Kimber
Kimber grips
Kimber Manufacturing was founded in 1979 as Kimber of Oregon in Clackamas, Oregon, by Australian immigrant Jack Warne and his son Greg Warne. Jack, who previously ran Sporting Arms (Sportco) in Australia post-WWII, aimed to produce high-quality sporting rifles surpassing golden-age American classics
The company quickly earned acclaim for precise .22 LR rimfire rifles, expanding to centerfire models and acquiring the Brownell quick-detachable scope mount system. Financial struggles in the 1980s led to a sale to investor Bruce Engel (1989), bankruptcy, and the Warnes retaining the Kimber name
In 1993, Greg Warne relaunched as Kimber of America. A pivotal shift occurred when Leslie Edelman (Nationwide Sports wholesaler) acquired controlling interest, partnering with Greg and integrating manufacturing from Jerico Precision (Yonkers, NY, founded 1978). Prototypes debuted at SHOT Show 1995; Edelman bought Jerico in 1996, rebranding it Kimber Manufacturing and relocating all operations to Yonkers in 1997 (closing Oregon facilities)
The Kimber 1911 pistol line exploded in popularity by the late 1990s, making Kimber the world's largest 1911 producer by 2000—known for factory custom features, accuracy, and value. In 2020, the company moved headquarters and production to Troy, Alabama, continuing as a premier American firearms brand for pistols and rifles
