Handguns

Building a Custom Kimber Rapide 1911 for the Boot Campaign Charity

Eric R. Poole, Editor-in-Chief of Guns & Ammo, visits Kimber’s manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama, where he builds a one-of-a-kind Rapide 1911 pistol under the guidance of Pedi Gega, Kimber’s director of assembly for 18 years. Poole’s custom Rapide 1911, built according to Kimber’s guidelines in assembling, fitment, finishing, and test fire, receives a stamp of approval from the quality control department. During the process, Poole learns about Kimber’s support for the Boot Campaign, a veterans’ nonprofit, through sales of its Hero Custom model. Poole’s Rapide 1911 will be sold at auction on Gunbroker.com, with proceeds benefiting the Boot Campaign. The pistol features a stainless steel construction, an accessory rail, two-tone KimPro II finish, distinctive lightening cuts, Stiplex texture, a Rose Copper-colored barrel in 9mm, and a Holosun HE507C-GR X2 reflex sight with green-dot reticle.