Kimber KDS9c: Full Review

What do you get when you combine one of the most shootable handguns of all time with modern materials, state-­of-­the-­art manufacturing techniques and double the capacity? You get Kimber’s new KDS9c. It’s a 9mm handgun that pairs the handling and shooting qualities of a high-­end Model 1911 with the features, capacity and portability of a modern defensive handgun. This is a capable combination.

Similar, but Different.

At its core, the KDS9c couples a 1911-­style top-­end and controls with a double-­stack frame. An all-­steel handgun of this size would be great on the range, but a bear to carry daily. To this end, Kimber engineers used aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum for constructing the frame. Machined from billet, this component material offers rigidity and durability while keeping weight to a minimum. From a shape perspective, the frame takes cues from the Model 1911 including an upswept beavertail. However, there is no grip safety. Consequently, no parts articulate. The frame is enlarged to fit the 15-­round dual-column magazine. Yet, it’s only slightly wider than a 1911’s thanks to thin grip panels.

The frame is undercut at the rear of the triggerguard, allowing for a high grip on the handgun. Both the frontstrap and the rounded mainspring housing are machined with a scalloped pattern that provides plenty of grip without being abrasive. The sharp edges throughout the frame are tastefully blended so that the handgun can be carried and operated comfortably. The right side of the frame is countersunk for the pin, and the slide stop sits just proud of being flush. This approach offers a clean look but allows the slide stop to be removed with minimal effort. There is no accessory rail — yet.

From a control perspective, the KDS9c borrows heavily from the company’s line of Model 1911 handguns. There is an exposed skeletonized hammer, an extended strongside thumb safety and an oversized slidestop. The magazine release is reversible and oblong so that it can be actuated without losing one’s shooting grip. The trigger, though, is where this model really shines when compared to other contemporaries. The single-­action trigger fires after 3½ pounds with no sign of creep. Since the trigger pulls straight to the rear rather than pivoting from above, there is minimal hand movement required to make the shot. This is one of the keys to the Model 1911’s legendary shootability, and it carries over to this design perfectly. I simply can’t say enough good things about the trigger. Though some come close, a striker-­fired handgun simply can’t have a trigger this good.

The slide of the KDS9c is machined from stainless steel. Kimber really shows off its machining prowess with this model. Angled cocking serrations are at both front and rear of the five-­flat slide, and the flat top is serrated along the sight radius, which is always a nice touch. The nose of the slide below the muzzle angles rearward, giving the handgun a distinctive look, too. The ejection port is cavernous, allowing plenty of room for spent brass to escape without deflection. There is a spring-­actuated, slide-­mounted extractor that, alongside the oversized ejector pinned into the frame, launches empties clear of the gun. The recoil system in the KDS9c combines a full-­length steel recoil-spring guide with a flat-­wire spring. A recoil-spring plug captures the spring when the handgun is assembled.

The KDS9c is an optic-­ready handgun. The slide is milled flat behind the ejection port to provide a stable mounting surface. Though a removable cover plate is included, Guns & Ammo’s test samples arrived with Holosun HE507K-­GR X2 optics already installed with the appropriate mounting plates in place. The ability to use iron sights is a must, and this design is compatible with that mindset. 

The front sight is serrated and fitted with a highly ­visible green fiber-optic dot. The rear sight, too, is serrated and uses a traditional square-­cut notch that is adjustable for elevation only. The rear sight is part of the mounting plate, and it sits sufficiently high to allow the sights to co-­witness with the optic. However, I guess I’m “old school” because I’m not completely sold on optics for carry guns. 

The 4.09-­inch stainless-­steel barrel on the KDS9c is ramped with a fully supported 9x19mm chamber. The feed ramp is polished to ensure there are no hiccups. No barrel bushing is necessary since the bull-profile muzzle locks directly into the slide. The barrel hood makes for a second locking location and is cut to offer a visual loaded chamber indicator. There are no upper lugs on the barrel. The lower lugs interface with the slidestop below, which pass through the pinned link. Ball-end mill cuts run along the barrel in three different sections. These cuts likely eliminate some friction between cycling components, but mainly just look cool. Finally, there is a deep-­cut 30-­degree crown that protects the bore while allowing the muzzle to sit flush with the slide.

