Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP – Superb Lightweight 1911

Description

The Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP is a full size 1911 built on an aluminum frame rather than steel, which drops the empty weight to 31.2 ounces instead of the thirty eight a comparable all steel gun carries. Frame and slide are both finished in KimPro Black, the five inch barrel is match grade, and the ANKA grips carry an American flag band across black checkered panels. Capacity is seven rounds of 45 ACP.

Seven Ounces That Change The Gun

Taking nearly seven ounces off a full size 1911 is not a small change. It is the difference between a pistol most people carry occasionally and one they carry regularly, and it is felt most on a belt over a full day rather than in the hand at the counter. The Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP keeps the full five inch sight radius and full grip length while shedding the weight that usually pushes buyers toward a shorter gun.

The tradeoff is recoil. Mass absorbs recoil, so a lighter 1911 in 45 ACP moves more in the hand than a steel one. It is still 45 ACP, a low pressure cartridge that pushes rather than snaps, and most shooters adapt within a magazine or two. Anyone who is recoil sensitive should try a lightweight 1911 before assuming it will feel the same as the steel version.

Frame life on the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP is the other honest point. Aluminum framed 1911 pistols wear faster than steel ones, measured in tens of thousands of rounds rather than an open ended number. For a carry gun that sees a few hundred rounds a year this is irrelevant. For someone shooting weekly matches, a steel frame is the better buy.

Finish, Grips And Controls

KimPro Black on both the frame and the slide of the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP gives a consistent matte appearance and a genuinely tough surface. It is a thin film coating with a low coefficient of friction, so it does more than provide color, and it holds up to holster wear far better than a simple bluing would on a carry gun. Front cocking serrations are cut into the slide alongside the standard rear ones.

The ANKA grips are the visual signature of the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP. Black checkered panels carry a full color American flag band across the middle, and the checkering underneath is functional rather than decorative. Buyers who prefer a plainer look can swap in any standard 1911 grip panel, since the platform uses the most widely supported grip pattern in existence.

The trigger on the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP is a three hole aluminum unit in black, set at four to five pounds from the factory. That is a sensible carry weight, light enough for good shooting and heavy enough for a defensive gun. A beavertail grip safety comes standard, which protects against hammer bite and helps index the hand consistently on the draw.

Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP Specifications

• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inches, stainless match grade
• Overall Length: 8.7 inches
• Height: 5.25 inches
• Width: 1.28 inches
• Weight: 31.2 ounces with empty magazine
• Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds
• Frame: Aluminum with KimPro Black finish and beavertail
• Slide: Stainless steel with KimPro Black finish and front serrations
• Grips: ANKA grips with American flag band
• Trigger: Three hole aluminum in black, 4.0 to 5.0 pounds
• Recoil Spring: 16 pounds
• Manufacturer Item Number: 3000500
• UPC: 669278305004

One seven round magazine ships with the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP. Factory magazines are the single best investment for any 1911, because worn springs and bargain magazines cause more feeding problems in this platform than every other cause combined.

Why Buyers Choose The Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP

Buyers choose the Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP because it makes a full size 1911 practical to carry. Most people who want a 1911 on their belt end up compromising down to a three or four inch model. This one keeps the full sight radius, the full grip and the full barrel while weighing less than a compact steel gun, which is a genuinely useful combination.

The finish and the grips are the second reason. KimPro Black is durable and low glare, the front serrations give a second place to grab the slide, and the flag band on the ANKA panels gives the pistol a look that plainer black guns do not have. Nothing about that styling costs any function.

The caveats are straightforward. Seven rounds is well short of a modern double stack, a lighter frame means more felt recoil, and aluminum wears faster than steel under heavy use. Shooters wanting maximum capacity or a high round count competition gun should look at a steel framed or double stack model instead.

Who Should Buy The Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP

The Kimber Custom LW Liberty 45 ACP is a strong fit for the shooter who wants to carry a full size 1911 every day and has decided that weight is the deciding factor. It suits permit holders, home defense use paired with a light on the nightstand, and range work for anyone who likes the platform. The full length grip works well for larger hands. New shooters can learn on it, but the thumb safety and grip safety mean the manual of arms takes deliberate practice. Competitive shooters putting thousands of rounds downrange each year should choose a steel frame.

Learn more about this pistol from the manufacturer, or see more firearms available at MAG5 Firearms.