Kahr CW9

     Notes: The “CW” in CW9 stands for “Concealed Weapon,” and that describes the CW9 – a compact 9mm pistol.  In real life, it is considerably cheaper than comparable pistols, but not cheap in quality.  Despite the small size, the CW9 is capable of handling even +P loads; it can, in fact, digest just about any sort of 9mm Parabellum ammunition.  The CW9 sort of combines Glock and SiG features, with a square slide a la Glock, though in stainless steel, and a black polymer frame and grip plates which look similar to the SiG P229.  Inside, however, the CW9 is all Kahr.  There are no external manual safeties of any sort, though there is a slide catch (which is smaller than standard slide catches in order to maintain a snagless profile).  The CW9 can use all standard Kahr 9mm magazines.  The extractor is external, something which increases reliability, and the ejection port is quite large.  The sights are fixed, low-profile, and polymer, with a white dot on the front sight.  The barrel is a short 3.6 inches. Unlike most other Kahrs, the weapon does not have rounded contours, though the angled machined cuts achieve the same low-snag purpose while reducing cost.

     Due to popular demand, Kahr quickly came out with the CW40 and CW45.  They are identical to the CW9 except for the modifications necessary for the base CW9 to use the larger cartridges.

     In 2016, a new finish for the CW9 was introduced: black carbon fiber.  It is an appliqué surface done over the bare frame.  This surface creates a better grip than the standard CW9 grip, but is otherwise the same as the standard CW9.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This pistol does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kahr K9 Series

     Notes: Kahr started out as a company producing strong, lightweight automatic pistols for personal defense and backup.  The K9 was their first, introduced in 1994, followed quickly by the K40 and later the P380.  The K9 series looks sort of like a like a cross between compact SiG and a Glock designs, and are made of tough yet lightweight ordnance-quality stainless steel.  The grips are of wrap-around polymer, and most of the Kahr series in general can use a large variety of aftermarket grips.  Operation is a modified double-action Browning-type, with a modified locking and trigger action.  The trigger action uses an automatic firing pin safety, which is unlocked by a patented cam system that ensures that the a full trigger pull is required for the first double-action shot, yet also gives the K9 series a remarkably smooth and even trigger pull.  Sights are fixed combat sights, with the rear sight having two high-contrast dots and the front sight using a front vertical bar marking for quick sight acquisition.  (Tritium inlays are optional.) The barrel of the base K9 is 3.5 inches long, and the K9 series do not use manual safeties.  Finishes for the P9’s frame and slide include matte stainless and black (called “Black Diamond” by Kahr).  Another version of the base K9, the K9 Elite 98, is identical except for the high-polish finish with laser-etched logos. The K9 series is striker-fired and is DA/SA.

     Other variants of the K9 include the MK9 (introduced in 1998, and sometimes called the “MK9 Micro”), with a modified short-stroke trigger action and a smaller grip and shorter 3.1-inch barrel.  (An MK9 Elite 98 version also exists, similar to the K9 Elite 98 above.)  The P9 is also virtually identical in design to the K9, but uses a black polymer frame with a textured grip and stainless steel slide.  The P9 Covert is a P9 with a shorter grip.  The PM9 is a shorter-barreled version of the P9 Covert, with a 3-inch barrel.  The MK9, P9 Covert, and PM9 can also use the 7-round K9 magazines, though that magazine will protrude below the grip; a grip extension is made to improve the grip when using the longer magazine.

     The K40 is essentially the same as the P9 series, suitably modified the .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge. Variants include K40 Elite 98, MK40/MK40 Elite 98, P40, and P40 Covert models.  The P380 comes only in one model; this has a polymer frame, stainless steel slide, and a 2.5-inch barrel.

     The CM9 is essentially a developed and modified PM9, with some features taken from the CW series.  It uses a shorter grip made of textured polymer; in fact, the entire frame is of black polymer.  Barrel length is, as on the PM9, 3 inches; however, it uses conventional rifling instead of polygonal rifling.  As on the PM9, the CM9 has a drift-adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sight, but it has a white-lined fixed front sight (and that front sight is polymer).  Unlike the PM9, the CM9 does not offer the choice of tritium night sights or a Crimson Trace laser sight.  Only one finish is available on the CM9 – a black polymer frame and grip and a matte stainless steel slide.  The CM9 is also somewhat dehorned, making it a good pocket or backup weapon. The CM9 is meant to be a less-expensive alternative (though the game price does not reflect this well). The CM40, introduced a few years later, is a version of the CM9 in a larger caliber; the barrel is also slightly longer at 3.1 inches.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The CM9 and CM40 are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kahr T9/T40/P40

     Notes: This is Kahr’s first full-sized pistol; Kahr was previously known as a company that produced compact and pocket pistols.  The T9 is a medium-sized weapon that fires 9mm Parabellum ammunition.  The T9’s claim to fame is its trigger: it is one of the smoothest you will find on a “normal” semiautomatic pistol.  Like all Kahrs, the T9 is also known for its reliability and toughness.  The P40 and P9 are basically a T40 and T9 in with a polymer frame.  The P40 Covert is a compact model of the P40, made smaller by shortening the grip; the P9 Covert is the same idea in 9mm Parabellum

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These weapons do not exist.

Kahr P45

     Notes: Like most Kahr pistols, the P45 is a compact and lightweight pistol, introduced in the last quarter of 2005.  It uses a textured black polymer frame, a match-grade polygonal barrel, and a matte-stainless steel slide which makes a nice contrast to the black frame. (The slide rides on special steel inserts in the frame.)  The trigger is double-action-only.  The trigger pull is a little heavy, but has a short length of travel.  Standard magazines are made from stainless steel, and if bought from the factory, it is also shipped with trigger lock.  The standard sights are fixed low profile white bar-dot combat type sights, but the P45 may also be had with tritium-inlay sights as well; the sights are dovetailed as well. 

