Looks like Kimber’s take on the Wilson Combat EDC X9.

I personally think it looks like a very nice take on the double stack 1911 style carry gun. At less than 1/2 the cost of an EDC X9 it is definitely not breaking the bank. I like all the slide cuts and the styling.

Only thing I’d change would be more aggressive checkering and a different hammer.

Congratulations on a cool gun. I like seeing guns on here that I’ve never seen before.

 

Thanks for sharing, I didn't know these had hit the market but remember when they introduced that they were being developed

This is a new outing for Kimber so any problems with it doesn't really surprise me, coupled with the fact they just uprooted from NY to Alabama. Glad you like it though and keep us updated

 

I have many kimbers and have had problems with all but they were all worked out by their customer service and are great now. Kimbers customer service is one of the best.
I looked at this gun when I was looking for a double stacked 1911 but the KDS9C did not have a grip safety so I went with the Bul SAS 2 ul

 

Kimber has a knack for making some of the best looking firearms in the industry. If it’s reliable, this will be a total hit in the market.

 

Thank you for sharing. Look forward to the range report.

 

Very handsome Kimber...

 

In for your post shooting thoughts.

 

OK, I did manage to take the Kimber to the range today. To get to the suspenseful part, I shot 220 rounds through it. The first 50 were Winchester 124 gr NATO rounds. I like to use those for the first shots through a new gun because it's a little stouter round and it helps to break in the pistol and loosen things up. After that I switched to 115 Blazer Brass. I've used that round in most every 9mm I've shot and it's always been great. So after 220 rounds I'm happy to report that the little Kimber shot perfectly without even the hint of a hiccup.
Recoil with the NATO round was a little snappy, but the 115 was smoother. The action cycled quickly and I never once felt as it the slide were dragging or slow and it fed perfectly. The trigger is not what I would consider great, but it is definitely very shootable. With my Lyman digital gage it measures 3lb 15oz average after 5 pulls. It has a definite wall and if I really look for it, a tiny bit of creep. It breaks crisply and has a short, but tactile and audible reset. It's not Dan Wesson smooth, but very respectable considering the big price difference.
I thought that the grip might be a bit slippery, but after shooting it, I have no complaints. It fits my hand well and is very comfortable. Between the beaver tail and the bump on the lower front of the grip your hand locks on and stays put.
I'm very well pleased with the Kimber. If I really want to be nitpicky I can always find a few things to complain about. For example, if I disassemble it and test the slide feel without the barrel or recoil spring I can feel a slight drag on the disconnector. I don't notice that when fully assembled. If I had my choice I would put a thinner front sight on it. Although it does have a fiber optic sight, the sight itself is about the width of most combat style sights and covers a large amount of target the farther the target is out there. To me that affects accuracy because the bullseye is covered. A thinner fiber optic sight would help this. Other than that, to me it's a great firearm especially considering the fact that it cost me less than $1300 delivered to my FFL. I'm not saying it's perfect and I'm not saying that there isn't better out there, but I think they will cost several hundreds more at around $2K. To me the KDS9C is a great value and I'm looking forward to comparing it to a Dan Wesson DWX compact when I get one.
For those on the fence about the new Kimber, I'm attaching a few pictures of the internals so that it might help you with your decision. Good luck.
First 50 rounds

I feel the gun could have done better, if I had done better. I generally use glasses for distances, but shot this without them.

 

One thing I noticed with the WC EDC X9 is WC doesn’t give you a plate cover for their optic ready X9. I like how Kimber has a cover plate.

Id really like to see Nighthawk’s IOS style. Best of both worlds.

 

Yeah I played with one of these since I was wanting one but when I started messing with it noticed how horribly gritty the slide action felt and just did not have the feel I was hoping for. But if your saying had the same thing and it just needed to be cleaned and all I might look back at it.
Would like to snag one maybe after someone decides they don't want any longer. Lol.
Thanks for the write up though.

 

Yeah I played with one of these since I was wanting one but when I started messing with it noticed how horribly gritty the slide action felt and just did not have the feel I was hoping for. But if your saying had the same thing and it just needed to be cleaned and all I might look back at it.
Would like to snag one maybe after someone decides they don't want any longer. Lol.
Thanks for the write up though.

After having a little more time to play around with the Kimber and after cleaning it, I have to say that to me the slide doesn't feel gritty, but in all honesty it isn't the glassy smooth action that draws people to guns like the Dan Wesson DWX, or the BUL SAS II Tac series, or even my Springfield Arms Prodigy. Those feel really smooth and you can work the slide with just two fingers with very little effort.
With the Kimber, it really isn't that the slide is gritty or tight fitting (although I'm sure that it will improve with use), IMO it's the stiff recoil spring that they use. With the above mentioned guns it takes very little effort to rack the slide while with the Kimber it's noticeably stiffer. It's not as smooth as those others but it really isn't bad, it just takes more effort.
I guess that's part of the reason that many handguns that have that glassy smooth action also are hand fit and cost near $2K.

 

Just got my KDS9c yesterday. I put it side-by-side on the tabletop with the Wilson EDC X9. After filming the first look, I cleaned it and lubed it, then took it out to my range and ran a couple hundred rounds through it with 100% reliability. The range video should be up on YouTube in a few days. Here's the first look:

 

How does the optic plate come off.

 

I'll be covering that in my 1,000-round review that should go public in a couple weeks, but here's a spoiler: The rear sight is proprietary and not dovetailed on. It is held on by two allen screws that are accessed from the bottom of the slide. Remove the screws and the sight and the cover plate comes off.

