[Dave Severns]

Anyone know when they started doing this? Thanks.

------------------
Make It Hot!

 

[Joe D]

Somewhere in 63,000 serial # range I think. Kimber has been real vague about this.

 

[polyuroxy]

I would think this makes Kimber an even better value for the money, black stainless.

 

[Dane Burns]

Stainless is harder to work with milling wise but doesn't make a better gun overall in a 1911 except for the rare hard use and rust issues. Galling is still a problem with any stainless. Springfield's is harder than Kimber's and has less of as problem IMO. In many ways neither is the base for the idea gun.

Black oxide on stainless is not the way to solve the problems. On the flip side adding a bead blast will get you a nice two tone gun. You'll note the price has gone up too. The Stainless Kimbers normally cost a $100 more than a carbon steel gun. But then Kimbers have been going up in price all along.

 

[Secmat]

Dane,

I know what you mean about stainless Springfields. I've had one since '95, and it's had a few mods and a lot of use, but has never rusted even when it should have. On the other hand, my wife left her stainless Kimber in the trunk of her car for a few days during a rainy period and we had to clean light surface rust off the slide.

I buy stainless pistols just because I get into situations where maintaining them can't be a constant thing. BTW, I haven't had galling problems on stainless since I started using TW25-B as my lube.

 

[Bradd D]

Originally posted by Dane Burns:
Stainless is harder to work with milling wise but doesn't make a better gun overall in a 1911 except for the rare hard use and rust issues. Galling is still a problem with any stainless. Springfield's is harder than Kimber's and has less of as problem IMO. In many ways neither is the base for the idea gun.

Dane,
Is the Kimber Compact Stainless a good choice for concealed carry? What would need to be done to bring reliability up to par?

 

[Joe D]

I don't think it is a good deal. Wait until you try to touch up a scratch on your black SS frame. I got really ticked off at Kimber for the deception. If I had wanted a half and half gun I would have built one.

 

[col132]

I'd like to know where Colts stainless guns fit in.

 

[Dane Burns]

Guys I am no expert in this stuff. This is just anecdotal evidence on my part. I have Colts and Springfield guns in Stainless. When cutting on the mill the Springfiled seems harder than the rest. It shows rust less than any of the three including Kimber. The Colt seems somewhere between. I generally hard chrome my personal stainless guns now. Over kill in many cases but stainless from any of them scratches easier than chrome moly. HC helps that issue and eliminated galling with normal lube. But that said I have two stainless Colts that I never intend to hard chrome in the works now.

Stainless guns make fine carry pieces and less expensive in the long term because they really don't need additional plating even though I usually do it to my own primary guns.

I agree with Joe, I would like to actually know what I am buying. Stainless is cool as long as I know it was stainless from the get got and bought it as such. I would be mighty pissed if the carbon gun I bought turned out to be stainless.

 

[JEM]

Does anyone want to part with their half and half Kimber?

 

[agabriel]

I'm considering the idea of parting with mine. Well - maybe not

. I would get rid of it in heart beat for a rock river

Anyone have an MA legal Rock River?

Anthony

 

[Guest]

FWIW:

I called Kimber today to try and get the scoop on this. Called the main # and got a woman who imsisted she could answer my question, and then she couldn't answer my question.

Then I called the custom shop, and asked the guy very specifically if the current black-oxide Custom Classics are stainless steel slide/frame underneath the black finish. He said no, they aren't. Hmmmm. Anyone else want to try and call?

 

[Metal Smith]

I was told 2nd hand by someone who tried to blue one with no results, he called Kimber and they told him "that's cuz there Black oxided stainless" good luck, The Metal Smith

 

[Joe D]

The slides are carbon steel. Frames are SS.

 

[Dane Burns]

I called Kimber when O'Hara brought it to the attention of the forum. Talked to the Sales force, they said "no way". Talked to the head of sales and he said, "no way".

Called the custom shop three times and got three seperate people. Two yes and one no.

Since O'Hara had the frame and it was indeed black oxided according to him I will have to side with the two yeas from the Custom shop and a frame that won't blue. YMMV

 

[Joe D]

I have gotten to know Dennis at the Custom Shop pretty well over the years. The info I have comes straight from him.

 

[Texian]

It's pretty sad when a company is this confused (or deceitful) among its own people. Makes me even gladder I got a Springfield.