     The TP45 is a more recent version of the P45.  For the most part it is identical to the P45, but it uses 7-round magazines, the rear sight is adjustable for windage to a limited degree, and the barrel is a little longer at 4.04 inches. The PM45 is the opposite; it is the smallest member of the P45 series, with a barrel of only 3.14 inches, and a shorter grip holding a smaller magazine.  It’s definitely a handful.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The TP45 and PM45 are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kel-Tec P3AT

     Notes: This is another of Kel-Tec’s pocket pistols, this time in .380 ACP.  It is basically a larger version of the P32.  It was designed specifically for the needs of police for use as a backup gun or by undercover officers; it thus fires a cartridge powerful enough to make most people take notice when hit, but small enough to wear under clothing or a pants leg or even put in a pocket.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Kel-Tec P11

     Notes: This pocket pistol was advertised by Kel-Tec as the smallest and lightest 9mm Parabellum ever made.  It is surprisingly accurate for its size, but still primarily a self-defense or backup weapon.  It was designed using CAD programs on a computer, and built on computer-controlled machines.  The slide of the pistol is steel, but the grip, magazine well, and trigger guard is polymer, and the frame is made from aircrafTgrade aluminum.  An interesting fact about the P11 is that it can also take 9mm Parabellum magazines designed for Smith & Wesson’s line of 9mm Parabellum Third Generation Pistols; these magazines with capacities of 15 rounds or less will usually fit into a P11 with none of the magazine protruding (though not in all cases).  Magazines sold with the P11 are made by Mec-Gar in Italy, and have a firing step on the floorplate.  Operation is DAO, and there are literally no external controls, instead relying on passive internal safeties and its DAO functioning.

     An updated version, the PF9, uses design features from both the P11 and P3AT.  It was introduced to the market in mid-2008.  Construction is much the same as the P11, with almost every part except the slide being light alloy or polymer.  The hammer is completely shrouded, and the sights are very low-profile.  Action is DAO, with an automatic hammer block safety to further increase safety; a manual safety is also provided.  A very short length of MIL-STD-1913 rail is molded into the dust cover.

     The P40 is a small .40 Smith & Wesson-firing pistol was introduced in 2001.  It is a variant of the P11, with a synthetic frame to save weight and the standard Kel-Tec double-action-only trigger.  The firing mechanism is enclosed in an aluminum alloy housing.  The slide is steel.  The sights have tritium inserts for night use.  It is a very small pistol, and, since it fires a powerful cartridge, can be expected to have a lot of recoil and muzzle blast. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kel-Tec P32

     Notes: Like the P11, this weapon was advertised by Kel-Tec as the smallest and lightest, this time for a .32 ACP pistol.  It was often acquired by small people, particularly females, for self-defense, as it fits easily in a purse.  The P32 is dehorned as much as possible.  The grips are checkered on the sides, and have vertical grip lines and a slight palm swell on the backstrap. The P32 uses double-action, with an external extractor and a hammer that is almost totally shrouded. Unfortunately, the hammer is only available to be hand-manipulated after the slide is pulled back and released, so the shooter cannot attempt to try to fire again a malfunctioning round. In addition, there is no slide lock or slide release, though the slide locks back when the magazine is empty. It was designed and built in the same manner as the P11.  A variant, the P32PK, has a Parkerized finish and either a blued steel slide or a Parkerized stainless steel slide.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kel-Tec PLR-16

     Notes: The PLR-16 is a 5.56mm NATO-firing pistol heavily based on the SUB-2000 and SU-16 series. The receiver, pistol grip, and trigger housing are of glass fiber reinforced polymer, with the barrel and operating parts made from high-quality steel.  Operation is by gas piston, while breech locking is the same as that of the AR-15. Atop the receiver is a MIL-STD-1913 rail, along with an adjustable rear sight; the front sight is an AR-15-type post, though inside smaller ears that sit flush with the gas block.  The 9.2-inch barrel is threaded to accept accessories, but has no flash suppressor or muzzle brake as bought from the company.  The finish is entirely in blue.

     The PLR-22 is largely the same as the PLR-16, but chambered for .22 Long Rifle ammunition.  The PLR-22, however, is not simply a conversion kit; internal parts are purpose-modified for the new caliber, including the sights and some molded-in features of the receiver.  The barrel length is 10.1 inches.  The standard magazines are proprietary; the magazine well is the same size as the PLR-16, and the magazines are smoked clear polymer and the same size as a 30-round AR-15 magazine.  They contain a central column for the .22 Long Rifle rounds.  The PLR-22 can also accept magazines designed for the Atchisson AR-16-to-.22 conversion.

Kel-Tec PMR-30

     Notes: A new Kel-Tec pistol introduced at the end of 2010, the PMR-30 is a very-high-capacity rimfire pistol which is full-sized yet light in weight.  The frame is polymer, and much polymer is also used in other areas of the PMR-30.  The barrel, slide, and other important parts are made of steel, and under the 4.3-inch barrel is a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The operation is unusual; it uses blowback operation combined with a locked breech, an unusual combination.  The result of this combination is that the PNR-30 is able to use almost any type and makes of ammunition.  The trigger guard is squared off for support by a finger of the supporting hand.  The trigger guard is slightly oversized and the trigger is long for a gloved finger.  The trigger is known for its crisp feel and has an overtravel stop.  The manual safety is ambidextrous, and is a lever for safe and fire.  There is a manual slide lock in addition to a bolt hold-open device.  Sights are fixed, but have fiberoptic inlays.  The high-capacity magazine is double stack, but the rounds are nearly stacked on top of each other to fit into the grip, which is little larger than of a standard pistol.

