blah, blah, blah. Oh Yeah.:rolleyes: The finish is flawless, and Brownells sells ratchets. The timing is a little slow, but it shoots fine.

I was fever-struck, but not insane.

Gun Show in two weeks. Going Kimber shopping.
 
$300 for the python? I will beat that offer, how bout $301??

Man he was trying to rip you off bad.

If I had been him, I wouldnt have been willing to trade even though, but your python sounds like it is probably worth twice what he offered.
 
Actually, I was lucky he didn't offer me $600.00 for the Python.

I would have taken him up, bought the Kimber, which I didn't want, and bitched about losing the Python for the next ten years.

1911 Fever is wicked.

I'm having a little trouble trying to decide between the Compact Stainless, which has a steel frame, and the Compact CDP, which has an aluminum frame. The CS is about $300.00 less, and would last longer. The CDP comes with an ambi-safety, which I need, and is very sexy looking!

How do they shorten the grip and still squeeze seven rounds of .45ACP in the mag? Is it a standard mag, or is it a shortened version of an eight round magazine?
 
I think you'll be glad you held out. I have a steel framed compact and I absolutely love it. It's not the most expensive gun Kimber makes but it sure looks gorgeous with rosewood grips and it's all the .45 I want. Enjoy your shopping!

RJ
 
Thank God you didn't trade in the Python(especially for a gun that was not exactly what you want). I respect the fact that gun store owners need to turn around product for a profit. What I don't respect is when they offer you $300.00 for a gun that they are going to put in the case for at least $500.00. Yours is not the only example. I have seen this many times.
 
...It's a short mag adapted with a spring and follower like the Shooting Star set-up that makes a 7-rd an eight round...
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Just be patient. Good deals are out there, you just have to look, and wait for them. I purchased my first Kimber in a gun shop, that was there on consignment. It was like new, and probably never fired by the owner. It also came with 2 Wilson Combat mags. I offered $500.00, and got the gun. Trading usually doesn't get you what your gun is really worth. Dealers have to make a profit on it. I sell any guns that I need to sell in local newspapers, and usually get top dollar for them. Although I don't sell many guns, I have never had a problem finding a buyer for one that I did sell, and getting what it is worth.
 
It is your money. You can buy a kimber if you wish but be warned I have been getting a lot of bad reports on Kimbers within just the last month. One of my colleague's in N. Carolina had a friend who just bought not one but two Kimber's. Neither one of them worked. Another colleague bought one in Ohio and it did not work either.
I suggest you buy an original 1911 or a quality 1911. My first choice would be a colt or Springfield armory. If you want to spend the big bucks you could sample a Wilson or Les Baer. Also the new Valto's should be comming into the country soon from Italy. One of their selling points is no cheap castings, no powdered metal parts and no cheap aluminum or plastic.
The 1911 is the worlds best fighting hangun bar none. But you must buy one from a quality manufacturer. There are a lot of cheap clones out there that do not work.
For the money you cannot go wrong with a Colt. You mentioned that you will be going to the gun shows. Do yourself a favor and buy a series 70 Colt or an earlier commercial Colt. You will not regret it. They are made from solid steel forgings and most shoot very well as is. There are many gunsmiths that can turn the gun into a super track driver by simply tuning up the trigger and in some cases tightening up the slide (usually not necessary). Colt barrels a renouned for their accuracy. The after market Kart barrels are used in my area by many 1911 gunsmiths. 1 inch groups and less at 25 yards are very common with these barrels.
There are a lot of custom options available to you with the 1911. Contrast this to the new wave pistols. You are usually stuck with whatever accuracy the gun happen to give you. Not so with the 1911. The trained gunsmiths and the aftermarket parrts are endless and so are the configurations and options.
The orginal 1911 is legendary for its reliability and in its target configuration lengendary for its accuracy.
It is a breath of fresh air compared to the hideous new wave plastic and sheet metal pistols that currently infest the gun market. W.R.
 
I have severe 1911 fever too,
I am impatiently waiting my C&R license to get sistema 1927 from Argentine (it's 1911A1 colt licenced, manufactured to pre-WWII colt standard)
 
Thanks for the imput, guys.

I did look at a Colt while I was at the shop, but I have not read enough about them to know what varient I should look for. I'll check out a series 70 at the gun show. My main desire is a quality 1911 with a four inch barrel and a short grip. My limited experience with trying to carry a 1911 showed me that a shorter grip would not hurt.

I have a full size and a long slide. A compact would be a nice addition. Wilson or Les Baer would be outstanding, but at this point, money is a consideration. $1,000.00 is the limit, and that will require sacrificing a gun or two.
 
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