By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
ABOUT KIMBER
Kimber Manufacturing is a Troy, Alabama, company that designs, manufactures, and distributes small arms such as M1911 pistols, rifles, and revolvers. Kimber has customers with the USA Shooting Team, Marines assigned to Special Operations Command, and the LAPD SWAT team.
Kimber was founded as “Kimber of Oregon” in 1979 by Jack Warne, an Australian, and his son Greg Warne in the small town of Clackamas, Oregon.
In the late 1980s, the company began to struggle after a stock offering couldn’t cover the costs of developing their M89 BG (Big Game) Rifle. The company was sold, and the new owner went bankrupt.
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 founded Kimber of America.
While Edelman was partnering with Warne, he had also invested in Yonkers-based Jerico Precision Manufacturing, which manufactured hand tools and mechanical components. Edelman decided to connect Jerico Precision’s manufacturing capabilities and Kimber’s reputation and dealer network to build a line of M1911-style handguns. He eventually moved Kimber’s production line to Jerico’s facilities in New York.
Faced with political issues in anti-gun New York and New Jersey, Kimber announced the intention to move its headquarters and manufacturing facility and operations to Troy, Alabama.
THE CDS9
The new CDS9 (Covert Double Stack 9mm) from Kimber is a new design for everyday concealed carry 1911 handgun owners. Built to be a fully featured personal protection firearm, the Kimber CDS9 delivers several features that place this model in its own class. The CDS9 features a metal frame instead of polymer and takes its Micro 1911 platform to a new level with an upgraded design, fully ambidextrous, more capacity, and better ergonomics. A threaded barrel version TFS (Threaded For Suppression) is also available.
“The CDS9 is a spectacular example of Kimber’s commitment to creating consumer-focused products. This handgun perfectly balances capacity and concealability, making it an outstanding choice for those prioritizing both.” ~ Mountie Mizer, Vice President of Sales
THE FRAME
The CDS9 starts with a 7075 aluminum frame featuring ambidextrous controls and a reversible magazine release; a flat-faced trigger with a vertical brake point, a frag pattern checkered front strap, a frag pattern mainspring housing, VZ Frag pattern G10 grip panels, a Picatinny accessory rail for lights or lasers, finished in KimPro II.
THE SLIDE & BARREL
The Optics-Ready stainless steel slide features “fish scale” front and rear serrations, an RMSc direct mount optic cut, a Tag Fiber Lock front sight, a black fixed rear sight, a stacked recoil spring assembly for increased life up to 10,000 rounds, and an external extractor. The barrel is match-grade stainless steel with a 1:10 right-hand twist.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Hammer Fired, Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Micro-Compact
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: Flush Fit 10 Round, 13, and 15 Rounds
Sights: TAG Fiber Lock Front Sight, A Black Fixed Rear Sight
Barrel Length: 3.18 Inches Standard, 3.64 Inches with TFS Threaded Barrel ½ x 28 Version
Overall Length: 6.2 Inches
Height: 5 Inches
Width: 1.1 Inches
Weight: 20.8 Ounces with an Empty Magazine
MSRP: $1,075
THE VERDICT
Looks like another winner from Kimber. With its increased capacity over the Micro 9 for EDC and an optional threaded barrel for a suppressed nightstand pistol, this might be the perfect solution for many concealed-carry folks.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. His writing has appeared in The Armory Life, RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].