The fit and finish of the KDS9c are befitting of Kimber’s reputation. Small details, such as the radius of the thumb safety matching the radius of the frame and beavertail, set the gun apart. Save for the barrel and the sides of the hammer, all of the metal components are treated with the KimPro finish. Both slides are stainless-­steel and frames alloy.

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The KDS9c uses a steel magazine that tapers to a single column at the feed lips. Both the follower and the basepad are made of polymer. Standard factory magazines hold 15-plus-one rounds, though 18-­round magazines will soon be available. Kimber also plans to release 10-­round magazines for use in restricted jurisdictions.

At nearly 8-­inches long and 5.35-­inches tall, the KDS9c is not a micro-­compact handgun. It is essentially the same size as a G19, which puts it in that sweet spot of serious defensive handguns that are small enough to conceal but large enough to shoot well. One might ask, “Why would you choose such a handgun in this segment?” 

Having grown-­up on John Browning’s single-action handguns, namely the Model 1911 and Hi-­Power, the short and crisp trigger pull of the KDS9c was a welcome change from many of the squishy striker-fired triggers. The ability to carry the gun cocked-and-locked is a virtue as well; disengaging that thumb safety lever becomes a subconscious part of bringing the gun on target.

Comparisons

Enthusiasts will no doubt compare the Kimber KDS9c to the Wilson Combat EDC X9, with good reason. Both guns combine 1911-­style controls with a wide body aluminum frame and a dual-­column magazine. The dimensions and styling are nearly identical, though the Kimber is 5 ounces lighter. Handling the KDS9c next to my personal Wilson, I believe the latter to be a more refined handgun. This should be expected since it costs more than double the Kimber. A fair conclusion would be to say that the KDS9c is more of a feature-rich production handgun, while the Wilson Combat is a premium semi-­custom pistol.

Parting Shot

The KDS9c was designed, engineered and built in Kimber’s sprawling new complex in Troy, Alabama. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the facility multiple times for other projects, sitting down with product engineers and speaking to the those operating the machines and assembling the firearms on the production line. No expense was spared by Kimber in creating this environment. Guns can go from concept to execution under the same roof. They are designed, engineered, tested, improved, produced and assembled in Troy. Raw materials enter one end and finished products emerge from the other. After meeting the team of employees and seeing what they are capable of, it’s difficult not to be impressed.

With a great trigger and a mounted optic, it was no surprise that the KDS9c was easy to shoot. Recoil was what one would expect from a 9mm in this weight range — very manageable. Reliability was 100 percent and accuracy potential was quite good. G&A’s bench testing was no doubt aided by the mounted optic. I would have no qualms about carrying this handgun for defensive purposes.

Kimber has had several homerun handguns through the years, including many of its 1911s. With the KDS9c, I believe that the company has done it right again. There will be a model with an accessory rail for a light soon. This is a handgun that shooters wanted. The KDS9c blends features from combat handgun designs and updates them with emerging virtues from contemporary pistols. Kimber created a fully machined, capable, all-­around defensive handgun that also rivals the Springfield Armory Prodigy and more expensive Staccato P. If you are in the market for capacity, the KDS9c will finish near the top of a short list.

Kimber KDS9c

• Type: Recoil operated, hammer fired, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 15+1 rds.
• Barrel: 4.09 in.
• Overall length: 7.75 in.
• Width: 1.33 in.
• Height: 5.35 in.
• Weight: 1 lb., 9 oz.
• Finish: KimPro black or silver
• Sights: Green fiber optic (front); adjustable (rear); optic ready
• Trigger: 3 lbs., 8 oz. (tested)
• MSRP: $1,499
• Importer: Kimber, 888-­243-­4522, kimberamerica.com