OK, I’m showing my ignorance here, but I’m really curious.
I don’t recall seeing a custom on a Kimber 84M or 84L action. It seems the scaled actions could make into a nice lightweight package. The frequent accuracy issue should be corrected by a proper barrel.
So what’s the problem?
No soul?
Not much for a smith to change?
Thanks for any enlightenment.
Larry

my thoughts...
kimber is a niche brand
with a complicated quality history (and ownership)
with a high cost
without a "cult following" like a remington or clone

I am certain that there are some customs out there, but the starting point is higher, and the benefits aren't there

quote:

Originally posted by ChiefR53:
OK, I’m showing my ignorance here, but I’m really curious.
I don’t recall seeing a custom on a Kimber 84M or 84L action. It seems the scaled actions could make into a nice lightweight package. The frequent accuracy issue should be corrected by a proper barrel.
So what’s the problem?
No soul?
Not much for a smith to change?
Thanks for any enlightenment.
Larry

In my experience with several Kimber rifles, there's nothing wrong with the barrels. On multiple occasions I've simply bedded the action and adjusted the trigger and have had great success.

This was one of my better outcomes, a .308 Montana:

Can't see anything; way too big; size your pics. Large thumbnail is what I use.

Thank you for your replies.

Tom, lost in there is a nice cloverleaf group, appears about 1/2 inch.

Woodhits, nice group, glad it’s shoots well. I’ve also had several shoot extremely well,and some not. Many ,many posts out there about “Kimber roulette” but the barrel is not my question. It’s about action suitability for a custom.I agree a good shooting Kimber is a great little rifle.

Jeff, good points. Thank you. I guess I see the diminutive action as kind of unique in spite of a higher action price initially. You start with CRF, 3 position safety, decent trigger and light weight. I doubt there’s any way to grind or skeletonize a 98 or 70 to that weight.
Maybe that’s the problem, viewed as “ flimsy”?

Are there reasons a gunsmith would discourage a customer from a Kimber based build?

I would guess they haven't become a basis for customs because in many of their iterations they have generally been too expensive/semi-custom already. Most people don't buy a $4K Cooper Western Classic and strip it for the action to make a custom. To a lesser extent, same thing with Brownings. People buy them because they think they're pretty well put together out of the box, with a nice stock and the features they want.

And then with the quality and ownership history Jeff mentioned, nobody's going to specialize in them. Don't know if the QC is better these days.

I think Serengeti Rifles used to build on new Kimbers. They are closed the last I heard.

Texas Hill Country Rifles for a long time, maybe still do, had on there sight they would not work on Kimbers.

Kimber of Oregon actions were used in many Custom rifle builds in the past. Duane Weibe is the Stockmaker on record who designed both the Classic and Cascade stocks. He also had 10 actions built specifically for Custom building. Don Allen, Pete Grisel, Bob West, Larry Brace, Stephen Heilmann, Gary Goudy, Paul Dressel, Al Lind, Ralph Bone,Leonard Brownell are a few of the named makers. There are more that have been built on these action designs. Some modified greatly.

Cascade Arms built all of their guns on a modified 84 Action design. This is not heresay. I know Butch personally and I also worked for Kimber of Oregon for 6 years. I went back through my records to verify what I just wrote to be accurate. I make mistakes. So Duane you can correct me if you want!

IMO opinion, you do not take a gun that has risen in value 300% or more to use as the basis of a Custom Gun. Kimber of Oregon sold the Classic Rifle at $395 MSRP. Today, that price starts at $800 used and goes up. A KOO Centennial rife (22LR) sold at auction 2 years ago for $21,952. A Super America rifle is now in the $6500-9750 range nationally.(MSRP $1295). The model 82 is the 22 LR based action. The centerfire 84 had a very checkered past. Just ask Jim Wisner!

Thank you all for your thoughts.
Dennis, the KImber Oregon rifles are certainly very desirable on their own and shouldn’t be cannibalized for parts today. Apparently in the day some of the best talent used them for customs. Thank you for the history. I still kick myself for selling a KoO 223 Super America that shot bug holes. Stupid!

And the current KoA New York rifles are well finished and designed enough that people don’t want to part them out. Ok. Thanks for the comments.
I guess I just wondered if there was a strength, design, material defect that would prevent a smith from using one.
Thanks all
Larry

Was an Australian made 404J on the 404J forum on Facebook the other day.

First time I’ve seen one built on a Kimber.

Fellow who reviewed it did some long range shooting with it, he and the rifle were very good. Even if he called it a Jefferies!