Kimber America got its start in 1979 in a town called Clackamas, Oregon, by a father and son duo named Jack and Greg Warne. They began by manufacturing small caliber rifles (.22 caliber), but after their reputation in the Northwest grew, they decided to expand their business.
Unfortunately, the company was sold in the later ’80s and had a lot of trouble staying in business, so they liquidated their assets. In 1990, Greg Warne tried to resuscitate the Kimber brand, but all of their equipment was outdated and thrown in a junkyard.
Finally, with the financial backing of Les Edleman, Kimber of Oregon was rejuvenated with a fresh look and state-of-the-art equipment. Eventually, Les Edelman bought out Greg Warne and built the company into what it is today.
Kimber Pistols
Kimber has been revitalized with their famous 1911 models to their Micro 9 for excellent concealed carry capabilities. Most of know about the history of the Browning 1911 and how that gun changed the way future guns were built and operated. Kimber has taken the original design and revamped it to make it original with a sleeker look and smoother operation. We will discuss the Warrior, TLE II, Micro 9, and the K6S revolver to give you a better understanding of some of their best-selling pistols.
Kimber Warrior 1911
The Kimber Warrior is their full-sized model of 1911 that is designed for both law enforcement and as a civilian home-defense weapon. With an ambidextrous safety lever and tactical Picatinny rail under the barrel, the Warrior is great for every pistol owner. Weighing only 2.4 lbs and a 4 lb trigger pull increases the control of the firearm, thus increasing the accuracy of the pistol.
The 4-5 lb trigger pull is better than most other .45 ACP handguns
Perfect for Law Enforcement as a primary carry pistol
Aesthetically beautiful
Accurate
Dependable
I love the trigger!
Cons:
Steep price
Felt recoil is still a lot (16lbs)
Features:
Ambidextrous thumb safety, lanyard slot, and bumped grip safety
G-10 grips and 24 lines-per-inch front strap checkering
Tactical Wedge night sights
Kimber Tactical Rail permits quick and secure accessory attachment
KimPro® II finish offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt, and UV light
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Why You Should Buy the Kimber Warrior
The Kimber Warrior is as good as any other 1911 model you’ll find on the market, including from its original makers, Browning. If you’re a police officer, join your fellow LAPD officers in switching to the Kimber 1911 and feel more secure on the streets. Chambered as a .45 caliber pistol, the accuracy and dependability are better than most other 1911 models. Typically, a .45 caliber pistol is a little wider, since it has to hold bigger rounds, but the Warrior is only 1.2 inches wide and has an effortless and smooth trigger pull weight of 4 lbs. If you can get over the cost of Kimber pistols, this is a great option to have superior stopping power without the added weight and bulky feel.
Pro Tip: If you choose to go with the Kimber Warrior, I’d look at the Desert Warrior before I go with the original model. The Desert Warrior from Kimber is so beautiful; you’ll find yourself staring at the craftsmanship with no intention to handle or fire the gun.
Where Can I buy the Kimber Warrior?
You can buy the Kimber Warrior from its website directly or from almost any gun store in the country, such as Cabelas, Palmetto State Armory, Field and Stream, Brownells, Armslist, and Gun Broker. If it were up to me, I’d buy from Palmetto State Armory because of the warranties and quality of service. It’s also owned and operated by a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). It’s always nice to support a fellow Veteran who sells an excellent product with great customer service.
Kimber TLE II
The Kimber Tactical Law Enforcement II pistol is the gun of choice for thousands of police and federal law enforcement agents across the country. The TLE model is almost identical to the Warrior model of 1911, except the weight, which is lighter in the TLE. As most police officers know, there are often guidelines and restrictions for attachments that can go on your duty pistol. The TLE is made safe for law enforcement by removing the Picatinny rail underneath the barrel and installing 3-dot tritium night sights. It comes in different finishes, but I would select the stainless steel model without any hesitation.
