Kimber arms LAPD SWAT - Industry Watch

Shooting Industry, Sept, 2002 by Russ Thurman

The new handgun of the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT Team is the Kimber Custom II. The highly-regarded poince unit selected the Kimber 1911 after two years of testing 1911s from five companies.

The Custom II comes standard with a matte-black oxide finish, beveled front and rear slide serrations, match-grade barrel and trigger group, polished breech face and full-length guide rod. The SWAT team wanted two additions made to the gun: tritium Meprolight Nights Sights and 30 lines-per-inch checkering on the front strap. Neither proved a problem. Kimber is the exclusive North American distributor of Meprolight night sights and accessories.

In July, 80 SWAT officers were each issued two Kimber Custom IIs with special serial numbers and "LAPD SWAT" roll-marked on the right side of the slide.

For a complete look at the Kimber Custom II and its first day as the official sidearm of the LAPD SWAT Team, see the story by Gary Paul Johnston in an upcoming issue of American Handgunner magazine.