detail stripping

The detail-strip argument is akin to the Ford vs Chevy truck debate. That said, I'll only tell it from my perspective. Someone will surely disagree.

I always detail strip new guns. Pistols, rifles, shotguns, revolvers... You name it. What I'm looking for is workmanship during this stripdown. After I'm fully satisfied that I've "seen it all", back together she goes with the lube of my choice. This is very important to me as I don't trust the factory lube/perservative stuff at all. I use Breakfree mainly, Tetra grease on some components.

After this initial strip it is a LONG time until the gun sees another. Detail strips just aren't needed very often but it's a damn helpful procedure to know for every gun you have. The 1911 is among the easiest to fully strip.

Regards.

What's the consensus on the main spring housing?

I personally don't like them. It is a cheezy way to save money. Some say it is to save weight, but I don't buy that. They could have used aluminum alloy if that was the goal. It is a cost-cutter much like when S&W quit pinning barrels.

You don't need to detail strip. You don't discover anything that you can't tell when assembled. The function (or problems with) of the trigger/sear/safety is apparent when the pistol is assembled.

I dunk clean my 1911's every once in a great while, so I doubt I'll ever detail strip unless a repair is needed.

The plastic mainspring housing is fine. If you don't like it then buy a Dan Wesson. Some people change them out and when they are all done I guess they feel better.

If you know your way around a 1911, then go for it, I would highly reccommend detail stipping your Kimber. That way you will become intimately familar with it and can lube all of the areas that you can't reach otherwise. You can also remove any metal filing that they may have left in the gun and that does happen. It is very simple once you know how, but if you are unfamiliar with the process, get someone else who is, to teach you. It's not a big thing to do and all 1911 owners should become familiar with their weapons and how better to do that, than learning how to disassemble/reassemble the weapon. This only makes sense if you stop and think about it. I for one would be damned embarassed, if I couldn't reasseble my own weapon..7th

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