Try to reMIMber...

[Bongo Lewi]

This is a Super Carry Custom that is basically a longer version of the Super Carry Ultra Plus that I mentioned a few weeks ago. Another artifact of Kimber's heyday. I've been pulling out some handguns that I haven't looked at or shot in a while and debating whether I should sell them. Pre-MIM Kimbers are in demand and fetching a good price these days. But I don't think they will appreciate much beyond where they are now. I don't think of guns as an investment ... but it's nice if the price goes up when they achieve some degree of collectibility.

These are going for 1000-1300 used. That's fair price if it isn't beat up. Officer size with the round butt. I liked shooting it. 45 ACP only. A great trigger that can be made even greater if you wish. I'm going to call the broker who I now use to sell guns and see what he says.

 

[no4mk1t]

Just before Kimber started offering "Custom Shop" models, they had a gun in the catalog called the "Compact Aluminum". This was also shortly after Kimber started offering aluminum frames.
The Compact Aluminum was the standard compact with an aluminum frame. None of the extras that the Custom Shop guns had like checkered front straps and tritium sights. But the price at the time was, if memory serves about $650 vs. the $1K for the Custom Shop models.

My LGS was a Kimber Master Dealer at the time and I asked him about getting one. He said it was discontinued in the catalog now that the Custom Shop guns were out. I asked him to call Kimber and see if they still had any in inventory. And they did. So I got one. Compared to an all steel gun it is noticeably lighter. I thought at the time it was a good deal for the price as the Custom Shop version that replaced it mostly had cosmetic improvements.

The only additions were to replace the factory black rubber grips with some nicely wood grips and add the rubber mag bumper.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Just before Kimber started offering "Custom Shop" models, they had a gun in the catalog called the "Compact Aluminum". This was also shortly after Kimber started offering aluminum frames.
The Compact Aluminum was the standard compact with an aluminum frame. None of the extras that the Custom Shop guns had like checkered front straps and tritium sights. But the price at the time was, if memory serves about $650 vs. the $1K for the Custom Shop models.

My LGS was a Kimber Master Dealer at the time and I asked him about getting one. He said it was discontinued in the catalog now that the Custom Shop guns were out. I asked him to call Kimber and see if they still had any in inventory. And they did. So I got one. Compared to an all steel gun it is noticeably lighterI thought at the time it was a good deal for the price as the Custom Shop version that replaced it mostly had cosmetic improvements.

The only additions were to replace the factory black rubber grips with some nicely wood grips and add the rubber mag bumper.

Nice. Right time to buy. Aluminum frames early on was another thing they did well. I don’t have any aluminum Kimber’s. No reason why. With a few exceptions most of my Kimber’s were acquired after their fall from grace. I wanted to scoop up the good ones. I should have grabbed some of their lighter guns from that time.

Para Ordinance was another 1911 innovator. They lost their way and nobody came to the rescue. Unless you count Remington, which was more like a kiss of death! Remington had a knack for making failing companies worse

The good news is there are so many excellent choices now at all price points. Even the less expensive imports are excellent.

 

[no4mk1t]

Fun fact:
The Compact Aluminum weighs the same as my G23 when both have full mags.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I think it's widely known that Custom Shop is basically nothing but marketing. Like everyone else, at first I assumed it was something like the S&W Pro Series or Performance Center. Or perhaps like the Sig Custom Works or SAS/SRT. A little something extra. Above and beyond factory but not rising to the level of custom, hand fitted firearms.

For those unfamiliar, it's just words printed on the slide. That's all. It might as well say MAJOR AWARD

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Fun fact:
The Compact Aluminum weighs the same as my G23 when both have full mags.

I still like my G27. I often referred to it as Stubby. I have a few Sigs and Glocks in .40 and can't let them go. I have no illusions about the S&W .40 ever making a comeback. It's funny how so many are getting a boner over 10mm guns and ammo priced at a premium when you can basically buy a low pressure 10mm (40 cal) handgun and ammo for so much less.

I'm also guilty. I like 10mm. I guess I'm fickle. Guns and ammo are like women to me. If you ask me what my favorite is, I can't answer. I like them all.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I shot the Super Carry Custom today and had a moment of melancholy for days of Kimber past. It's not a 'great' 1911 by today's high standards for semi customs but it was really something in its day.

Honestly, today's Springfield TRP, pretty much any BUL and a few others are superior to this gun. To me it's like a great old car or motorcycle that was ahead of its time and made well.

It's more fun to shoot than its Super Carry Ultra Plus cousin with a 3 inch barrel. I was killing it with 1 inch groups at 25 yards just using the irons. The Tritium night sights died long ago. I wont replace them.