Advice: Kimber vs Para Ordnance

dannyair said:
Having owned many...I would personally go with a Kimber for accuracy as well as fit and finish and value. I've seen more unreliable and poorly built Para's then I can shake a stick at. Just my 2 cents.
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Ok, here we go:

If today's 1911's all use basically the same blueprints, and all parts are basically computer cut, and Para, at least, hand fits the parts, and modern metal is better than the metals in the early 20th century, how can you defend your statement?

Do you regularly tour Kimber's and Para's assembly lines? Do you have video surveillance on their service departments? Are you independently wealthy and tour shooting competitions?

By the way, what brand of stick do you use? Maybe we can start another stoopid thread.
 
IM_Lugger said:
not a big para fan, but how many LEOs here use a 1911 (any 1911)?
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The only Canadian LEO who uses Para Ordnance is Norm Gardner :D

Gardner received a handgun from the principals of Para Ordnance, a Toronto gun manufacturer, last February. Apparently the firm asked Gardner to intervene to get a booth for the company at the convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Toronto in 2001 for the original $25,000 asking price. The company ultimately paid $7,500 after Gardner arranged an introduction to a police public relations officer. Gardner claims the maximum fee was reduced after organizers realized the original fee was too high.

http://www.tpac.ca/show_bulletin.cfm?id=42
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Para

After 10,000+ 180PF rounds through my P16-40 the rear sight windage adjustment screw broke. I sent the slide to Para who replaced the sight and sent it back in about 2 weeks. (including shipping).

If Para aren't answering your e-mails that is a problem – I had a bit of difficulty contacting them through their U.S. address.

Have you tried contacting G. Wedge who is a member here? He was quite helpful in getting my P16-40 fixed.

I don't have any experience with Kimbers, they certainly look like nice pistols.

Good luck with your choice, can't really go wrong with either of these.

Snapshot
 
I used to own 3 models of Para, p-14,P16 and thw latest is the SSP, Im not impressed by their quality, I find the fit between slide/frame and bbl not so good. I just got a Kimber TLe11, after 1000rnds the fit is still tight and smooth. Since you are already in the same price range with Trojan why dont you consider it too. my choice would be the Trojan 45acp, good luck
 
v65magnafan said:
Ok, here we go:

By the way, what brand of stick do you use? Maybe we can start another stoopid thread.
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If you think the thread is "stoopid" why waste your valuable time and obviously superior intellect responding? The rest of us are just having a bit of fun and tossing in our 2c worth. A bit of unscientific bs is ok here so relax.

I've got a Kimber TCII and it's been perfect for me in performance. I was able to order mags and other parts directly from Kimber with no hassles and they have been helpful on several occasions with email and phone support with general questions. I was originally considering Para to support Canadian products but they didn't respond to my inquiries when I was doing my research.

Mike
 
I have a Para and a Kimber. The Para was my first 1911, Kimber came later in the collection.
Nothing wrong with Para, but I like my Kimber more. I would sell my Para to finance another Kimber.
 
I own a Para SSP. Now that the bugs are worked out it is OK. I would not buy another after the experience that I had with their warranty. The ejector is some sort of soft material that continues to peen and must be regularly dressed with a file to keep it from dragging in the slide. The original slide appeared to have missed the hardening process. The replacement ejector is peening just like the original. I took over 2 months at the factory to get this gun repaired. Not to mention the cost of shipping both ways. Can't find an ambi-safety that will fit. Have bought 2, tried to fit one myself and it didn't work. Second one went to a gussmith with the same result. Would never buy another!
 
Over 5000 rounds through my Para SSP and it has run like a clock from the start. Only issue was it shot low at 15 yards out of the box. I changed out the rear sights to set of Novak Extreme Duty after getting no satisfaction from Para's customer service. There's a bit of peening on the slide from the slide stop lever and a bit of finish wear where the dust cover rubs against the slide (where the recoil spring is housed). Overall, the gun does the job. It is accurate and reliable. (hey it grouped well out of the box, only the groups were low) I can't really ask more of it. But the magical question is would I buy another Para? Probably not. Would I recommend the SSP to anyone? Definitely.
 
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Go with the original COLT

personally I find it less bulky then the Kimber..... never held or shot a Para so I can't really give you an opinion.
 
I own a Para LTC and although it recently broke the beavertail safety tang is has shot an incredable amount of ammo in the last 3 months IPSC. I use it as a ccw firearm as well so the shorter barrel and lighter weight alloy frame fit the job just fine. yet to see how para deals with the warranty claim on the safety but I really don't care. The sintered metal cast beavertail will be replaced by a forged unit next time I visit the gun shop dealer.
It really just depends on what you want to do with it post sales. Here in Canada everything goes back to the factory rep for authorized repairs regardless of who made it. If you have any basioc skills you just fix what broke yourself and argue about warranty later. Ps it helps to have more than one gun.
 
Kimber by me

My preference would be the Kimber, hands down. I've owned Colts. Detonics, Llama's, AMT's, STI's(still have 4 of those), Kimber's and I liked them all with the exception of the Llama(piece of S***), but other than that, they are all good guns, go with what you find feels right for you.
 
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