Posted: 4/27/2011 1:27:08 PM EDT
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Pawn shop has a TLE 11 for $700. Looks to be an older one with rounded engraving and internal extractor. Like new.
Anyone have a problem with this model? |
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Kimbers don't necessarily suck. They are pretty decent "custom shop" 1911's, with relatively tight fit, and decent accuracy. Now for the bad part, there is only a one year warranty, and Kimber really skimped out and the quality of some or their parts. Mainspring housing is plastic, and I think most of the parts, other than the frame/slide, are MIM "Machine Injected Molded" parts. Parts that are MIM tend to have a spotty reputation. But, in your case, the gun you are purchasing has the external extractor. If you read up on 1911's with external extractors, it seems that no matter what tuning is done to the gun, there is almost always issues. That is why Kimber had stopped using that style and went back to the traditional internal extractor.
SO, $700 for a 1911 doesn't seem bad, but make sure there is some type of refund or return policy just in case you take it to the range and the damn thing doesn't work! Good luck! |
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Ive had 4 Kimbers and currently have 2. A Kimber Warrior with ~10k rounds through it and a Custom TLE II with ~6k rounds through her. Neither had a single hiccup in either one of them.
I wouldn't hesitate to pickup either in a fight. Though, I do have 1911s that are more "suited" to a fighting 1911, both of these have been nothing short of 100% reliable for me. YMMV |
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Colt used an external extractor on the 1908, and then went with an internal extractor on the 1911.
So it's no big surprise that an internal extractor works better on a .45 caliber 1911 - it's been a known fact for about a hundred years now. 
––- The plastic mainspring housing is indeed offensive to a 1911 purist, but to be fair it is adequately strong and saves some weight in an already heavy pistol. so it's a good thing overall. If you really object to it, you can replace it with an aftermarket metal one for not much cost. Personally, I really liked the flat and semi-arched rubber coated mainspring housings Pachmeyer used to sell. I wish they were still available, and I'd love to see an officer model frame sized flat mainspring housing from them. |
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Quoted:
Kimbers don't necessarily suck. They are pretty decent "custom shop" 1911's, with relatively tight fit, and decent accuracy. Now for the bad part, there is only a one year warranty, and Kimber really skimped out and the quality of some or their parts. Mainspring housing is plastic, and I think most of the parts, other than the frame/slide, are MIM "Machine Injected Metal Injection Molded" parts. Parts that are MIM tend to have a spotty reputation. But, in your case, the gun you are purchasing has the external extractor. If you read up on 1911's with external extractors, it seems that no matter what tuning is done to the gun, there is almost always issues. That is why Kimber had stopped using that style and went back to the traditional internal extractor. SO, $700 for a 1911 doesn't seem bad, but make sure there is some type of refund or return policy just in case you take it to the range and the damn thing doesn't work! Good luck! Fixed |
| Several of my Colts have plastic mainspring housings. But I guess its ok for them to use them and not Kimber. My Colts also have some cast/mim parts. Does that mean they suck as bad as my Kimbers? Just wondering. The one 1911 I have shot the most is my Kimber Target II in 10mm. Has'nt given me any problems. The worse POS 1911 I ever owned was a Colt Gold Cup stainless. I sold it years ago. It worked with a very narrow spectrum of ammo, most fussy dam thing I've ever owned as far as guns go. I don't miss it one bit. |
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Like I said in the original post. This is an older model with an internal extractor. Anyone know when they switched to external? Would help date the gun. Definitely want an older one if I buy a kimber. Guy at a local gun shop was telling me the early ones were built by S&W and are much more desirable. Any truth to this?
Still debating on getting the gun or not. Kind of want to wait on a ruger. Or just buy both. Already have 2. What's 3 or 4. This would be the first 1911 I have with front grip checkering that I did not do myself. Kind of think that's cool. Guess I am to the point I do not shoot most of the guns I have now. Adding more have to be special. Will this kimber blow my dress up? ETA I have 2 steel mainspring housing on my bench. Though would probably keep the plastic one as I think there are probably a better part. Self lubricity, lighter and what not. From my aircraft engineering experience I really think it is a plus. Not like its going to wear out. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Kimbers don't necessarily suck. They are pretty decent "custom shop" 1911's, with relatively tight fit, and decent accuracy. Now for the bad part, there is only a one year warranty, and Kimber really skimped out and the quality of some or their parts. Mainspring housing is plastic, and I think most of the parts, other than the frame/slide, are MIM "Machine Injected Metal Injection Molded" parts. Parts that are MIM tend to have a spotty reputation. But, in your case, the gun you are purchasing has the external extractor. If you read up on 1911's with external extractors, it seems that no matter what tuning is done to the gun, there is almost always issues. That is why Kimber had stopped using that style and went back to the traditional internal extractor. SO, $700 for a 1911 doesn't seem bad, but make sure there is some type of refund or return policy just in case you take it to the range and the damn thing doesn't work! Good luck! Fixed WOOPS my bad, 
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| I bought one of the first ones I could get my hands on and have shot thousands of rounds through it during numerous classes without ANY problems. The only changes I've made are grips and a mainspring housing. The only maintenance required is spring changes. As a matter of fact, I thought enough of it that I bought and set up one just like it for a backup during classes even though it was never needed. |