I'm going with these guys:

http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing.htm

Also, I believe that they make some do-it-yourself stuff that you can bake on in your oven. I think that they sell it at Brownells:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/home/default.aspx

 

MrBaz

More than likely you will not be able to blue your Kimber once you have expereinced significant finish wear. The reason is most Kimber steel pistols are actually made from stainless steel frames and slides, which are black oxide coated. Do a detailed disassembly of your pistol and look at the underside of the slide, and one the frame under the mainspring housing, for an "S". If the "S" is there your frame and slide is stainless. If it is not there, they are probably still stainless. So you will either need to call Kimber's customer service and ask them what material your pistol is (have the s/n ready for them), or you will need to try to blue a bare spot that is hiden to see if the bluing agent will take.

Str8_Shot

 

From what I understand, most frames are stainless and you got a 50/50 chance on the slide. I've also heard kimber can't tell you which (don't know for sure) I did the blue trick, and I happend to have a stainless frame and carbon slide on my custom II.

 

Lots of choices

There are many things you can do to your Kimber. If we can help at all feel free to call me 423-639-8924 We use Duracoat and KG Gunkote both will give you many choices as to color yet are very durable and will last for years to come.
The cost would be $109.00
We have a one week turnaround time

CCR offer quality craftsmanship at affordable prices
www.ccr-refinishing.com

 

CCR Refinishing,
Hi, been lurking for a while here and love it!

I have a Kimber TLE that I've been thinking of re-finishing and would possibly like for you guys to do it. A couple of questions;
Can you guys check to see if the frame/slide are SS? I'd like to go for the two toned look and if the frame and/or slide are SS I'd have half Gun Kote and half bead blasted.

Also, would the application of the new finish mess with the 30lpi checkering on the front strap, or the night sights?

Last question,.. How much for everything?

Thanks very much,
Richard

 

Two Tone kimber

Richard,
No problem we can Beadblast the slide in a nice French Gray finish and do the frame in any color of your choice. The finish will not affect the checkering on your front stap. The night sights won't be a problem.

Your cost would be $25.00 beadblast
Your cost would be $40.00 frame

Our turnaround time is one week

CCR offers quality craftsmanship at afforable prices. 423-639-8924

 

Instead of taking the Gun apart and looking for "S" that may or may not be there.

Use a magnet.

SS is barly magnetic, steel will be very magnetic. I use a small pen type magnet for getting dropped bolts out of tight places.

 

CCR, excellent!

I'll be in touch asap. Thanks.

 

I'd be curious to know how the LAPD SWAT deals with this problem with their Kimber TLEII pistols, which appear, at least in the gun rag pics and Kimber's advertising, to have the plain Kimber black oxide finish. Those guns see a lot of handling and use, and it would seem that the oxide finish would wear off rather quickly.

 

Are you sure the S stands for stainless? I have an S on my tactical custom and it's pretty magnetic, Kimber lists the slide as carbon steel. I'd like to know for sure before I beadblast it!

 

There are many things you can do to your Kimber. If we can help at all feel free to call me 423-639-8924 We use Duracoat and KG Gunkote both will give you many choices as to color yet are very durable and will last for years to come.
The cost would be $109.00
We have a one week turnaround time

CCR offer quality craftsmanship at affordable prices
www.ccr-refinishing.com

How strong is your finish compared to the black oxide finish that comes on the kimber? If I had mine refinished, I would still want it to be a flat black for many reason I'm sure you guys understand.

 

A recent e-mail to kimber on the subject of frame material got this response. The frame material was dictated by what they had on hand at the time of manufacture. No mention was made about an "S" or any other markings. I will be checking my frame material soon by applying a cold blue and seeing if it takes. If it's a stainless frame, watch out. It'll be a 2-tone soon.

 

Much Better than Black Oxide

I would refinish your Kimber in KG Gunkotes flat Black it is a very hard finish that will not burnish.It is a very durable finish that withstands saltwater tests for up to 500 hours and is chemicaly resistant. Black Oxide was a cheap finish that was used on auto parts that were under the hood an never to be seen.

Give me a call 423-639-8924 if you have any questions

CCR offers quality work at affordable prices.

www.ccr-refinishing.com

 

For whatever it might be worth, the recommendation from CCR-Refinishing in favor of Gun Kote to replace Kimber's finish is a good one. The flat black Gun Kote finish is close to the look of Kimber's black oxide but infinitely more durable. My hands wear off the black oxide in a matter of weeks but they don't affect Gun Kote at all.

 

Stainless steel used in gun manufacturing is 400 series, which are magnetic, so the magnet trick does not work. 300 series are non-magnetic. 400 series is used because it's heat treatable, JFYI.

 

Ccr

Stainless steel used in gun manufacturing is 400 series, which are magnetic, so the magnet trick does not work. 300 series are non-magnetic. 400 series is used because it's heat treatable, JFYI.

I would highly reccomend CCR's work...just recently got my Pro CDP back from them and they did great quality work...Brad is a great guy to deal with...Just my .02

Jim Hutch