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  4. Review of the New Kimber 2K11 Double-Stack 1911

Alabama-based Kimber is ready to share what they feel is the most capable, out-of-the-box, high-capacity 1911 pistol available: the new 2K11. We've got the review. 

 

Table of Contents
 
Overview
The Specs
Features
Trigger
Reliability
Accuracy
Pros & Cons
Conclusion
 

Overview

 

Kimber originally started as a rifle brand and pivoted to making M1911-style pistols in 1994, debuting at SHOT '95. Basic math shows that to be at least a 30-year run in the field. Along the way, they learned a thing or two.

With a new state-of-the-art facility in Troy, Alabama at their fingertips, and a couple of generations of hard-earned tribal knowledge in how to make a 1911, the company is now ready to run in the double-stack/wide-body 1911 game – after a warm-up with the slightly downsized KDS9c – and this week introduced the new 2K11. 

Using an aluminum alloy grip module over an SST steel sub-frame, the slide is made of stainless steel, featuring an external extractor, front and rear slide serrations, and a factory optics cut in the RMR footprint. Running TAG Precision FiberLok 2 front sights with a suppressor-height serrated rear sight, under the hood is a beast of a deep crowned, fluted bull barrel. You've also got a great GT aluminum trigger, ambi safety levers, an innovative tool-less guide rod/spring assembly, and common (2011 pattern) magazine compatibility. 

The single-action 2K11 will be released in five full-sized (5-inch barreled) variants between the standard model and target as each will be available in 9mm and .45 ACP with the fifth offering being a Target model in 9mm that will also be optics-included. 

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The standard 2K11 has a highly polished Coyote PVD finished barrel under a slide with brush-polished flats and a DLC coating. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The Target model includes a factory-installed Stan Chen Customs extended competition magwell and sports a slide with a Coyote PVD coating, while the barrel is DLC-coated, giving it an almost "golden gun" look in certain light. Also note the lightening cuts in the slide, which aid in a faster lockup, and the adjustable rear target sight. 

 

The standard black framed 9mm model (Model 3500051) is the entry 2K11, in terms of price, that Kimber has on the schedule, with an MSRP of $1,995. The standard .45 ACP model (3500050) runs $2,125. When it comes to the Target variants, they start at $2,495 for the 9mm (3500053), head to $2,595 on the .45 (3500052) and, for the optics included variant (3500055), tops out at $3,095 but ships with a Trijicon SRO.

For full disclosure, Kimber hosted Guns.com for an event in Alabama in early July where we shot (and shot, and shot, and shot) early production 2K11s on the range. The company later sent Guns.com a standard 9mm version of the pistol for review purposes. All further testing was done on this one gun, which has been under evaluation since early October. 

 

The Specs (Model 3500051, as reviewed)

 

  • Overall length: 8.56 inches
  • Barrel length: 5 inches 
  • Sight radius: 6.8 inches
  • Overall width: 1.4 inches at the widest point over grip, slide is 0.91 inches.
  • Overall height including standard mag: 5.7 ­inches
  • Magazine capacity: 17+1 rounder flush fit, and 20+1 extended (ships with both)
  • Trigger pull: 3.3 pounds (10-pull average), advertised as "3-4 lbs."
  • Weight, with empty magazine: 40.9 ounces
  • Weight, loaded: 49 ounces (with 17+1 rounds of 124-grain 9mm Speer Gold Dot JHP)
  • MRD Optic Footprint: RMR pattern

 

Features

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The 2K11 runs a 5-inch barrel, which gives it an overall length of 8.56 inches. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
It ships with three steel mags, which appear to be Kimber-branded Check-Mates, as well as a branded three-compartment padded zipper case. The mags include a flush-fit 17+1 capacity, seen inserted, and two extended 20+1 round mags. Replacements/extras are available both through Kimber and on the secondary market but are spendy either way, hitting the $50-$60 mark. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The pistol's height is 5.7 inches with its flush-fit 17+1 round 9mm magazine inserted and 6.6 with the extended 20+1 round, as seen above. Note the ambidextrous manual safety lever. Also the external extractor. Typically external extractors run longer and stronger and internal extractors and require less maintenance (yes, you are supposed to clean an internal extractor channel on a 1911). 

 

The 2K11 has the bone structure of a 1911. A nice 1911. Compare it to a Government-sized steel-framed Kimber Rapide. 