Kimball

     Notes: The Kimball is an exceedingly-rare pistol for a reason – only 238 of the basic model were built, at a very low rate of production from 1955-58.  More of an experiment-gone-commercial than anything else, the object was to build a pistol capable of firing the .30 Carbine round.  Even more rare are the variants: two other calibers (a few in .22 Hornet, and 2 examples of a version firing .357 Magnum).  The barrel, being only 5 inches long, was not long enough to burn all the propellant of the .30 Carbine round before it left the barrel; this causes a lot of unburnt propellant and carbon to be left behind in the barrel, and the muzzle flash was large.  The .30 Carbine round was also too powerful for the design, and many frame lugs broke, causing the slide to fly off backwards when firing. 

     Between 1955 and 1956, small amounts of variants called the Aircrew Model were built, in an attempt to sell the design to the US Military.  There were never any such sales.  The Aircrew Model (also known as the Combat Model), with its 3.5-inch barrel, had even a bigger problem with unburned propellant and carbon buildup.

Kimber Aegis Series

     Notes: Though the Aegis II is internally quite similar to the Ultra RCP II, it is considered part of a different series than the Ultra RCP II.  The Aegis II is designed for use by police as backup weapons or for self-defense of small carry weapons.  As with virtually all Kimbers, the Aegis II is a variant of the 1911 series.

     The base member of the Aegis series is the Ultra Aegis II, a very compact version of the 1911 in 9mm Parabellum.  The barrel is match-grade and coned, and uses no barrel bushing.  The Ultra Aegis II uses an aluminum frame finished in satin silver, while the slide has a semi-gloss black finish.  There is a bobbed hammer which does not project from the weapon unless it is cocked, and the manual safety and magazine release do not project as far as the average 1911 clone.  In fact, most of the Aegis II is dehorned as much as possible.  The beavertail is rather long, and the grip safety has a projecting bump to ensure positive engagement of the grip safety, but even the extended beavertail and bump on the grip safety are rounded as much as possible.  The frontstrap uses 30 lpi checkering which extends almost to the top of the frontstrap, and the bottom of the grip has a tab to help improve the shooter’s grip.  The rearstrap also is checkered, though not as finely as the frontstrap.  The sights, while quite low and dehorned, and are of the three red-dot variety; the rear sights are a tactical wedge with tritium inlays, while the front is a low blade with another tritium inlay.  Both are dovetailed, enabling rough adjustments as well as allowing replacements.  Grip panels are of smooth rosewood.

     The Pro Aegis II is essentially a Commander-size version of the Ultra Aegis II, with a 4-inch barrel and a slightly longer grip.  It is otherwise identical to the Ultra Aegis II.  The Custom Aegis II is a full-sized version, almost identical in construction to the Ultra Aegis II except for having a barrel bushing.

Kimber BP Ten II

     Notes: The Kimber BP Ten II is a polymer version of the M-1911.  Polymer pistols are a rarity from Kimber, but this is one of them.  It is roughly the same size as the M-1911, but weighs much less, and carries a larger magazine.  It has a chamber loaded indicator. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Kimber CDP Series

     Notes: The CDP (Custom Defense Package) series is designed specifically for personal protection and self-defense.  The CDP series is made in the Kimber Custom Shop, and combine the best concealed carry features of Kimber pistols into one weapon.  They have 7075-T7 aluminum frames, with stainless steel slides that are given a satin finish that does not reflect light; this helps cut down glare and haze when aiming. Frames are matte black.  All edges are given the “Carry Bevel” treatment, rounded and blended by hand to dehorn the CDP series as much as possible (though the CDP series does not use the later melt treatment).  Barrels, trigger groups, and chambers are match-grade, with enlarged and flared to reduce stoppages.  The magazine wells are beveled and the magazine releases extended.  The ambidextrous manual safety is likewise extended.  The grip safety is relatively flat.  Sights are fixed low-profile sights, of the three-dot type and with luminous green dots.  Fine checkering is found on the frontstrap and backstrap, along with checkered rosewood grip plates and checkering under the trigger guard.

     The Ultra CDP II is equipped with a 3-inch barrel, and comes in .45 ACP and 9mm Parabellum versions.  The Compact CDP II uses a 4-inch barrel, but is otherwise the same as the Ultra CDP II.  The Pro CDP II has a somewhat longer grip and is just a little heavier.  The Custom CDP II uses a 5-inch barrel with a match-grade bushing, and has cocking serrations at the front of the slide as well as at the rear.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The CDP series does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Classic

     Notes: Dropped at the beginning of the 2000s, the Classic is Kimber's hand into the "pure" 1911 market.  It is also called the Classic Custom. Like the M-1911, the Classic is all-steel, but is lighter than a standard 1911 due to more advanced steel alloys. It is based on a Colt Series 80 1911A1, with no automatic firing pin safety.  The external finish is matte black parkerization. The magazine goes into a well that is well-beveled.  The controls are extended for better control, but not enough to get in the way; they are just more ergonomic.  Sharp edges are in general rounded, including the front and back cocking grooves and the slide stop. Internally, the guide rod is full-length and stainless steel. The recoil spring is slightly heavier than than normal for a 1911, but shooter reaction has been good. The 5-inch barrel is coned and target crowned.

     The rear sight is a McCormick Low Profile Combat sight, it is dovetailed in, and therefore adjustable for windage. The front sight is grooved on its ramped face to keep fuzziness down, and is slightly forward swept. The beavertail is also upswept, better to stop hammer bite, and the grip safety is wider at the bottom to ensure more positive engagement. The rearstrap is checkered at 30 lpi; the grip plates are rubber and likewise tight-checkered. The frontstrap is not checkered, a seeming omission in a great pistol.  The trigger is also a sort of omission, having a long a creepy trigger pull length and 4.5 pounds of trigger pull weight to fire.  The trigger is skeletonized and the hammer rounded and serrated. Luckily, the trigger pull length is adjustable to an extent.

