There is something wrong with this story.
Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.
I’ve got a Kimber .45 Ultra Crimson Carry...it is reliable as h*ll!
The phrase “collector-grade handguns” is one we’ll need to add to the journalists’ guide to firearms.
Frankly most any decent handgun is worthy of collecting.
“Collector-grade.” In other words not to be used.
S&W MP. 9mm, .357, .40, .45 for half the price. And you can get them w/ a thumb safety if that’s an issue.
But hey, it’s taxpayer’s money. Go for the gold.
Did anyone perform test on the weapons to see if they would make the grade before the mass purchase?Doesnt sound like it.It was tax money so what the phuck did they care.
They could have bought Glocks or USPs,or S&W M&Ps and saved themselves a lot of money and trouble.
Not al Kimber models enjoy the same level of reliability. My Colt has been rock solid, but my Glocks are my go-to guns.
This is the criteria that the old military used in selecting a model to best protect their commanders. They chose the Colt model 1911 hands down. It's very design and function left no competitors standing.
The Glock is a fine pistol for target practice and home protection, provided it is kept clean. But in the combat world, it still falls short.
There is something wrong with this story.
An avid gun buff and collector, Chandler ordered Kimbers with special sights and the ALE seal carved into their handles, spending $158,250 provided to the agency through federal seizures involving alcohol, drugs and illegal gambling. The purchase was also approved by Chandler's supervisor, Gerald Rudisill, the chief deputy secretary of Crime Control.
And,
A review of Internal ALE records going back three decades shows the agency has bought all new firearms every few years. The old guns are then typically sold to ALE staff, usually for less than half the price the state originally paid.
Records show that since 2000, the agency has sold at least 373 pistols and shotguns back to its own agents. Some agents have bought as many as six discounted weapons in the last decade, sometimes buying more than one of the same model.
I never owned on but my understanding is a Kimber is a tight fitted accurate gun which should not be used as a service weapon.
Kimber makes an OK 1911, but “collector grade” it is not.
When I think “collector grade,” I see visions of color case hardening, gold inlay, engraving, etc.
Kimber does none of this.
Uh, sure thing.
I own a few Kimbers. They are fantastic weapons and very reliable.
I suspect the department either bought versions that were too accurized or were looking for an excuse to sell them back to their own agents.
Never owned a Kimber either. ALE is not exactly SWAT, though. I expect the guns probably sat around, got dirty, and failed to function- a common failing in semi-auto pistols, especially ones manufactured to close tolerances, as Kimbers are reputed to be. Perhaps they needed something a little more their speed...a 4” .38 revolver.....
A Taurus .38 6 shot is cheap, reliable, and and easy carry. Leave the expensive guns to the citizens.
If you ever get this answer from a manufacturer, go get your money back.
A properly built firearm does not require a 1500 round breaking in period in order to function correctly.
You should be able to clean the packing grease out of it, re-assemble and use reliably.
If the machine is built THAT tight with THAT many burrs and sharp edges, it is not finished and should be considered flawed.
Yes, they should get smoother over time as with anything else mechanical, but the minimum requirement is that it function properly when new.
I got this answer from ArmaLite once and they promptly got their weapon back in return for my money.
Did the A.L.E. look the Kimbers up in “Gun Test” first?
And How many life and death situations does the A.L.E. find itself in on a yearly basis?
I mean, money's no object when it is someone else's money.
Then, I could buy 6 of them at a HUGE discount in a couple of years from the department, and make some good cash by selling them on gunbroker.com.
/s
We own multiple Kimbers. Love each one of them. Having passed thousands of rounds through each, all have shown to be reliable. I daily carry a Kimber Ultra carry in basic black. While Kimber has had some issues, as have all manufacturers, none of our weapons have been one with an issue.
I believe this to simply be a means for these agents to make excuses to buy more guns at taxpayer expense and to line the pockets of their friends and perhaps themselves with kickbacks.