Kimber America: From Rifles To 1911s & More

by
posted on March 16, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Kimber America logo black cursive black font

Kimber America is renowned for fine firearms with performance to match. Its meticulous 1911s are among the best available today, but the firm didn’t begin with pistols.

The company started in 1979 with rimfire rifles crafted by owner Jack Warne and his son, Greg. Kimber of Oregon, as it was called at the time, was based in Clackamas, Ore. The .22 LR rifles they created quickly gained the attention of enthusiasts and orders piled up. It wasn’t long until the company added a second manufacturing plant to meet that demand.

Then the Warnes decided to enter the centerfire rifle business, which required a significant investment in additional machinery and tooling. The money they raised fell short of the goal and ultimately the attempted introduction of a big-game bolt-action rifle led to financial trouble. The company sold to a new owner in 1989, who also found it impossible to solve the budget issues. The firm later closed, and its assets were sold.

Afterward, Jack Warne established Warne Manufacturing, of scope-mount fame, but he never gave up on firearm design. He found a financial backer and established Kimber of America a few years later.

The company wound up moving to New York, and despite Warne leaving the firm, business continued to flourish. By 2020, orders were once again outpacing plant capacity, and the firm announced a move to a new, state-of-the art facility in Troy, Ala. Today, that 225,000-square-foot factory manufacturers much more than pistols.

Kimber America produces rifles and pistols used by the USA Shooting Team, LAPD SWAT and even select members of the United States Marine Corps assigned to Central Command. It’s never abandoned those 1911 roots, introducing new models with enviable regularity. This year, for example, the Kimber Rapide Dawn 1911 hit the market.

The company also isn’t shy about exploring new territory. Last year, it introduced its first polymer-framed pistol, the R7 Mako. Kimber America’s 2016 entry into the revolver market with the K6s has been a huge success, and a number of variants are already available, including the K6s DASA 4” Combat reviewed by American Rifleman.

Latest

Heckler Koch P7 Ihtog 1
Heckler Koch P7 Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: Heckler & Koch P7

In the mid-1970s, the German federal police sought a replacement for its existing World War II-era sidearms and put out stringent guidelines for what it wanted in a handgun. The result was the Heckler & Koch P7.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson Shield X

Smith & Wesson's new Shield X micro-compact handgun combines elements from the company's M&P Shield Plus with some cues from its smaller Bodyguard 2.0 design.

Review: Tisas PX-5.7 FO

The idea that a faster-moving, lightweight projectile can do the same work as a heavier, slower-moving slug has been around for ages, and the math clearly supports it, even if some in the general public don’t.

NRA Awards Grand Scholarships To 2024 Y.E.S. Students

The Y.E.S. program—which launched in 1996—is held each summer in Washington, D.C., and brings together high-achieving high school students from across the country for a week of immersive learning focused on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and American government.

Rifleman Q&A: Ford Parts For A Smith-Corona

"My wife and I were celebrating our first child when a gentleman came up to our yard as the party was underway and asked about an old wretched Ford pickup that I intended to restore."

Mossberg 990 Aftershock: Not Just An “Other” Firearm

Following on the success of its shotshell-chambered, pump-action Shockwave, with its 990 Aftershock, Mossberg brings to market a similar package with a semi-automatic action that offers even more speed and convenience.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.