     It has been the experience that shooters of the custom have had problems with jamming magazine followers.  Most find that a bit of lubrication helps.

Kimber Compact II Series

     Notes:  The Compact II Series consists of commander-length versions of the Custom II Series.  The Compact II series, however, use match-quality bull barrels for added accuracy and barrel strength, with no bushings.  The Pro Carry versions can be had with both 7057-T7 aluminum frames of stainless steel frames.  Depending upon the model, a Compact II Series pistol may have a full-sized or shortened frame.

     The Pro Carry II is typically finished in matte black with black checkered grip plates.  It has an extended thumb safety, a high-ride beavertail/grip safety, and a single recoil spring.  3-dot fixed low-profile sights are standard, with luminous dots being an option.  The Pro Carry II uses an aluminum frame, but a Stainless Pro Carry II version is available, with a stainless steel frame.  A Stainless Pro Carry II (LG) is also available; this version is the same as the standard Stainless Pro Carry II, but the grip plates are gray and incorporate a Crimson Trace laser sight.  The Pro Carry HD II is considerably heavier than the standard Pro Carry II and has one different chambering.  Both are finished in matte stainless steel.

     The Pro TLEs are virtually identical to the pistols above, but also have fixed Meprolight Tritium night combat sights instead of the standard 3-dot sights of the other pistols.  The TLE/RL II also has a beveled magazine well and extended magazine release and a slide lock, as well as a MIL-STD-1913 rail machined into the dust cover.  A stainless version of the TLE/RL II also exists, and is identical to the basic TLE/RL II for game purposes.  The Pro II (LG) has gray grip plates containing a Crimson Trace LaserGrip, but is otherwise like the standard Pro TLE.

     The Compact Stainless II is perhaps the “deluxe” version, with a matte stainless steel finish, extended grip safety, extended manual safety and magazine release, and a beveled magazine well.  The frame is shortened, but still carries the same capacity magazine.  The trigger module is match-grade and can be adjusted by a knowledgeable owner. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These weapons do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Covert Series

     Notes: The Covert series is a product of Kimber’s Custom Shop, and is designed for lightweight carry and snagless drawing in a hurry.  To this end, almost all edges are “melt-treated;” the edges are not just rounded off, beveled flat, or machined into a curved shape – the metal is literally melted into a rounded shape that provides superior blending of the edges so that they will not snag on clothing or a holster.  Covert series pistols otherwise have frames machined from solid billets of 7075-T7 aluminum and steel slides, fine checkering on the frontstrap and backstrap as well as the grip plates, and dovetailed Tactical Wedge fixed sights of the three-dot type; the dots are luminous green.  The slides are matte black; the frames are desert tan KimPro II finish, with the grip plates having a digital camouflage pattern.  All have LaserGrips at the top of the left grip plate, with the recessed switch on the grip just below the trigger guard with a separate pressure switch to actuate the laser.  The barrel, chamber, and trigger group are all match-grade, magazine wells are beveled, and ejection ports enlarged and flared.  The grip safety has a bump on it to help make sure that it is engaged.  In many ways, the Covert series is similar to the Crimson Carry series, but the Covert series is more dehorned and even more suited to concealed carry, and has even more demanding specifications than the Crimson Carry series.

     The Ultra Covert II has a 3-inch barrel, and uses an abbreviated-length grip with a small finger stop at the bottom front of the grip. The Pro Covert II is the same, but has a 4-inch barrel and a lanyard ring at the heel of the grip. The Custom Covert II uses a 5-inch barrel with a match-grade bushing, but is otherwise like the Pro Covert II.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Covert series does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Crimson Carry Series

     Notes: The Crimson Carry series get their name from the integral LaserGrips that are at the top of the grip plates, along side the right side of the frame.  Like most Kimber pistols, the Crimson Carry series use match-quality barrels and triggers.  They are new for 2008.  The Crimson Carry series are designed to be flatter than the typical pistol of the same size, and are almost totally dehorned.  They have aluminum frames and triggers and loop-type hammers.  The controls include a low-profile slide stop.  The Crimson Carry series uses a two-tone finish, with the frame being satin-finished aluminum and the slide being matte black steel.  Grips are of checkered rosewood.

     The Ultra Crimson Carry II has an extended manual safety and a high-ride beavertail with an extended grip safety.  The 3-inch barrel has a bull profile, contributing to both balance and accuracy.  Iron sights are fixed low-profile sights.  The barrel is ramped to aid in reliable feed, and the ejection port is enlarged to aid in reliable case ejection.  The magazine well is beveled to help make reloads faster.  The Pro Crimson Carry II is similar, but is equipped with a 4-inch barrel and a slightly-longer grip with a small finger stop at the bottom of the front of the grip. (There seems to be a bit of contradictory information on Kimber’s site about the magazine capacity of the Pro Crimson Carry II and Custom Crimson Carry II; the first page for the Crimson Carry series says eight rounds, while the pages for the specific members of the series say seven rounds.  I decided to put both.) 

     The Custom Crimson Carry II has a full-sized frame, but Kimber says it “is a full-sized pistol that carries like a compact.”  The Custom Crimson Carry II uses a match-grade frame, bushing, and chamber as well as the match-grade barrel and trigger; the barrel, however, is not a bull barrel, though it is a full 5 inches in length.  In addition to the manual safety, the magazine release is also slightly extended, as is the slide release.  The frame is finished in KimPro II matte black, and the slide has front cocking serrations as well as the standard rear serrations.  The grip has a small finger rest at the bottom of the front of the grip.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Crimson Carry series does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Custom II Series

     Notes: The Custom II series was touted as a “custom M1911 at a stock price.”  It is a modification of the standard Colt M-1911A1, with a skeletonized trigger, elongated hammer, rubber handgrips, improved sights, and an enlarged ejection port.  In addition, all sharp edges have been rounded for an easier draw.  Other alterations include a passive firing pin safety, a chamber loaded indicator, a finish that aids in lubrication (the KimPro II finish), and a match-grade barrel, bushing, and trigger group.  Sights vary, but are all dovetailed into the slide and removable.  All are full-sized pistols.

