I saw a grey laminated Kimber with a fluted SS barrel (nice piece but near double the savages price) while considering a varmint rifle. Are they worth the extra bucks or should I stay with my intial pick the Savage VT12 with the laminated stock and SS barrel?

The Kimber looks real nice. I can't get used to the Savage's barrel nut.
The Kimber will hold resale value(may be even appreciate a little}. Where as the Savage will likely lose some value if you end up trading or selling it.
In the varmint field you will not likely notice any difference in accuracy.
So I guess it's a question of do you want to pay for esthetics and ego stroking, or functionality?
Personally if I can swing it I go for the pretty things. But that's just me.
muck

Jim,

For most of my hunting years I would have said no. However, my last two rifles have been a Browning Micro-Medallion and a Remington VLS. Neither of these rifles is inexpensive. Neither has been satisfactory in two makes of rifle that would normally be rated as right up there. I
would spend the little extra and get the Kimber. I've never heard an unfavorable comment about them. At one time I probably could have said that about Remington and Browning but no more. We're making a lot of inferior rifles now. The only way to change that is to start buying more Kimbers or Coopers or the better European rifles. The first two would at least allow you to continue buying American. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal