Really Rik, did you personally see man land on the moon, did you ever personally see Kennedy get shot? No, those are reports of things that have actually happened are so are the MIM stories. By your standards, since I never met anyone who has been raped, or robbed or shot then it must not happen. Call Bill Laughtridge at Cylinder and Slide and talk to him about it, call Dane Burns, call Richard Heinie and others who ACTUALLY know about 1911's and ask them too. Every one of them and I have seen them break, warped or not work. It's a well known fact, verified by Kimber, that their slide stops suck. They are a MIM part. I've seen them break, not work and warped. There have been tons on people on all these forums who had to have their slide stops replaced. That's called proof. How many 1911's have you worked on? How many have you actually owned? How many gunsmiths have you talked to, and I'm not talking about you're local plumer or general gunsmith but one that specializes in 1911's? Fact is, in the gunsmithing community and in the firearms business the Kimbers are known as a overrated, over hyped product. You're local dealers aren't going to tell you different because most don't know so because they are armchair commando's who only know about guns from magazines or press releases and don't have any practical experience, or aren't going to admit they sell damaged goods. Most shooters haven't shot more than a couple of hundred rounds through the guns to know anything. Get to a couple of thousand and then see.
Some Kimbers have problems, some Colts have them and some Springfields do too. They all have something inheriently botched in one form or another. Colt has the Series 80, Springfield has the two piece barrels and Kimber the MIM parts. You don't want to admit that there are any problems what so ever. Everybody is lying or bashing Kimber or whatever. You are the one with a problem. My problem is people reading bullpuckey articles and recommendations on how the Kimbers will do everything but cook their dinner, and then spend good money on one and IF they have a problem, it's not fixed or are given the cold shoulder. It shouldn't happen no matter who the company is.
The point here being, and you have missed it, is that there are a few known flaws in certain parts. Am I saying that you're gun will have these problems? NO! I'm saying that there is a track record of these parts failing and that it COULD happen, so be advised. You're guns may run forever flawlessly and never break, or it may break tomorrow, but if a parts does break, and it's the same one that has failed in other guns, then that's a manufacturing defect and it's the companys fault, not yours or anyone elses. You shouldn't have to send it to me or anyone else and pay them to replace the part or fix the mistake. Most gunsmiths would be happy about this because it would mean more money coming in. I am not. I have been on the other side of the fence and been through this myself and I don't want someone going into a situation blinded by a promotional campaign and without all the facts.
Brian