     The Custom II uses a steel frame and slide with a matte black finish.  The slide has cocking serrations on the front and rear.  The barrel bushing itself is stainless steel.  Standard grip plates are of checkered black plastic, but variations include a version with luminous sight inserts and a version with dark brown walnut grip plates.  Barrel length is 5 inches.  A stainless steel version, the Stainless II, is also available. The Custom Target II is similar in construction to the Custom II, but the sights are adjustable and of the 3-dot type, and the 5-inch barrel is of a higher quality than the rest of the Custom II series.  Again, a stainless version, the Stainless Target II, is also available.

     The Custom TLE II (Tactical Law Enforcement) is used by at least 20 SWAT/SRT teams in the US.  It is quite similar to the Custom II, but the standard sights are Meprolight Tritium 3-dot night sights, and they are fixed.  Finish is matte black, with matte black plastic checkered grip plates. The chamber loaded indicator can be checked by feel as well as sight.  Barrel length is 5 inches.  The Custom TLE II (LG) is essentially identical, but the grip plates are gray Crimson Trace Lasergrips instead of the standard matte black plain grips.  The TLE/RL II is also essentially identical to TLE II, but has a MIL-STD-1913 rail machined into the dust cover, and the frontstrap is checkered as well as the grip plates.  The sights are Meprolight Tritium 3-dot night sights, and the barrel length is 5 inches.  Stainless steel versions of two of these pistols (the Stainless TLE II, Stainless TLE/RL II) are also available.

     The Kimber Warrior is a civilian/police version of the US Marines’ ICQB (Interim Close Quarters Battle) pistol, designed for its MEU(SOC) units for their use until the final decision on what pistol to use is finalized.  It is a full-sized, heavy-caliber pistol using an internal extractor rather than the external extractor which has become near-standard on Kimber pistols of late.  The barrel is match-grade, with a full-length recoil spring guide and military-type recoil spring plug.  The pistol uses NovaKtype low-profile sights made by Kimber under license.  The Warrior has an ambidextrous safety catch/slide catch; narrower than is standard for a 1911-type pistol, it allows the Warrior to sit more comfortably in the hand.  He beavertail is upswept, cradling the Commander-type loop hammer when the hammer is cocked.  The backstrap is finely checkered and has a loop for a lanyard.  The magazine well is beveled to ease magazine insertion.  There are some differences between the ICQB and the Warrior: The ICQB uses a Dawson Precision Rail under the barrel for the attachment of accessories, while the Warrior uses a TLE/RL rail; The ICQB has a manganese phosphate finish, while the Warrior uses Kimber’s KimPro finish (a phenolic resin cured with molybdenum, said to be self-lubricating); the ICQB uses Simonich Gunner Grips in Coyote Brown, while the Warrior uses tan G10 ridged rubber grips; the Marines chose Wilson 47D magazines, while the Warrior is sold with standard 1911-type magazines (it can, however, use both).  A Desert Warrior is also available, with a Dark Earth finish; the Royal II is also similar, but has a polished deep blue finish.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These pistols are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Custom Shop Family

     Notes: Kimber’s Custom Shop pistol line, also known as Special Edition or Limited Edition pistols, are products Kimber’s Custom Shop, which produces pistols that are above even Kimber’s high standards or otherwise unusual in nature.  Kimber began producing these special pistols in 1998, and each member of the series is generally produced in small, fixed numbers, or are available for only a short time.

     The Ultra CDP Elite II is a limited, deluxe edition version of the Ultra CDP II, with 600 produced in 2002.  It has all the refinements of the Ultra CDP II, but has a 3-inch ramped match-grade heavy barrel.  Most sharp edges have been given the melt treatment to round them for snagless drawing.  The aluminum frame is black anodized, while the carbon steel slide has a black oxide finish.  The grip plates are wood, but are laminated in a charcoal color with ruby-colored Custom Shop medallions.  The frontstrap and the area under the trigger guard are finely checkered.  Sights are 3-dot Meprolight fixed low-profile sights with tritium inlays.  The Ultra CDP Elite STS II is almost identical, but it has a silver anodized frame and satin stainless steel slide, and is identical to Ultra CDP Elite II for game purposes.  650 were built in 2002, at the same time as the Ultra CDP Elite II.

     The Elite Carry is a Commander-sized pistol with a 4-inch barrel.  The Elite Carry has features that showed up on several later Kimber pistols, such as the melt treatment on its edges to dehorn the pistol.  Sights are low-profile and have tritium inlays.  The frame is aluminum with a black oxide finish; the slide is stainless steel.  The manual safety is ambidextrous and extended, and the trigger group is match-quality.  Fine checkering is found on the frontstrap, and the rosewood grip plates are hand-checkered.  The Elite Carry was limited to a 1200-pistol production run.  The Stainless Covert is similar, but has a frame of stainless steel and a high-polished finish; production was limited to 1000 pistols in 1999.  The Pro Elite is also similar, but the slide’s finish is black KimPro.  2500 were produced in 1999.  (For game purposes, the Pro Elite is identical to the Elite Carry.) 

     The Ultra Elite is also essentially the same as the Elite Carry, but uses a 3-inch barrel.  2001’s Ultra Shadow II is similar to the Ultra Elite except for the finish: the slide finished in black, the aluminum frame is anodized, and the grip plates are gray synthetic.  The grip and manual safeties are silver. 750 were produced.  The Ultra Shadow II is otherwise identical to the Ultra Elite for game purposes.  The Pro Shadow II was produced in a run of 500 at the same time; it is the same as the Ultra Shadow II, but with a 4-inch barrel, and is the same as the Elite Carry for game purposes.