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The 2K11 and the Rapide spec out almost identically in terms of dimensions, with the only notable variance being in the thickness of the grip (1.4 inches over the 2K11's grip vs 1.32 over the maple grip panels of the Rapide) due to the former's double-stack magazine. Even the weight difference is negligible, with the 2K11 hitting the scales at 49 ounces loaded with 18 rounds of 9mm 124-grain Speer Gold Dot JHP, while the Kimber, with 9 rounds of 185-grain 10mm Auto, is 43 ounces. The weight savings on the double stack come from its aluminum frame module. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
Looking under the hood, takedown is remarkably easy and accomplished without tools, something you often can't say with other double-stack 1911s. This is largely due to its bushing-less bull barrel and innovative new guide rod/recoil spring assembly, into which we will get. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The guide rod features a built-in tensioner that, once adjusted, allows for easy removal, and helps keep the lockup rock solid on the 2K11. It uses a captive 10-pound recoil spring. The .45 ACP models run a 16-pound spring. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The bull barrel is an absolute unit, weighing 5.4 ounces by itself despite its extensive fluting. Using a traditional swing link design, it is ramped and has a muzzle with a deep crown. It uses a 1:10 twist rate (1:16 in .45 ACP), using 5R rifling. Its fit to the slide is near custom, and very tight, with no perceptible slop. This helps ensure repeatability. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The aluminum grip has an internal SST steel sub-frame that includes a tapered magwell that controls and stabilizes the mag during cycling – a factor that steps up reliability by helping to curb feeding issues due to wobbly mags, while simultaneously protecting the slide stop and ejector, upping component life. The sub frame is made to where it blocks the mag from over-insertion-- a real thing since the mags are longer that the grip in many cases-- which can bend the ejector.  
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The ergonomics are superb, with a 360-degree stippling in the aluminum grip module. Of note, the grip also has an aluminum mainspring housing and carries Type III Hardcoat Anodizing. Note the extended beavertail. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
There is a deep undercut to the trigger guard, allowing for a higher grip, which aids control. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
Note the M1913 Picatinny rail for lights and lasers, as well as the waffle/tread pattern slide serrations forward and rear. They are wide and deep, but at certain angles can be sharp. Those with sensitive hands need not apply. The Target variant uses the same serration pattern but also has lightening cuts in the slide. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The factory-installed sights are great, including a TAG Precision FiberLok 2 front sight with a fiber-optic insert. The rear sight, integral to the optics plate, is a fixed suppressor-height blacked-out serrated notch.
All 2K11 models ship with a C&H Precision optic adapter plate with an RMR/SRO footprint and a service pack that includes several additional fiber optic inserts. Also available are CHPWS kits for the Delta Point Pro, RMSc/Holosun K, Aimpoint ACRO, and 509T. 

 

Trigger

 

The aluminum GT match-grade skeletonized trigger is superb. With an advertised 3-to-4-pound pull weight, we found ours running towards the lower end of that at 3.3 pounds with a short takeup to the wall and a crisp break. Reset is similarly short and is both audible and tactile. 

 

 

I'm not sure that I've felt a better trigger on a production 1911. When the test gun arrived at our local FFL for transfer, it was passed around extensively to feel the trigger, with no complaints. 

 

Reliability

 

We ran an early production 2K11 Target in 9mm right off the table for about 400 rounds at the Kimber event in Alabama in July with no issues, other than the fact that we almost hated to get it dirty. 

Meanwhile, our test gun sent in October performed similarly to Kimber's event gun. We ran just over 500 rounds through it throughout four range sessions. This was on a pistol right from the box with no additional lube or treatments. The ammo used was primarily Federal's 115-grain Syntech Range, 147-grain Syntech Training Match, and 150-grain Syntech Action Pistol, along with Blazer 115-grain FMJs. Personal protection loads included Federal Punch 124 and Speer Gold Dot 124 JHPs.

We suffered zero malfunctions on the range. This gun flat-out runs. 

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm, with Frank Proctor
U.S. Army Green Beret and USPSA Grand Master Frank Proctor, who had a hand in the development of the 2K11, was on hand at the event in July and had put pallets of rounds through his test guns.

 

Frank's thoughts on the gun:

 

 

Accuracy

 

Kimber has done the work to figure out how to make the 2K11 both dependable and accurate. You've got the classic 1911 sight radius with decent sights and an optics cut, a light match-grade trigger, comfortable ergonomics, and a match-grade bull barrel with hard lockup.

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
My target at the sneak peek event this summer. That's about 400 rounds just dumped methodically from 15 yards, standing, firing offhand, alternating left and right, often in rapid-fire mag dumps. I promise that Delta isn't mine. 
The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
My T&E gun, even with fixed sights, continued the trend, delivering boring hits on 3/4 reduced USPSA steel at 15 offhand. Full-sized targets were no problem at 25. Pushing to the 50 and working from a sitting barricade and bag position while applying some concentration in slow fire brought the above. Adding a red dot on this gun is something of a cheat code.

 

The 2K11 is easy to control and very repeatable, as seen here with 150-grain loads. 

 

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Classic styling with modern features
  • Great trigger
  • Optics ready
  • Common 2011-pattern mags
  • Good ergos
  • Accurate
  • Reliable

Cons

  • A bit big to carry (only full-sized models available)
  • Somewhat limited holster fits
  • Starts at $2K. 

 

Conclusion

 

The Kimber 2K11 was not on my bingo card for 2024. To be sure, the company has plumbed the depths of double-stack 1911s with their 15/18+1 shot KDS9c, which has gotten rave reviews, so everyone should have seen this coming. You can see a bit of the KDS9c in the 2K11 as well, with the latter clearly meant for more heavy lifting. 

Speaking of heavy, the 2K11, being a full-sized 1911, carries like a full-sized 1911, only with a few more ounces to it. On that line of thought, holster fitments may be a little tough due to the railgun aspect of the frame, but there are sure to be some out there. At release, Kimber notes that both Crucial Concealment and Blackpoint Leather are already on board with holster options. With DS 1911s becoming more and more popular, expect more companies to keep working this angle. 

For practical shooting and use in home defense, the 2K11 could be formidable. 

The sticking point for some will be the $2-$3K entry fee to get into the 2K11 club, which is understandable. However, keep in mind that Staccato P (and remember, the 'P" stands for a polymer frame) starter kits push $3K, and even the more "budget" minded wide-body 1911s such as the Stealth Arms Platypus and Springfield Armory Prodigy run around $1,500-- and nothing against Stealth or Springer, but the 2K11 runs circles around them in my opinion.

Regardless, do yourself a favor if you are looking at double-stack 1911s and feel the lockup and trigger on the 2K11. That could make up your mind fast.

 

The Kimber 2K11 pistol in 9mm
The Kimber 2K11. 

 

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