I still have that Kimber TAM, in fact, it's on my hip as I type this. Thanks again.The Annoyed Man wrote:My own experience with a 3" Kimber was very positive, however there are other 1911 aficionados of this board who would rather chew on a lit dynamite stick than buy a Kimber. If I were you, I would also take a look at Springfield Armory 1911s, as they usually have a product comparable to any given Kimber product, they make very high quality pistols, and they are close enough in pricing for horseshoes or hand grenades. I eventually sold my Kimber and hung onto my Springfield, but only because if a man has to be reduced to one 1911, it should be a 5" model. If the Kimber had been a 5" model and the SA a 3" model, I would have kept the Kimber and sold the SA. I have moderate regrets about having sold my Kimber, but that sale made a couple of other things possible for me, so it's all good.
To the OP: Yes, look at the compact 1911's, they are great little guns. I would not trade mine for anything.
I took my niece to the range this weekend to let her try out a spread of handguns, she went from the .38 to a .380 to a 9mm. Then she picked up the Kimber, after the first 7 rounds, she said that was the one. I laid a 100 rounds in front of her and she started loading, shooting and smiling.