I knew Kimber had a handgun of import, but sources inside the company were silent as to what it actually was. Those Kimber guys can really keep a secret. Pleasant surprises are few and far between these days, but the Kimber Solo 9 is indeed one. The Yonkers, New York, manufactured gun is recoil-operated six-round-capacity 9 mm that is 5 ½" long with a 2.7" barrel that weigh only 19 ounces without ammunition. It is a striker-fired design with 90 percent of the striker being pre-loaded on slide movement, making for an excellent trigger. It comes with an ambidextrous safety, three dot sights and is available in stainless on silver anodized frame or a two-tone. It is handsome gun worthy of the Kimber name … and well worth the wait. The Kimber guys, despite its short barrel and mere 4.4” sight radius, that the little gun is extremely accurate. The frames is of 7075-T7 aluminum and the slide is of stainless steel. It resembles a Model 1903 Colt with an M1911 grip angle, and the all silver-tone gun looks like an AMT Back-Up with a touch of class. The best ergonomic part of the gun is the raduised angle at the top rear of the grip strap. It is wide and smooth, and this might be one of the most shootable guns in the class. Only range time will tell.

There is indeed a new wave in the discrete carry handgun. Since Right-To-Carry has become law in many states, new licensees would often try to follow the Col. Jeff Cooper model and carry a full-size M1911 daily. But full size guns are big, heavy and can make your pants fall down, Thus, the rush to ultra-compact .380 ACP pistols. But the power of the .380 as a defensive caliber left some unfullfilled. That and the price and seeming scarcity of .380 ammunition have led to the next tend. Compact 9 mm Luger pistols not much larger than the .380s but deliver adequate power in a not much lager package. Ruger and SIG Sauer have recently answered the call and the micro 9 mm tide will no doubt continue to surge.