     The Gold Guardian was limited to a 300-pistol production run in 1998.  The Gold Guardian featured a stainless steel slide and frame, highly-polished.  The 5-inch barrel is match-quality with a match-quality bushing, both of which are hand-fitted.  The sights are low-profile fixed sights with tritium inlays.  The manual safety is ambidextrous and extended.  The trigger group is also match-grade.  The grip is slightly extended to accommodate a larger magazine.  The Gold Guardian has special markings and a special serial number series.  The Heritage Edition (1041 produced in 2000) is similar in concept, but the frame and slide are finished in KimPro black, the grip panels are of higher-quality rosewood, and the grip panels are also adorned with medallions with the Heritage Foundation seal.  For game purposes, the Heritage Edition is identical to the Gold Guardian.

     The Royal Carry was a limited run of 600 Commander-type 1911 pistols, with a 4-inch match-grade coned barrel with no bushing.  The frame is of aluminum, while the slide is steel.  Sights are fixed low-profile sights with tritium inlays.  The grip safety is raised to ensure engagement when firing.  The rosewood grips are hand-checkered.  The trigger group is match-quality, with a distinctive aluminum trigger using an oval cutout section in the center.  The hammer is a low-profile loop-type hammer.  The finish is polished blue.

     The Stainless Gold Match SE II was produced in .45 ACP and .38 Super chamberings, with 294 in .45 ACP and 260 in .38 Super.  All were produced in 2001.  These pistols use stainless steel frames and slides and have close tolerances, being designed as match weapons.  They use 5-inch match-quality coned barrels. The slides have flat tops serrated to reduce glare and micrometer-adjustable rear sights.  The Stainless Gold Match SE II has a hand-checkered rosewood grip panels as well as fine frontstrap checkering.  Corners are beveled flat and are highly-polished.

     The Target Match is perhaps one of Kimber’s most accurate pistols ever made.  The Target Match has a 5-inch heavy match-quality barrel, hand-fitted by the Custom Shop.  The rear sight, while not micrometer-adjustable, is more adjustable than the typical adjustable rear pistol sight.  The trigger group is likewise match-grade, and is one of the few parts of the Target Match that is not made of steel.  The manual safety is ambidextrous.  The hammer is loop-type; the grip safety has a small, ridged bump on it to ensure engagement.  Cocking serrations are found at the front and rear of the slide.  In addition to grip plate checkering, fine checkering is found on the frontstrap and under the trigger guard; the trigger guard is also undercut at the frame to encourage a higher grip on the pistol.  Finish is matte black except for some of the flats, which are polished; this presents a rather striking appearance.  The grips are checkered walnut, with special markings.  1000 were built in 2005.

     The Ultra RCP (Refined Carry Pistol) II is a compact, concealable .45 ACP pistol.  It is a very small pistol, one of the smallest .45 ACP automatic pistols you will find anywhere.  There is no front sight or rear sight on the weapon; instead, a “sighting trough” runs the entire length of the slide.  While this means that there is virtually nothing on the pistol to snag on clothing or a holster, it also takes some practice to use the sighting trough, and it’s not really useful at long range.  The Ultra RCP II has a chamber loaded indicator and a very hard finish that wears very well.  The similar Ultra SP II of 2003 used “interesting” frame colors – anodized with silver stripes, red stripes, or blue stripes – and has a loop-type hammer rather than the Ultra RCP II’s bobbed hammer.  For game purposes, the Ultra SP II is identical to the Ultra RCP II.

     The 25^th Anniversary Custom Limited Edition of 2004 was limited to a production run of (rightly enough) 1911 pistols, and was essentially a very fancy version of a 1911-type pistol.  Construction was all-steel, with a finish of deep blue – deep-polished blue on flat surfaces.  The trigger is of aircraft-quality aluminum, the barrel is match-grade stainless steel, and the hammer is loop-type aluminum.  Sights are fixed low-profile sights.  The grip plates are of fancy-grade, smooth, polished walnut, with the Kimber 25^th anniversary logo set into them, and “1979-2004” engraved on the slide.  The 25^th Anniversary Gold Match was produced at the same time; this was similar to the Custom Limited Edition, but highly-accurized and with adjustable rear sights and an ambidextrous manual safety.  500 were built.  The two were also sold as a set (with matching serial numbers, beginning in “KAPC” for the Custom Limited Edition and “KAPG” for the Gold Match version) in a fancy-grade walnut presentation case; 250 of these sets were made.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: None of these pistols are available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Eclipse Series

     Notes: The Eclipse series has many match-grade features found in other Kimber pistols, but is designed to be affordable enough that a buyer can afford an above-quality pistol without spending a mint.  (IRL, the Kimber Eclipse series pistols are some of the most expensive 1911s you can buy.) Though the Eclipse series is designed for target shooting, it is more common for home defense pistols and police carry pistols to use target adjustable sights. The Eclipse, like many Kimber pistols, is machined with a frame and slide from a solid stainless steel billet, with fine checkering on the frontstrap and the grip plates.  The trigger is aluminum, and the trigger group is match quality.  Feed elements are polished to help ensure smooth feeding and extraction, and the barrels and chambers are both match-grade.  Hammers are loop-type.  Finish is typically a matte black oxide, with flat surfaces being polished and curved and recessed surfaces being left dark for a nice contrast.  Both the front and rear of the slide have cocking serrations.  The front sight has a high-contrast dot, while the rear sight has a pair of dots on either side of the rear sight aperture.  Kimber Eclipses typically use Meprolight sights.  Like most 1911-type pistols, the Eclipse series has a grip safety; in addition, it has a manual flip safety and a passive firing pin block safety.

