The pistol’s lightweight frame makes it perfectly suitable for daily carry, and the laser grips make it an ideal fighting tool in any light.

I was quite impressed with the new Kimber when I took it out of the box. Fit and finish were very good, with minimal play between the slide and frame. The slide reciprocated smoothly on the frame rails, and the barrel was fitted just right. The trigger, which is user-adjustable for overtravel, was pretty clean for a factory gun. It required 5.25 pounds to trip the sear but was clean enough that my guess was a half-pound less.

All the controls worked smoothly and positively. The safety went on and off with a tactile and audible "click," and the grip safety was easy to engage. The small shelf on the slide release was a nice touch, as was the slightly extended magazine release.

I am no fan of oversize, match-style parts on carry guns as they are too easy to engage inadvertently. But the Kimber's controls are just big enough to make them easy to use while still small enough that I don't fear ejecting a loaded magazine or locking the slide back mid-fight.

Kimber: Custom Crimson Carry II
Type:	1911 Semiauto
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Weight:	31 oz.
Barrel length:	5 in.
Overall length:	8.7 in.
Height/Width:	5.25/1.25 in.
Sights:	low-profile front and rear; Crimson Trace laser grips.
Frame:	satin-finish aluminum
Slide:	matte black steel
Trigger:	single-action;5.25-lb. pull
Grips:	rosewood-accented Crimson Trace synthetic laser grips
Price:	$1,046
Manufacturer:	Kimber Manufacturing, 914-964-0771

The Crimson Carry wears the II designation, which means it has Kimber's Series II firing pin safety. Unlike other systems that work against the trigger, the Series II system is activated by the grip safety.

Squeezing the grip safety with your normal firing grip raises a bar that raises the firing pin block so the firing pin can move forward when the trigger is pulled. If properly timed, this system works well, although I prefer Kimber's Series I guns, which are basically Series 70-style pistols.

The sights are black and serrated, with no white dots or tritium inserts. Truth be told, I like that setup for daylight shooting, though it is not high on my list for a defensive pistol. But the included Crimson Trace laser grips more than make up for this. The laser must have been zeroed at the factory; the red dot sat right on top of my front sight when I checked it out on my living room wall.

Disassembling the pistol for cleaning was a snap, although its full-length guide rod means you'll need a bushing wrench to get it apart. I checked the internal parts during my pre-range cleaning session and found everything satisfactory.

Then it was off to the range to see how it performed. I took an assortment of ammunition from Black Hills, Cor-Bon, Federal, Hornady and Winchester, plus a dozen magazines from Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick.

As is my custom, I started my testing up close to get a feel for the trigger, verify zero and make sure the pistol functions properly. In this case, the Kimber Crimson Carry II fed smoothly, fired every time I pulled the trigger and ejected empties smartly.

The trigger felt as good on the range as it did in my dry fire practice, and 230-grain FMJs hit right behind the front sight or a half-inch or so below the laser. I ended up firing about 150 rounds before a summer storm blew in and ended my range session.

I began my second session at the 25-yard line, where I tested the Kimber's accuracy with six loads over a sandbag rest. I alternated between the sights and the laser, firing three groups each way and using the average. However, I actually preferred the sights for precision work because my wiggles and tremors were not nearly as noticeable as they were with the laser.