Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything

Can a traditional 1911 manufacturer compete in the modern 2011 arena? We fired 847 rounds through Kimber’s 2K11 answer to find out.

For thirty years, Kimber built beautiful single-stack 1911s that purists loved and competitors ignored. But with Staccato dominating the high-capacity 1911 market and polymer pistols eating everyone else’s lunch, even the most traditional manufacturers face a hard choice: evolve or fade away.

The Kimber 2K11 is that evolution—a machined aluminum double-stack 2011 that packs 17-20 rounds of 9mm (or 13 rounds of .45 ACP) into a platform that promises custom-level accuracy at production-gun prices. At $1,700-2,500 depending on variant, it sits squarely between budget Springfield Prodigys and premium Staccatos, targeting shooters who want more than entry-level but can’t justify $2,800 for a pistol.

The question isn’t whether the 2K11 is well-made—it’s whether Kimber can overcome its inconsistent quality reputation while competing against established players who’ve spent years perfecting the double-stack 1911 formula. After six months of testing across multiple shooters, ammunition types, and conditions, we have answers.

By Michael Crites

Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18. During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications. His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual. As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY. He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).

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By Michael Crites

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