Andabeer
Sir,
Thank you for standing in during my period of neglect. I would agree that a fourth category is aptly described by your phrase a "true custom gun". I did not mention it since that option is generally not considered by most shooters for obvious reasons ($$$). Still, they do exist. Some are beauties, a few are abominations, but in any case, they are the fruit of their creator(s).
Since I don't have a dog in this fight, save my desire to see a fellow shooter get what he pays for, I will pray for his selection to be right for him. Outside of that, I can only relate my personal experience and opinion. I consider Kimbers like mine 'entry guns' into the world of the 1911. You content yourself that you got a decent piece of machinery and then you move up as you gain knowledge and experience. The Kimbers give you enough of the 'decent 1911 feeling' that you can tell a crap 1911 from a truly worked one after a while. In the meantime, you find yourself hard pressed to shoot as well as the pistol does. That accomplished, you begin to contemplate what you could do with an even finer piece of equipment. That's when you know you have the 'fever'. A disease that has been around longer than I have been alive.
Go upwards of $1000 and you avail yourself to an entirely new realm in 1911's. Under $1,000 and you can hardly go wrong with a Kimber or Springfield for a 'beater'. My next 1911 will likely run around $1700.
Until such a time, I acknowledge that better 1911's exist than those I own and carry. And I will content myself with my factory customs until then.
Thanks again, sir. It is nice to know that we can admonish, add to, or correct each other without incense.
Sir,
Thank you for standing in during my period of neglect. I would agree that a fourth category is aptly described by your phrase a "true custom gun". I did not mention it since that option is generally not considered by most shooters for obvious reasons ($$$). Still, they do exist. Some are beauties, a few are abominations, but in any case, they are the fruit of their creator(s).
Since I don't have a dog in this fight, save my desire to see a fellow shooter get what he pays for, I will pray for his selection to be right for him. Outside of that, I can only relate my personal experience and opinion. I consider Kimbers like mine 'entry guns' into the world of the 1911. You content yourself that you got a decent piece of machinery and then you move up as you gain knowledge and experience. The Kimbers give you enough of the 'decent 1911 feeling' that you can tell a crap 1911 from a truly worked one after a while. In the meantime, you find yourself hard pressed to shoot as well as the pistol does. That accomplished, you begin to contemplate what you could do with an even finer piece of equipment. That's when you know you have the 'fever'. A disease that has been around longer than I have been alive.
Go upwards of $1000 and you avail yourself to an entirely new realm in 1911's. Under $1,000 and you can hardly go wrong with a Kimber or Springfield for a 'beater'. My next 1911 will likely run around $1700.
Until such a time, I acknowledge that better 1911's exist than those I own and carry. And I will content myself with my factory customs until then.
Thanks again, sir. It is nice to know that we can admonish, add to, or correct each other without incense.