 

@Lisa93 looks like your Kimber collection is missing one.

 

It's missing more than one.. But you know how Womens are.. No sale is final til we are out the door with it. I saved up for the Model 44. Then when i went to the shop to get it i seen a super sexy 9mm Cusom ll two tone.. so i left kinda confused. Couple days later decided to go get the Kimber. When i went to get that they had a Springer SA-35 that i have been wanting but could never find one... Soooo... you can guess what happened then..lol. AND... they have a scoped Ruger 10/22 with the most beautiful furniture on it i have ever seen.. I just have to stay out of there.... Good thing , i guess, is my gun funds are back to $0.00.. so i can just dream about them while i save back up...

20230729_131019.jpg

• Lisa93
• Jul 30, 2023

 

I am a HUGE Browning Hi Power fan. I intended to pick up a SA35, but all the ridiculous initial pricing - followed by all the problem reviews - dissuaded me. Can't wait to hear what you think of it! I know the prices stabilized...I hope the problems got worked out! 🤞

 

The rear sights on there look odd and obtrusive to me. Does it look like there'd be a way to replace them with something more conventional, or does the plate prevent that?

 

The rear sight appears to be proprietary and is mounted to the slide by two allen screws that are accessed from the bottom of the slide. Sadly, it is not dovetailed onto the gun. That is my least favorite part of an otherwise very nice pistol.

 

If I don't like the Platypus I have on order, I'll probably give this new KImber a try. I wish it was better looking (ported slide etc) and had a rail, though.

I had a EDC X9 and it just wasn't the one for me. Did not shoot it well at all

 

Those rear sights are a little different because they are elevation adjustable. There is a locking set screw on top that you loosen and then by turning the side screw you can move the sight blade up and down.
Windage adjustment is done the old fashioned way by drifting the sights.

To me I actually prefer the look and feel of the BUL SAS II. It looks more like a police/military style gun while the Kimber looks more like what an undercover agent would pack.

The more I get used to the Kimber, the more I like it.

 

Beautiful pistol. Enjoy. Looks good, runs good--what else is there?

 

Thanks for your detailed feedback and opinion.

 

I want one..... Dangit... Beautiful heater.. And a Kimber..

 

And, later this year they will offer it with an Ambi safety which this Lefty needs. This niche, the double stack 1911 derivatives with good capacity and single action triggers, seems to be the best of both worlds. Production grade offerings make them more affordable to all of us.

 

The word on the street is that the mags are proprietary.
BUT
They look very familiar to me in the photo's!
Has anyone stuffed CZ or other mags in it yet to see what will work,
At least for left side/Right hand mag release.

Obviously since the mag catch can be changed over, the Kimber mags are cut on both sides
to accommodate the change from Rt hand to Lt hand release.

 

I haven't tried to stuff any CZ mags in it but a Sig P226 mag fits but will not lock in. I'm pretty sure that only Kimber mags will fit. It seems that manufacturers are sticking to their own proprietary mag designs if for no other reason than to be able to sell mags for their guns.
I have seen these Kimber mags being sold for about $35 so that's not too bad for a double stack design. Sure beats the heck out of the prices for Staccato mags.
Kimber says that 18 round mags are on the way. A full size KDS9 would probably take a 18 round magazine if Kimber offered one. Just a coincidence or is that a hint that a full size version is on the way?

 

Thanks for the write up and the range report. Very nice!

 

Yet😎

 

This like the SA Prodigy, a correctly priced gun!!
I kinda quit on Kimber when they had their SS Metal problem and the Schartz safety.
BUT
I think it's time to try one of these out and get one to play with.

 

Where do the bullet tips hit on the ramp?
Low, Middle or high on the ramp?
Let's say with nato ball or any ball ammo

Wondering that regards to feeding geometry.

If it wouldn't be to much trouble! Maybe a photo of the lide locked back with a full mag inserted
so we can see where the first round looks in relation to the feed ramp.

Also what is the measurement between the bottom of the trigger guard and the bottom of the grip where the mag sits.
Wonder if my 3 meat hook fingers will fit there!

thanks
Neil

 

Where do the bullet tips hit on the ramp?
Low, Middle or high on the ramp?
Let's say with nato ball or any ball ammo

Wondering that regards to feeding geometry.

If it wouldn't be to much trouble! Maybe a photo of the lide locked back with a full mag inserted
so we can see where the first round looks in relation to the feed ramp.

Also what is the measurement between the bottom of the trigger guard and the bottom of the grip where the mag sits.
Wonder if my 3 meat hook fingers will fit there!

thanks
Neil

Here you go, 15 rounds of Winchester 124 gr NATO. Hope these help.

And for comparison side by side to a Sig P229 Legion. They are pretty much equal in measurement in every way. The longer beaver tail on the Kimber makes it just a bit longer. The barrel length on the P229 is 3.9" while the Kimber comes in at 4.09", so if anything the Kimber is just a hair longer by maybe a quarter of an inch because of the barrel and longer beaver tail, but hardly noticeable. If you fit a P229 you'll fit the Kimber. The main difference between the Sig and the Kimber is their width. The Kimber is much slimmer than the chunky Sig.

And with a ruler showing the grip length. It doesn't look like it in the picture but the ruler is exactly even with the bottom of the mag on the Kimber. The P229 is identical.

And finally, my pudgy paws on the Kimber. Again the P229 is exactly the same and I can get a full grip on it.

 

That is a great looking pistol. I may have to check one out.