     The core of the series is the Custom II, which can be had in .45 ACP or 10mm Colt.  It is a full-sized pistol, with a 5-inch barrel and match-grade bushing.  The sights have luminous dots.  The Target II is quite similar, but has a .38 Super chambering instead of a 10mm chambering, and the rear sights are adjustable. 

     The Ultra II is the compact member of the Eclipse series, with a 3-inch barrel.  Its sights are fixed, but it retains the high-contrast dots, which are also luminous.  The Pro II is a commander-length version, with a 4-inch barrel, fixed sights with luminous high-contrast dots.  The Pro Target II is the “premium” model; there is no play in its parts, rear sights are Bo-Mar micrometer-adjustable sights, and the front sight is a black blade, Like the Ultra II, the Pro Target II has 3-dot high-contrast luminous sights, The finish is brushed stainless steel instead of the standard Eclipse finish, with a matte black slide top and black highlights, controls, and hammer., The wood of the grip plates are of greater quality than that of other Eclipse pistols; G10 grip plates are an option, and they will be matte black.  The trigger pull weight is only 3.5 pounds, a sort of standard for target pistols. The trigger is a premium aluminum trigger. (The other Target pistols here, as well as the Pro II, have the same light pull weight.)  The barrel is hand-fitted and Commander-length at 4 inches.  It is match-quality.

     In 2002, the Eclipse won Shooting Industry’s Academy of Excellence award for the Handgun of the Year.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Eclipse series does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Kimber Gold Match Series

     Notes: The Gold Match series are designed for great accuracy and are perhaps the best pistols that Kimber offers. They are designed not only with competition in mind, but for ordinary carry purposes as well.  They offer features like a stainless steel match-quality heavy barrel that is hand-machined and hand-fitted by the Kimber Custom Shop.  The Gold Series uses micrometer-adjustable sights, with the front and rear sights being dovetailed into the slide.  Sharp edges are beveled or rounded.  The finish is generally a high shine, but with a satin finish on the curves and beveled edges.  The magazine well is also beveled for quick reloading.  The slide has cocking serrations at the front and back. Controls are ambidextrous, and the trigger group is match-quality and hand-tuned.  Materials are almost entirely of steel, including the frame, slide, and barrel; the steel is of higher quality than the typical Kimber pistol. The grips are of finely-checkered rosewood, with even finer checkering on the frontstrap and backstrap.  The Kimber Gold Series is a common sight among competition shooters.

     The “basic” version, the Gold Match II, is chambered for .45 ACP and uses a 5-inch barrel.  The Gold Match Stainless Steel II is essentially identical except for the stainless steel finish, and a 9mm Parabellum chambering.  The Team Match II is also virtually identical, but the rosewood grips have blue stripes and the Kimber Match Team logo, and it is chambered for .45 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, and .38 Super.

Kimber Limited Edition Series

     Notes: Like the Custom Shop Family, Kimber has produced for limited production runs a family of pistols designed for distribution by certain dealer groups, NRA events or other firearms sporting events, law enforcement agency or military requests, or other special lots.  Many of these limited edition pistols are based on standard Kimber pistols, but some of them are designed from scratch.  Some were first versions of pistols that later became part of Kimber’s standard catalog of pistols.

     The first of these was the Pro Carry SLE (Stainless Limited Edition), with 1329 produced in 2000 at the request Kimber Master Dealers.  The Pro Carry SLE is virtually identical to the Stainless Pro Carry, with an extended thumb safety, a high-ride beavertail/grip safety, and a single recoil spring, and 3-dot fixed low-profile sights are standard, with luminous dots being an option.  However, the frame as well as the slide are of stainless steel.  The barrel is a match-quality, bull-profile, 4-inch barrel.  Finish is satin stainless steel with checkered hard rubber grip plates.  The Pro Carry SLE became quite popular, so Kimber made it a regular item with few changes, and it became the Pro Carry HD.

     The Pro Combat of 2000 was a special series built for and sold only by R-Guns.  The Pro Combat is a commander-sized pistol, with a 4-inch match barrel, an ambidextrous safety, a match aluminum trigger, three-dot sights with tritium inlays, finely-checkered rosewood grip plates (with the checkering done by hand) and an even-finer checkered frontstrap.  The frame and slide are of stainless steel, with a black oxide finish.  Only 52 were made.

     The Target Elite II was designed to be sold solely through the Sports Incorporated buying group, and only 220 were built in 2001. It uses a 5-inch match-quality bull barrel, with an adjustable target-type rear sight and a dovetailed front sight blade.  Frame and slide are both of stainless steel, with the slide finished in black oxide and the frame in bright stainless steel.  The rosewood grips use double diamond hand checkering.

     The Custom Defender II built in 2001, is a full-sized pistol sold only through store affiliated with the National Buying Service, with 290 being built.  The Custom Defender is a full-sized pistol that is hand-tuned by Kimber; intended for personal defense and combat, it uses low-profile sights designed for quick target acquisition and is built of stainless steel.  Finish is black oxide on the frame, and natural stainless steel on the slide, with rosewood double diamond grip plates.

     Though the Custom Eclipse II is not quite the same pistol as the Eclipse Custom II above, the two are very similar.  4522 were built in 2001-02, and proved to be quite popular, hence the Eclipse Custom II was produced as a mainstream weapon.  Construction is of stainless steel.  The finish is striking, with the flats being brush-polished and the rounded surfaces being matte.  It is not quite as dehorned as an Eclipse Custom II, but the checkering on the frontstrap is finer.  The rear sight is adjustable and the front blade dovetailed; both have tritium inlays.  The grips are of laminated gray wood and are uncheckered.  The manual safety is ambidextrous, and the barrel is 5 inches.  In a similar manner. The Pro Eclipse II is similar to the Eclipse Pro II and also became a mainstream pistol as the Eclipse Pro II.  2207 were produced from 2201-02.  Features are similar to the Custom Eclipse II, but the barrel is 4 inches.  In the same way, the Ultra Eclipse II is a still smaller version of the Custom Eclipse II, with a 3-inch barrel.  1202 were built, and the design later morphed into the Eclipse Ultra II.

