Kimber TLE-Work in progress

[gpo1956]

Here are some pictures (hopefully!) of my TLE I've been working on.
EGW-Angle-Bore bushing and slide stop
Brownell's-Medium length solid trigger
Ed Brown-Mag release, Tactical Safety and grips
Les Baer-Grip safety
Wilson-Flat MSH(recontoured), old style tool steel hammer, hammer strut and sear
Heinie-all black SlantPros
Since this is a range/fun gun, I'll leave all other parts as is until I encounter a problem with them.
It will be going to Metalloy in a couple of weeks for a matte finished hard chrome frame and I'll have the slide blued locally with matte rounds and high polished flats.

[gpo1956]

Another shot

[gpo1956]

One more

[gpo1956]

Last one. Sorry for the quality of the photo's. My wife has so much crap on our conputer that I really have a lot of trouble figuring out what program to use to post pictures.

[Slabside]

Nice mods. Be sure to post a pic after the refinish.

[stepper]

Kewl!

I wish I knew enough to be able to work on my guns.

[G23Adam]

check and see if your Kimber is stainless. My black TLE has a stainless frame, I'm most likely going to have it beadblasted :)

[gpo1956]

Yes, the frame is stainless and the slide is carbon steel.

[8W56]

That is a great looking gun you have there. I am curious about the grip safety. How well did it fit the gun and does it drop in or require some fitting? I prefer that type of grip safety over the factory TLE one and really want to change mine.

[gpo1956]

8W56,
It's a Les Baer grip safety. This one took more fitting than the other two I've put on. Also, I removed quite a bit of material on this one to give it more of the Ed Brown feel.

[gpo1956]

Here's the finished product

[gpo1956]

One more

[gpo1956]

Last one

[gpo1956]

Oops, this is the last one, I promise

[GlockShmock]

Very nice...but what are the advatages of Heines over the stock sights? They seem very similar to me, but I have never seen heines up close.

[gpo1956]

For me, the Heinies are 100 times better than the Kimbers. The notch is wider and deeper for a much better sight picture. The rear is serrated and not angled as severely. They are just a much sleeker looking sight. Also, since this is a range gun, I didn't want night sights on it.

[NetNinja]

HUH?

Heinies rear sights are practically the same as the Kimber sights.

Flat Back with horizontal serations just like the Heinies.

Oh wait, I just looked at the sights on your pistol. My Kimbers are series 1 and the sights are a lot better. I think they are Hienies.

[NetNinja]

Here is a picture of the sights on the series 1

[Rob96]

With all of the changes you made to it, I'd say it would make one hell of a carry gun. Why leave it to range use only?

[gpo1956]

NetNinja: The Heinies have a more squared head-on profile (much like the Bo-Mar). Also, the Heinies are a sharper, more crisp sight picture. If you'll compare the two side by side I think you'll be able to see the difference. At least at my age with my eyesight its noticeable.

Rob96: I have a Wislon Protector and an Ed Brown for carry. This is just a fun gun for 200 gr SWCs.

[Sgt_Steiner]

GPO you did a great job on that pistol!

[quantico]

The gun looks very nice.... is the grip safety comfortable ?? it looks a little boxy ... but depth and feel are hard to understand on photos.... what is the trigger like stock ??? you happy with the other parts so far ???

[gpo1956]

Thanks very much guys. Quantico, yes the grip safety is very comfortable. I think what you're seeing is a decorative band I put along the top edge. It is rounded and very smooth. This safety is a little deeper than a Wilson but not as deep as the Brown. I've owned several customs and semi-customs and this one is as nice as some of the semi-customs. It turned out very nicely. I like it a lot. The original trigger was typical Kimber, not bad but its a lot better now with the new parts. I've been very impressed with the quality of all the parts I chose.