If you can afford it i can see no reason not to. Sorry if thats no help. Lol.

I can't help you. Love my Raptor. Great gun. Very accurate and reliable.

@buzzbee that's awesome, confirmation is a big help. @instigatorsmith - same to you. Keep it comin'.

I'm of no use either. I have no self control when buying guns.

I'd go Sig Sauer same price point and better quality

for the same price, I would go with either of these:
1) STI Duty One
2) Springfield Operator MC

And these are my reasons:
a) lifetime warranty on either pistols
b) exceptional customer services by both companies
c) no ignition safety to muck around with.

I'm no Kimber hater (owned one, no problems), but around $1k i would also jump all over a STI Duty One. Shot one last weekend and it was lights out accurate. STI builds their guns like tanks, and their CS is fantastic. The same can't be said about Kimber.

I love my Kimber, but if you want a rail the Springfield TRP Operator is a heck of gun with adjustable night sights.

BTW, stainless look can be achieve w/ hard chrome, so that option goes on the bottom of the list, for me. YMMV.

@thedoaner, The OP wanted to keep it to $1K. Unless you can find a well used SA TRP Op, he will need to add another $500 to get a NIB TRP Op.

He just merely applied the ol' 1911 "...for a little more you can get _____" principle. ROFL.

that's a slope any 1911 enthusiast will get caught on. LOL.

I'd agree with @hokie. As most of you know, I'm a big STI fanatic. You can get a Duty One from Brazos Custom for $1180. That is where I bought my Rangemaster from. Great people to do busniess with.

psst... Duty one from Shootersconnection.com is $899. @urbanguerilla just bought one the other day.

www.shootersconnectionstore.com ASC&c=773&p=1

www.shootersconnectionstore.com

or one with a bull barrel. www.shootersconnectionstore.com

@quack If you ever make it down to NC, let me know, I would love to check out your STIs!

where in NC?

Great feedback, everyone. You've know made my decision that much harder. :)

Burlington area

my personal experience With the Kimber Stainless 1911's have been less than ideal, mine came from the factory with an incorrectly milled feed ramp and defective Extractor, my STI Electra on the other hand came from the factory perfect. my honest opinion is look at an STI first cause they do a better job QCing their products before they ship them out.

i have 2 kimbers a custom II and i grand raptor both bought used love them faithfull and with the custome managed to do a 100 yard shot,,,,can't mantion the new ones but these 2 im happy with