Were these made by the same Kimber corp as makes the current crop of 84/8400's?

The Mod 89 and 89 African looked amazing and recieved glowing reports (granted it wasn't cheap). The action looked like a Mod70/Dak76 and really great CRF action. The stock design was classy and they offered classic calibres like .300H&H and .404 Jeff amongst others.

Anyone know the history behind these. I have never seen one...just photos.

Cheers

I have a Kimber 89 BGR. The wood and metal work is good. It shoots well. However, it was assembled using screws that were too short and I had to have a gunsmith make new ones. He also needed to smooth up the bolt and trigger, plus install some sights. All that being said, it is a better made rifle than a new Winchester by far, and better than some (but not all) Dakotas that I have seen in the past few years.

The following is a link to a Kimber Collector's Manual printed in 1985. This will give the reader some insight into the origins of Kimber.
Can you say Kimber of Australia?

http://clcweb.net/Shooting/Kimber82/Kimber_Manual/kimber_manual.html

Following the Model 82 (22 RF and Hornet) and Mod 84 (short action 223 stuff) came the Mod 89(06 length and up).
Back in 1983 I remember taking a short tour of the factory when all they were making was the 82, in its many variations.
When I asked the sales manager just when they were coming out with a center fire version he ushered me into the drafting room (remember pencils and T-squares?) and there on the table were the original drawings of the Model 84 in 223. I would later find out that it didn't work quite right, having feeding problems.
My understanding is that they contacted Bend, Oregon custom gunsmith Pete Grisel, who had previously worked some on the model 82, and he was able cure the feeding issues. I don't know but I suspect Pete then helped with the 89. My understanding was that Pete always specialized in Model 70s (at least thats all I ever saw him build). Pete later joined with Don Allen to create the Dakota which seems about right, considering his background, that it should be reminiscent of the 70.
Of all the 89 Kimbers that I have seen only one really seemed to have been actually used for hunting; almost all were in nearly like new condition. Fit and finish have always been very well done and I have always admired them. How many actually use them for hunting?

I know that there are more people out there that know more than I do about Kimber. I too, would love to hear from them.

I have an 89 Supergrade Hunter model with the laminated stock in 300 Winney which is one of the rarer ones(a handfull make just before the door closing in 1991) and it looks, handles and shoots great. Yes, I hunt with it. Took it to Canada and shot a moose and a caribou and took it to Montana a few times as well. Shot one hell of a riverbottom Montana Whitetail with it too. You are right about most of them looking like new. These were expensive rifles back then, running about $1500 on average so many were bought by people who like to look at guns more than hunt with them. You can get a lot of them for about what they cost 15 years ago and its a bargain as far as I am concerned. They are a fine semi-custom rifle and worthy of the current pricing.

The Kimber (of Oregon) M89BGR can be a very nice rifle, or maybe not. It seems to depend on the conditions they were built under: some were completed and pushed out the door just to get some $ coming in. Others were well-assembled.

I have one in .375 H&H, and it shoots well and has been reliable. I shot a Cape buff and a leopard with it.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
I have a Kimber 89 BGR. The wood and metal work is good. It shoots well. However, it was assembled using screws that were too short and I had to have a gunsmith make new ones. He also needed to smooth up the bolt and trigger, plus install some sights. All that being said, it is a better made rifle than a new Winchester by far, and better than some (but not all)
Dakotas that I have seen in the past few years.