| Kimber Custom | |
|---|---|
 Kimber Custom Stainless II | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997 – present |
| Used by | LAPDSWAT OCSD SWAT USMCForce Recon |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Kimber |
| Variants | Custom Custom II |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 38 ounces |
| Length | 8.7 inches |
| Barrel length | 5 inches |
| Width | 1.3 inches |
| Height | 5.3 inches |
| Caliber | .45 ACP 9×19mm |
| Action | semi-automatic, single action |
| Feed system | 7-, 8- or 10-round magazine |
TheKimber Custom is anM1911 stylesemi-automatic pistol. It is designed, manufactured, and distributed byKimber Manufacturing, Inc. inYonkers, New York.
The Custom is made in a variety of styles with different features and finishes. As an M1911 style pistol, it is usually chambered in.45 ACP.
It also has been produced in othercalibers, including.40 S&W,10mm Auto,9mm Luger, and.38 Super.
The individual gun's caliber is stamped on top of the barrel and is visible with the slide in battery (fully forward).
The Custom is a full-sized model 1911, with a five-inch barrel.
The frame and slide are made of steel. The Custom utilizes a single full-length guide rod, necessitating the serrations on the front of the slide for press checks.
Although the Custom is considered Kimber's base model, it has a number of features that were formerly found only on customized model 1911s, such as a lowered ejection port, customtrigger, beveledmagazine well, extendedthumb safety, and beavertailgrip safety.[1]
The original Custom model has been superseded by theCustom II. The Custom II has an internalfiring pin safety.
This feature is designed to provide additional assurance that the gun will not fire if dropped, as the firing pin is blocked from striking the chamberedcartridge unless the grip safety is depressed.
The KimberCustom TLE II is a model of Kimber Custom; the designation "TLE" stands for "Tactical Law Enforcement".
The TLE is identical, except for the markings, to a special model that was designed for use by theLAPDSWATteam.[2]
Unlike the standard Custom, it comes withtritium bar-dot night sights and 30 lines per inch frontstrap checkering.[3]
The TLE has been manufactured in the following variations:
The KimberWarrior andDesert Warrior are models that are based on a special version of the Custom that was built for theUnited States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.[4]
The Warrior and Desert Warrior have a frame-integratedM1913 light rail, Kimber Meprolight tritium night sights, and Kimber's own special grips that are very similar to the Gunner grips in coyote brown. They are delivered with Kimber factory magazines. They are otherwise the same as the ICQB pistols.
The Warrior has a matte black KimPro finish and a standard Custom trigger. The Desert Warrior comes in a green-tan KimPro finish that would blend in with desert camouflage, and has a solid trigger.[5]
The MARSOC pistol, known as the KimberICQB (Interim Close Quarter Battle) pistol, does not have an internal firing pin block as seen on the rest of the current Kimber Custom models, hence a "II" does not follow the Warrior or Desert Warrior's names.
These pistols have an ambidextrous thumb safety, a lanyard loop, an internal extractor, and, in contrast to other Custom models, a standard length recoil spring guide rod to allow easier field stripping without tools.[6][7]
The final units as issued to MCSOCOM Det-1 are the Kimber ICQBs withSureFire Integrated Military Pistol Light (IMPL), Dawson Precision rail,Gemtech TRL Tactical Retention Lanyards based upon the jury-rigged telephone cord versions, modifiedSafariland 6004 holsters, Simonich G-10 Gunner Grips manufactured by Simonich Knives (Strider Knives had previously replaced the original Pachmayr rubber grips), andWilson Combat's '47D' 8-round magazines.[8][9]
Tritium Novak LoMount sights replaced the originals which were made in-house by the Marines.[8][9]
Other models of Kimber Custom include the following:
Kimber has also produced several higher-end full-sized model 1911 pistols that are closely based on the Custom, but are not considered part of the Custom line due to their additional features and higher price. These include the following:
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