Marrying a CD with a Kimber

[Howardk]

Last week I bought a stainless Kimber Pro Carry. I REALLY like the gun's handling and balance, but stupidly I bought the alloy frame model (been kicking myself since) which won't hold up well under lots of competitive shooting. At this point, my choices were (1) to buy a steel frame Kimber (didn't want to spend another $700), (2) trade my Kimber for a steel frame model (tired of getting trade raped), (3) fit a new steel receiver (with a fitted beavertail, plunger, ejector, etc. --the costs go way up). Then I had an idea, "why not spend $350 for a CD commander and fit it to the Kimber slide?" Then take the alloy Kimber frame and use it for a carry gun with the CD slide (I like the weight of the bull barrel and I think that Kimber barrels are probably more accurate than CD barrels).

I found a new CD stainless for $350. Since I had lots of spare parts laying around, I replaced everything on the CD frame except the ejector (also polished the feed ramp). I was worried about the grip bushings (all my 1911s have thin grips that use short bushings) but happily the new CD's have standard threads. The frame rails on the CD are a little thicker than the Kimber slide so I had to lap/mate them. Although still tight (I'm sure it will shoot in), the slide to frame fit is now pretty smooth.

My biggest problem was the lockworks. The CD specs must be off since my Nowlin drop-in trigger group wouldn't work right. I ended up using a McCormick sear and hammer which fit better. Also, the ears on the S&A mainspring housing/magwell had to be trimmed VERY far down, something I didn't have when fitting these to a Kimber, Baer or Norinco. If not for the lockworks problem, the job would have been pretty easy. BTW, I did use the CD ambi (which I had to refit) and beavertail (much higher hold than the Kimber). Off to the range today for a real world test.

BTW, is my CD warranty still good? Just a joke.

[JSP]

Interesting solution HowardK!

Hope it works out well. BTW, was the CD one of the new "enhanced" ones or one of the older style?

[Howardk]

It was the new enhanced model. Took it out shooting today, and it ran perfectly.

[shane45]

Sow what do you have now, a chimber and a Kaily???

[10EC]

Nah, I'd call it a Kim Daly.

[andyb]

10EC:

You beat me to it.

Howard:

Where did you find an Enhanced in SS for $350? Going rate here in Norfolk area is bottomed at $369.95 for yesterday's Plain Jane FS (near as I can tell).

BTW: Did you shoot the Daly first? If so, how did it go? What did you think of it?

Andy

[This message has been edited by andyb (edited 05-11-2001).]

[10EC]

Andy, I paid 389.00 for my CD ECS model over at the Armory two weeks ago. Got the only one CD had in stock at the time. And, I absolutely love it!

[andyb]

I believe that's one I'd looked at. They come and go quick at the Armory.

[Howardk]

Nope, it's not a chimchimsheroo or whatever. Just ended up with two dependable and accurate shooters. I found the enhanced Daly for $360 at a local Houston gun show. The dealer was Katy Discount Guns. Really nice (and honest) guy.

After reading a lot of negative posts, I wasn't expecting much from the Daly (I bought it for the frame). I was surprised. At 25 yard bench rest shooting, the Daly commander slide on the Kimber alloy frame was every bit as accurate and even more reliable than the Kimber Pro Carry. It actually fed better than the Kimber since it digested some hollowpoints that won't feed in the Kimber. But there's a caveat: the Daly wouldn't feed right out of the box. Getting it to feed required some minor feed ramp polishing, smoothing out the sharp edges on the barrel ramp and some other barrel-related polishing. After that, it was 100%. For peace of mind (it's a carry gun), I also replaced the Daly firing pin stop (loose and sloppy) and the extractor.