Kimber Manufacturing has been in operation since 1979. Although originally known for its accurate, pricey .22 LR rifles, Kimber has evolved into a top-tier manufacturer of 1911 pistols.
Gradually, the popular trend moved away from single-stack 1911s towards those pistols sporting double-stack magazines, especially in 9mm. Modern terminology has overtaken the 20th Century’s “1911” handle, where double-stack pistols are concerned. The new nickname for this style of pistol is, as we all know, “2011”. This denotes a move into a new century, with updated technology. Kimber went a step further and branded a line of their double-stack 1911s as 2K11s… clever, that.
We have such a pistol before us. This version of Kimber’s 2K11 series is something. Let’s get this said right up front… this is no bargain-basement pistol. The MSRP of the gun I have before me is $2245. Only serious shooters need apply. I typically review affordable, more utilitarian guns, and am not used to something of this level. (I was going to say caliber). So… What does that “2-large” get you?
First, let’s see what Kimber has to say about it, and then I’ll chime in.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Height (inches) 90° to barrel: 5.74
- Weight (ounces) with empty magazine: 35
- Length (inches): 8.56
- Magazine capacity: 17 (3 magazines included)
- Recoil spring (pounds): 12
- Toolless Guide Rod (Patent-pending)
- Kevlar® Carbon Fiber Grip Module
SLIDE
- Material: Stainless Steel
- External extractor
- Matte KimPro Granite finish
- Custom 2K11 front and rear serrations
SIGHTS
- C&H Precision RMR Optic Adapter plate included with purchase
- C&H Precision Optic adapter plates are available from the store in RMR, RMSc, DPP, ACRO, and 509T
- Front: TAG FiberLok 2 Red
- Rear: SST cover plate with built-in adjustable rear sight
TRIGGER
- GT Match Grade Trigger
- 3-4lb pull (I measured it at 2 ounces shy of three pounds – excellent!)
- Material: Aluminum
FRAME
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Matte KimPro Granite finish
- Width (inches): 1.53
- Bumped grip safety
- Front strap checkering (LPI)
- Ambidextrous thumb safety
BARREL
- Length (inches): 5
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Twist rate (left hand): 5R rifling |9MM:1:10
- Fluted
- Ramped
- Highly Polished with Coyote PVD
GRIPS
- Material: Kevlar® Carbon Fiber
Thoughts On The 2K11
I picked the pistol up from my friend’s gun shop and was immediately taken with the package. Along with the pistol comes a gray, three-compartment range bag sporting an embroidered Kimber logo. One of the compartments has three magazine holders.
The gun itself is impressive. Its appearance is striking, with the slide and the frame’s matte Kimpro finish. The Kevlar grip sets it off. Peeking out from under several slide cuts is the gold-colored, fluted barrel. Its Coyote PVD finish is a nice contrast to the slide and frame, and the fluting cuts are straight, not swirled around the barrel, like some pistol barrels. The chamber is cut, as well. It is very attractive.
Speaking of the grip, it is done right in terms of “stickiness”. The texturing is just about perfect for my hand… It helps your hand stay put but doesn’t sandpaper the skin off your palm. Of course, there is a grip safety.
The thumb safety is duplicated on the right side of the pistol, a feature that I like since I am left-handed.
The rear sight is very nice… almost old-school. It is adjustable, and it uses a large, rectangular blade that is striated to cut glare. The front sight is a green fiber optic rod. If you don’t like them, you could change them or simply mount a red dot. You are entitled to an RMR plate with the purchase of the gun, but you also have the following adapter plates available for purchase: RMR, RMSc, DPP, ACRO, and 509T.
The red dot mounting drill is about the only thing I don’t like about the gun. You have to order the RMR plate with proof of purchase, and if you own another red dot with a different footprint, that will cost you more.
