Kimber Pistols

Kimber is best known for its 1911 pistols and calls itself the world’s largest maker of 1911s. Started in Oregon as a rifle company, Kimber moved to New York and is now headquartered in Alabama.

Company at a glance

Founded	1979, Clackamas, Oregon, as Kimber of Oregon
Founders	Jack Warne and Greg Warne
Headquarters	Troy, Alabama (since 2020)
Ownership	Private
Status	In operation

Locations and moves

Kimber moved production from Oregon to Yonkers, New York in the mid-1990s. In 2018 it announced a new plant in Troy, Alabama, and moved its headquarters there in 2020.

Timeline

• 1979 Founded in Oregon, building rimfire rifles.
• 1990s Revived as Kimber of America and moved to Yonkers, New York.
• 2002 LAPD SWAT picks a modified Kimber 1911.
• 2003 Kimber 1911s picked for Marines assigned to SOCOM.
• 2016 K6s revolver introduced.
• 2018 Troy, Alabama plant announced.
• 2019 Recall of optics-ready Aegis and KHX pistols.
• 2020 Headquarters moves to Troy, Alabama.
• 2021 R7 Mako, Kimber’s first polymer pistol.
• 2022 R7 Mako recall.
• 2023 KDS9c double-stack 1911.

Major pistols

Model	Type	Notes
Custom II	1911	Full size classic
Ultra Carry	1911	Compact carry 1911
Micro 9, Micro 380	Single action	Small 1911-style carry pistols
KDS9c	1911	Double-stack 9mm
R7 Mako	Striker-fired 9mm	Micro-compact
Solo	Striker-fired 9mm	Discontinued subcompact
K6s, K6xs	Revolvers	Stainless carry revolvers

Also makes: bolt-action rifles and knives.

Important people

• Jack Warne and Greg Warne: founders
• Leslie Edelman: owner

Notable events

• Kimber 1911s have been carried by LAPD SWAT and Marines assigned to SOCOM.
• The move to Alabama in 2020 followed New York’s tighter gun laws.
• Safety recalls covered the Aegis and KHX (2019) and the R7 Mako (2022).

Videos

More makers: Pistol Brands · New to pistols? Start with Where to Start.

Company details change. Information current as of October 2026.