Kimber was founded as "Kimber of Oregon" in 1979 by Jack Warne and his son Greg Warne in the small town of Clackamas, Oregon. An Australian, Jack Warne moved to Oregon in 1968 after Portland-based Omark Industries purchased the Australian firearms manufacturer, Sporting Arms, he had founded in Adelaide, South Australia, following World War II. Following its founding, Kimber of Oregon, which quickly built a reputation for accurate.22 long rifle caliber rifles, began to expand its product line and eventually acquired a second manufacturing plant in nearby Colton. Jack Warne acquired the Brownell quick-detachable rifle scope mounting system for Kimber. In the late 1980s, the company began to struggle after a private stock offering fell short of covering the costs of developing the M89 BG Rifle. In 1989, Kimber of Oregon was sold to Oregon timber baron Bruce Engel, who founded WTD Industries, Inc. Engel had difficulty running Kimber and soon the company sought bankruptcy protection. However, Kimber of Oregon's assets were liquidated. In 1990, several Kimber employees, including Dan Cooper, left to found Cooper Firearms of Montana. Jack Warne left to found the Warne Manufacturing Company in February 1991, which began manufacture of a new rifle scope mounting system. In the mid-1990s, Greg Warne tried to revive Kimber, but much of Kimber of Oregon's original tooling had ended up in a junkyard north of Portland. Warne soon found a financial backer in Les Edelman, who owned Nationwide Sports Distributors. The two purchased the original tooling and partnered to found Kimber of America. The company grew quickly, but Edelman forced Greg Warne out after acquiring a majority interest in the company. While Edelman was partnering with Greg Warne, he had also invested in Yonkers-based Jerico Precision Manufacturing, which manufactured hand tools and mechanical components for the defense industry, which was adjusting to cuts in defense spending. Edelman decided to connect Jerico Precision's existing infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities and Kimber's reputation and extensive network of dealers to build a line of M1911-style handguns. He eventually moved Kimber's production line to Jerico's facilities in New York, ending Kimber's presence in Oregon. The company now has locations in New York and New Jersey. On 9 December 2004, a federal grand jury indicted former CFO Denis Shusterman for embezzling $10 million from Kimber Manufacturing and Nationwide Sports Distributors. He was later convicted after pleading guilty, ordered to pay damages and back taxes, and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. After leaving Kimber, Greg Warne operated Armas Deportivas S.A. in Granadilla, San Pedro, Costa Rica where he made custom gun grips from locally sourced hardwoods. Greg Warne died in 2006. Kimber is planning to expand manufacturing capacity from its manufacturing facility in Ridgefield, NJ. A proposal to add more space to its Yonkers site had been approved as a "regionally significant project" but Kimber appears to have withdrawn its application following concerns raised by worried neighbors.
Products
Pistols
Kimber is known for its M1911-style pistols, as well as for offering a variety of customization options. Early on, the company introduced the use of metal injection molding for some parts, such as the thumb safety, which makes them more cost-effective to produce. Models available include:
* Kimber Ultra RCP II subcompact 1911 featuring a sighting trough instead of conventional sights
* other custom models
Revolvers
Kimber manufactures one model of revolver, the K6S. It is chambered in.357 Magnum with a capacity of six rounds. Many versions of the K6S are available, including 2", 3" and 4" barrel lengths and Double-Action-Only or Double-Action/Single Action models.
Kimber K6 series
Rifles
Kimber also makes several long gun models, including hunting and tactical rifles. Most of these rifles utilize a Mauser-type controlled feed action, originally designed by Nehemia Sirkis. Kimber rifles have a reputation for accuracy and quality. The basic models are:
Kimber 17 Mach 2
Kimber model 82
Model 84S — Short Action
Model 84M — Medium Action
Model 84L — Long Action
Model 8400 — Magnum Action
PepperBlaster
self-defense tools are also being sold under Kimber's PepperBlaster trademark. Kimber PepperBlasters are highly concentrated irritant high velocity incapacitating non-lethal chemical weapons. Since these non-lethal weapons are effective at ranges where most handgun and knife encounters occur, they could be used to defend against such attacks. They are also useful for hikers in the wild to discourage aggressive animals. These products are also a suitable self-defense weapon for college students and commuters, especially on campuses that prohibit the concealed carry of firearms. Recently, Kimber introduced the PepperBlaster II, a modification of the original designed with an ergonomic grip and sights to enhance aiming.
Kimber firearms in use
A modified version of the "Team Match II".45 ACP caliber pistol is used by the US Shooting Rapid Fire Pistol Team. In 2002, the LAPD chose a slightly modified and specially marked version of the Custom TLE II as the standard issue for its SWAT unit. Several other law enforcement agencies have approved Kimber firearms for on-duty carry by their patrol and SWAT officers. In 2007 a new pistol designed by the LAPD Special Investigation Section was added to the Kimber's line of M1911-pattern pistols. A modified Kimber 1911 was also chosen as the sidearm for Marine Corps forces assigned to Special Operations Command.
Political activities
Kimber Manufacturing donated $200,000 to the Red White and Blue Fund, a super PAC that supported Rick Santorum in 2012. Kimber was the first gun company to donate to a super PAC.