To my way of thinking, if you just shelled out over two grand for a pistol, by golly, it ought to include plates in the box. Alternatively, a mount system like Springfield Armory’s Variable Interface System could be used. This is a mounting system that my Echelon Pro 4.0 uses. It includes a couple of sets of pins and an optics cut with several holes pre-drilled. You simply choose one of the 19 covered red dots and mount it directly to the slide. How? By using the pins required for that mount, placed in their proper locations according to the illustration in the owner’s manual. I see this as the way of the future, until the industry can agree on a one-size-fits-all mount system.
That’s about the only negative I can come up with. The trigger is marvelous, and the effort to rack the slide is minimal. Sighting is a breeze, as well. It is a 1911 that has been thoroughly fussed over, and it shows. It incorporates some custom touches, as noted in the specifications above. I guess that helps explain the price.
Photos
Here are some pics I took. This is one good-looking 1911!
(I didn’t remove the sticky tag on the trigger guard… the gun is a loaner.)
Nice grip texturing all the way around. It plants itself into your hand.
The trigger broke just under three pounds… amazing.
The sights and sight picture are primo.
Notice the slide and barrel cuts. They sure “dress up” this pistol and probably help shave an ounce or two off its weight.
The gun comes with a nice range bag.
Range Time
I was anxious to try the new MTM Casegard High-Low Shooting Table, so I walked to my backyard range and set some targets up at 25 yards. This table is great – the telescoping tripod legs allow you to either sit or stand and shoot. They adjust from 18 to 55 inches… perfect for getting a quick group.
Back to the 2K11… My son, an engineer who is big into guns, shot it and really liked it. This is the second go-around for this particular pistol for me. Originally, it came to me with a trigger that did not want to function every shot. We sent it back, and Kimber fixed it. The explanation was that this gun was probably a pre-production sample used for media photos, not for shooting. Anyway, they fixed it, and the trigger is wonderful now.
Here are some targets I shot in my backyard range. I keep making excuses for my larger-than-usual groups – health issues – but rest assured, with the right person behind the gun and the right ammo in it, I feel that it would be a tack-driver.
I shot a few Black Hills 124-grain JHPs.
These were provided by Black Hills. They make some very nice ammo at reasonable prices. I also ran some Fiocchi and PMC 115-grain FMJs through it. Here are some sample 25-yard targets…
Black Hills
Fiocchi
PMC. This was my last target of the day, and I just did a partial fast mag dump…
Here are some other targets we shot that day… they are self-explanatory.
Again, the gun is capable of very fine accuracy with the right shooter, as my sons proved to me during that shooting session we had. I’m glad that they can out-shoot me – it makes me work harder!
When we were done, I used my Birchwood Casey rifle and handgun range cleaning kit. This goes with me everywhere, in a range bag. It has everything needed to keep a long gun or handgun clean. Just add solvent and a rag or paper towel!
Who Is This Pistol For?
First, who is this pistol not for? I would say, if you’re a casual shooter who is thinking of dabbling in the 1911 end of the pool, you should look for another gun. Rock Island Armory makes very affordable 1911s, as do several other manufacturers, such as Tisas (I own one of theirs, a 1911A1, that works very well.) There are millions of words written by scribes like myself that you can read, which will point you in the right direction, where a beginner 1911 is concerned.
But who should consider buying this pistol? Serious competitors who appreciate the upper strata of pistol craftsmanship might want to take a look at it. ANY shooter who appreciates the upper echelon of the pistol maker’s art would appreciate this gun. Although it is a production pistol and not entirely handmade, numerous individual gunsmith touches have been incorporated into it.
One thing that its price all but guarantees is that you shouldn’t have to put a lot of aftermarket dollars into it. The trigger is one of the best 1911 triggers I’ve shot in a long while, and the sights are eminently usable. Of course, a red dot will settle that question, but if you do not want to mount one, the stock sights work very well.
If you’re searching for an upper-level, 9mm 2011 for competition, take a look at this one. It’s a doozy!
Where To Buy
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