Kimber Ultra Shadow

S

Shawn3879

New member
I have the opportunity to purchase a Kimber Ultra Shadow II from a friend. I checked the Kimber web sight and it didn't provide any info. besides it being a Production Limited Edition. What kind of #'s do they call limited?? Is the limited actually worth more or is just the coolness factor involved??

Can you guys (and gals) tell me how this guy is different from the regular Ultra Carry?? Besides the extra $300?

The guy I am buying this from paid retail + tax so he has approx. $975. in the gun and I can get it for $675. (I have run some searches trying to find prices on it and I have come up pretty empty.) It only has 150 rounds through it and is 3 months old. No wear, scratches, or anything. Comes with 2 mags, the worthless lock, manual, box, etc.... Should I grab it??? I think I will but I sure did have my eye on a STI Ranger or LS-9!!! But, this just seems like a pretty good deal! And since we are both law abiding Oklahomans it will be paperwork/FFL free!:p

Thanks in advance for any info you people can provide. Your opinions and knowledge are always first rate. :D
 
Shawn, I'm a bit hazy on a few details, but if I'm off base, hopefully someone jumps in to correct me.

But first, let me give you my initial reaction: Go for it!

Kimber uses the 'Custom' designation to indicate that the gun received special accessorizing at the factory. It's not a custom in the truest sense of the word. It's not made by one person, one at a time, based on your personal specifications. Rather, it's what we in the knife collecting community refer to as 'benchmade', where the guns are made in small batches, and receive special treatment, only a handful at a time.

Those special features that Kimber applies are the commonly requested bells and whistles that most 1911 owners like to have done, anyway. They include checkering @ 30LPI on the front strap, 20LPI on the backstrap, night sites, skeletonized (commander-style) hammer, match trigger that has already been tuned (trigger job), upscale quality laminated wood grips, and if I recall, also a match barrel/bushing. In the case of the Ultra Shadow, I think it also has an alloy frame and slide, and it has the same extremely popular two-tone finish that did so well for them on the Eclipse line. The 'II' indicates that it has the new series two safety, required by some states so that the guns can be sold in that market. Some people hate this new safety, but most don't mind, it has never been a problem for me, and I'm told it can be disabled/removed.

Because the added features are being done in 'larger' volume, right in the factory, there is a labor and parts cost efficiency they can offer in doing batches of operations at the same time, and passing the savings on to the customer. For instance, usually, the cost difference between one of their base models is only about $300. But if you were to wait until later, and add up the extras seperately, they would come closer to $600 in value. Kind of like the difference between buying a car with a/c and stereo from the factory, or the cost of adding it later.

Marketing departments can take many liberties with the concept of "Limited" editions. In your case, with the Ultra Shadow, they are, in fact, limited to a specific maximum production of only 750 units. However, to illustrate the 'spin tactics', I own a Custom Eclipse. This is also a 'limited' edition... the quantity was limited to as many as they could possibly churn out of the custom shop with those features added, in the span of a year, but to add a little mystique, they simply changed the style of their serial numbering. I'm not sure if anyone really knows how many of these damned things are out here, and to add insult to injury, they turned around and placed the 'Custom' Eclipse into regular production by simply changing the serial number sequence, and going from an ambi safety to a standard. :mad: The price of popularity, I suppose.

In the final analysis, I think it's a killer deal. You have a TRULY limited edition, with LOTS of extra goodies, at a great price. You can always buy an STI later, since they are in regular production, but the Ultra Shadows are not going to be here for long.
 
Rovert:

Hey, thanks a million for the reply. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you taking the time to give such an informative response. I AM GOING TO DO IT!!! Probably will pick the pistol up today. Sounds to me as though I can't go wrong. . . best case, I love it and got a great pistol at a great price. . .worst case, I hate it and can sell it and break even (or close enough) and still buy the STI.

I will give a full report ASAP, Thank again.

:D :cool: :D :cool:
 
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