Extraordinary and unfired Kimber 1911 .45 ACP with gunwriter provenance from the very first production run in April, 1996. BACKGROUND: Kimber 1911 pistols were initially released in small batches during the Spring and Summer of 1996. All were marked as being made in Clackamas, Oregon (they were in fact made in Yonkers, New York but shipped in bulk to the Clackamas factory for actual distribution as the Yonkers 07 manufacturing license application was still pending). The serial sequence began with a “K” prefix and first 1,000 numbers were reserved for later use (which never happened), meaning the lowest possible serial number produced have been K001001. Each of these pistols was meticiously inspected and carefully tested for every aspect of function as well as accuracy. Many were also earmarked for gunwriters for testing and photography in support of feature magazine articles and covers. As would be expected, some did not survive the inspection process and those serial numbers were not reissued. All early pistols were identical and marked “Classic Model Custom .45 ACP” on slide right. The subject pistol, serial K001013, was shipped to Jim Carmichel, Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life. For whatever reason, other pistols forwarded to the magazine were used for testing and evaluation, so this one remains untouched and unfired since the day it left Kimber. As a side note, Mr. Carmichel’s special Kimber serial number was 13. His same-serialed Kimber of Oregon Model 84 .223 is also available for acquisition. PROVENANCE: A letter of provenance from Mr. Carmichel attests to origin, unbroken chain of possession and condition. INCLUSIONS: The letter of provenance, original factory hard case with serialized end label and secondary date label (4/96), hand-serialed vapor bag, logo bushing wrench, hang tag and secondary product label are present. CONDITION: New and unfired since factory proof. The price is firm and layaway is available. $4,000 plus shipping.
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