who left kimber rifles to start what rifle company?

[salukipv1]

I read on here somewhere that someone one of the main guys at kimber left kimber to start his own company? what company is that? who is the guy?

[jeepkid]

Cooper Arms.

[johnnybravoo77]

Here you go: http://www.cooperfirearms.com/history.html

[salukipv1]

any reason he left? is kimber no longer good? did kimber lose some of its luster?

thanks for the update though.

[Hairtrigger]

I heard that Cooper was moving east.
Anyone know if they have moved yet?

[oldelkhunter]

read on here somewhere that someone one of the main guys at kimber left kimber to start his own company? what company is that? who is the guy?

There was nothing to leave . The guy that started Kimber was Warne..he was also in the Timber business about the time the spotted owl controversy started. He lost a lot of money and the company. The Name is all that is left of the old Kimber company.

any reason he left? is kimber no longer good? did kimber lose some of its luster?

The quality of the old kimbers ran from good to terrible , some that I have seen were even beyond terrible...they were another knockoff of the MOdel 70 rifle. The new Kimber rifle is a brainchild of Leslie Edelman and is night and day as far as design goes.

[stalkingbear]

I have to beg to differ about quality of the older kimbers(kimber of oregon). I have a .22 magnum serial# 525 and it's supreme and a tack driver.

[oldelkhunter]

I have to beg to differ about quality of the older kimbers(kimber of oregon). I have a .22 magnum serial# 525 and it's supreme and a tack driver

Like I said their quality was good or it was terrible. There was a guy on the gunlist that was selling a pair of laminated stock Kimbers one a 7mm and the other a 338 . I had to say no to them they were that bad. They were NIB and built just before their plant went down .There is an original Kimber 22 around the corner from me on consignment , the guy is asking 900 bucks and it is a very nice gun with an outstanding piece of wood. That 22 is better much better then any 22 the "NEW" kimber is producing . I might also add that it is amazing how little people know about both companies and assume the Kimber of oregon rifles and the NY rifles are one and the same.

[Ridge Runner]

kimber of oregon went bankrupt, dan cooper who was head gunsmith left and took a few emplyees with him to start cooper arms, kimber was resurected as kimber usa of yonkers NY.
kimber of oregon was a semi custom firearm, kimber of yonkers NY just another production gun.
RR