     The Stryker Ten II of 2002, with 200 produced, is an Ultra Ten II (a 1911-type pistol with a polymer frame and a 3-inch barrel) with a heavier stainless steel slide; the slide finish is natural stainless steel, while the frame is black. The grip plates also black and polymer, but separate from the frame.  Some internal parts, not subject to heavy stress, are also polymer instead of metal.  The sights, while fixed, are dovetailed in.  The backstrap can be replaced with one of three backstraps, to suit larger or smaller hands.

     In 2002, The Los Angeles Police Department’s SWAT team chose a version of the Stainless Custom II (a Custom II as above built from stainless steel) as their standard duty pistol.  It has all the features of the Custom II, with a skeletonized trigger, elongated hammer, rubber handgrips, improved sights, and an enlarged ejection port.  In addition, all sharp edges have been rounded for an easier draw.  Other alterations include a passive firing pin safety, a chamber loaded indicator, an interior finish that aids in lubrication (the KimPro II finish), and a match-grade barrel, bushing, and trigger group.  The slide has cocking serrations on the front and rear.  The barrel bushing itself is stainless steel.  Standard grip plates are of checkered black plastic, but variations include a version with luminous sight inserts and a version with dark brown walnut grip plates.  Barrel length is 5 inches, and it uses the higher-quality barrel of the Custom Target II instead of the standard Custom II barrel.  The exterior of the frame and slide are finished in black oxide, and the sights are Meprolight 3-dot night sights that are dovetailed in.  The frontstrap is checkered, and the grip plates are polymer and also checkered.  A MIL-STD-1913 rail was later fitted under the dust cover.  This version is commonly known as the “LAPD SWAT” version, and was not sold to the public.

     The NRA Epoch II version of 2002 was produced in very limited numbers, with only 58 produced.  It was produced as a special promotional pistol for the Friends of the NRA, and was available only at certain NRA banquets as a presentation pistol to certain guests.  For the most part, it is a standard Kimber-type 1911 pistol, though very ornate and with special markings.  The construction is of stainless steel, with a black finish that was polished on the flats.  Each one, due to the markings, is essentially unique.  The grip plates are of laminated gray wood.  The NRA Epoch II has fixed tritium-inlay night sights and frontstrap checkering; the barrel is 5 inches.

     The BoSS II is another very-limited edition pistol, with only 25 produced in 2003.  It is a presentation-type pistol built to commemorate Blythe Sports’ 50^th anniversary.  For the most part, it is a stock Kimber 1911-type pistol, with a 5-inch match barrel.  However, the trigger module is also match-quality, with an aluminum skeletonized trigger.  The frame and slide are stainless steel with a natural finish, and the edges have been dehorned with Kimber’s Carry Melt treatment.  The grop plates are polymer colored black and silver.  The sights are fixed, but of the 3-dot type.  Otherwise, the BoSS II has special markings (“The BoSS II” on the ejection port side of the slide, and “Special Edition” on the other side of the slide, and the Blythe 50^th anniversary logo on the grip plates).

     The Eclipse CLE II is a version of the Eclipse Custom II which was produced for sale through the National Buying Service.  271 were made in 2003. It is for the most part the same as the Eclipse Custom II, but the finish is entirely polished black, and the pistol bears special markings.  The grip plates are charcoal/red with the Kimber logo set into them.  Unlike the Eclipse Custom II, the Eclipse CLE II has no frontstrap checkering. The trigger is aluminum, and the trigger group is match quality.  Feed elements are polished to help ensure smooth feeding and extraction, and the barrels and chambers are both match-grade.  Hammers are loop-type. Both the front and rear of the slide have cocking serrations.  The front sight has a high-contrast dot, while the rear sight has a pair of dots on either side of the rear sight aperture; all have luminous dots.  The Eclipse CLE II uses Meprolight sights.  The Eclipse PLE is likewise similar to the Eclipse Pro II, but with the same changes listed above for the Eclipse PLE II.  It was built in 2003 through outlets afilliated with the Sports Incorporated buying group, and 232 were produced.  The Eclipse ULE II is similar to the Eclipse Ultra II except for the changes listed above; it was sold through the National Buying Service, with 227 produced in 2003.

     The Stainless Target II was produced only in 2003; it is similar in many ways to the Eclipse Target II, but is chambered for 10mm Colt.  It shares most of the features of the Eclipse Target II (or the Eclipse CLE above, and has the Eclipse’s matte black finish with polishing on the flats.  It also has a ramped 5-inch barrel, and the adjustable dovetailed sights of the Eclipse Target II.  The Stainless Target II was also built in 9mm Parabellum, and was Kimber’s first 9mm pistol.  It shares features, fit, and finish with the 10mm version, and also has an extended manual safety and extended magazine release.

     Perhaps one of Kimber’s most accurized pistols, the Classic Target II was sold only through Gander Mountain, and 110 were built in 2006.  It appears to be a “plain vanilla” Kimber 1911-type pistol, but the trigger, barrel, sights, and chamber, and barrel bushing are all match-quality and hand-fitted.  The construction is of stainless steel, with a black-oxide-finish slide and a natural stainless steel frame.  The grips may be smooth or stippled, and bear the Team Kimber logo.

     The Franklin Custom II is essentially a special edition version of the standard Custom II above; the stats are duplicated below for convenience.  50 were produced in 2006 to commemorate the 44^th anniversary of the Franklin Gun Shop.  The only real differences between the Franklin Custom II and the standard Custom II are cosmetic; the Franklin Custom II is finished in black oxide with silver controls and a silver bushing and grip safety.  The grip plates are red, white and blue laminated wood, with the Franklin gun Shop’s logo.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These pistols do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.