30 lines-per-inch front strap checkering and flat top slide
Integrated mainspring lanyard loop and aggressively textured G-10 grips
Match-grade three-hole trigger, low-profile 3-dot tritium night sights
Why You Should Buy the TLE II
I would buy this model of 1911 over the Warrior because you can save around $400 and get a gun that is a little lighter, has better sights, and as dependable as the Warrior. This pistol is made for law enforcement and military, so remember you’re not going to be able to add many attachments on it, such as lights and lasers. The simplistic features and minimalist design is made specifically for police officers who are not allowed to add attachments to their pistols.
new lowered and flared ejection port for easy loading and unloading
All metal, stainless steel
American Made
Why You Should Buy the Kimber Micro 9
Micro nine can fit into a pocket, purse, holster, backpack, and glovebox without taking up room or disrupting your convenience. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the 7 lb trigger pull, which is heavier than most other 9mm chambered pistols. This is the perfect pistol women and smaller men as a concealed carry pistol because it’s less than a pound and is only 1" wide. This provides excellent control for any sized adult, and the 7 lb trigger pull is specifically designed as an added safety feature.
Kimber K6s
The Kimber K6s is the revolver made by Kimber America and boasts an incredibly sleek and practical design, specially made for concealed carry situations. Some people might ask, why would I choose a revolver over the Micro 9mm or Warrior? The easy answer is nothing says get back like a .357 Magnum staring you in the face with six opportunities to hit your target. The trigger pull is heavy, and the 2" barrel forces you to take shots from no more than 20 meters away if you want an accurate shot. The recoil is heavier with a .357 bullet, but there is no doubt that all you need is one hit from this revolver to get your point across. I don’t think anyone can walk through a .357 Magnum, but I have seen people walk through a 9mm round.
Low-Profile Removable Front and Rear Dovetail Sights
Why You Should Buy The K6s Revolver
This revolver is a great second-chance gun that provides unmatched stopping power versus any gun this size made with all stainless steel. I would carry this as a back up if I were a police officer and was comfortable carrying an ankle holster or even on my belt.
Accessories
Attachments on your pistol are all about personal preference on what feels right and what makes the gun better for you to use. Except for some of the TLE and the Micro 9 models, every other gun has room for attachments, such as lights, lasers, and aftermarket sights. I always recommend placing a light on your pistols, especially if it’s used as a self-defense pistol for your home. Many people love the idea of lasers to help guide you without looking down the sights but remember that whoever you’re aiming at can see that laser too. I also place night sights on all of my pistols because they are easier for target identification in low light scenarios.
VORTEX VENOM RED DOT 6MOA 1X MAGNIFICATION
The Vortex Venom Red Dot sight is one of my favorite aftermarket sights you could use for any gun you plan to shoot at shorter distances. The rapid target identification is ushered in by the ultra-wide window and the massive 6 MOA dot in the center. Weighing only an ounce, this optic won’t throw off the weight of the pistol, so you don’t have to worry about your aim being off when it comes time to fire. Besides the reflective protection and the ArmorTec coating applied to the Vortex, the best feature is the unlimited eye relief. Having unlimited eye relief for a sight means you don’t have to squint to see the dot and focus on your target, and you can keep both eyes open if you want.
Personally, I don’t like lasers on my pistols because I always add light and aftermarket sights, but I understand the desire to have a laser. For starters, a laser can be great for those who have trouble aiming down the sights, such as physically disabled shooters or someone with poor vision. This specific sight will display a high powered green laser that shoots a laser at 520 nm, which will get you about 40 meters in front of you. Regardless, it’s more than enough for anything you’re going to shoot at with a pistol.
I’ve mentioned before that I carry a weapon light on all of my pistols because of the tactical advantage it offers. The two reasons to have a pistol is for a self-defense gun to protect or family or if you’re a competitive shooter. With this in mind, a good weapon light should be able to disorient and temporarily blind an intruder if they stepped into your house. This Surefire X300 displays 500 lumens of white light that will blind anyone looking at it within 20 meters of you, giving you a tactical advantage over your adversary.
Kimber America is a weapon manufacturer that produces all of its products in the United States and has been in business for over 30 years. Their guns are expensive, but they’re very well made with the utmost care and consideration for their customers. The Desert Warrior is one of their best selling pistols because of the high stopping power, accuracy, and durability. I believe every law enforcement officer should consider the TLE II as their primary carry pistol due to its adherence to departmental regulations. Kimber America may not be the best-known company we have, but they’re definitely worth getting to know if you want a great American made gun.
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