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Kimber K6s Combat Revolver Review
Kimber has a reputation for taking classic firearm designs and updating their practical features, as well as their aesthetics. I recently reviewed the rather flashy Kimber Rapide Black Ice, which maintains the legacy full size 1911 single stack profile, but with the addition of performance enhancing slide cuts, a flared magazine well, and a sharp two-tone finish. In contrast to the Rapide, Kimber took the opposite approach with their K6s Combat revolver: subtleness, smoothness, and refinement.
The K6s is simply a pleasure to look at. Everything from the wood grip to the checkered cylinder release are pleasing to the eye and lend themselves to the near perfectly balanced aesthetic of this piece. Instead of a cold steel gun safe, I feel like the K6s should be locked in the drawer of a large oak desk – and I’d never consider defiling it by placing it in a Kydex holster.
Specs:
Below are the specs as per Kimber:
- Height: 5.0”
- Width: 1.39”
- Weight (empty): 29 oz
- Length: 8.62”
- Chambering: .357 Magnum
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Action: DA/SA
- Frame Material: Stainless Steel
- Barrel Length: 4”
- Sight Configuration: White 3 Dot
- Sight Radius: 6.1”
- Trigger Pull Weight (DA): 9.5 – 11.5 lbs.
- Trigger Pull Weight (SA): 3.25 – 4.25 lbs.
Trigger:
To me, a good trigger is never defined by pull weight; it’s defined by repeatability and predictability. I’m sure the following is a well known fact to most reading this article: one of the biggest contributing factors to poor handgun marksmanship is a lack of trigger control. If the action of the trigger isn’t repeatable and/or predictable, that trigger is fighting against you, wasting both valuable range time and (especially right now) valuable ammunition.
As you’d expect, the K6s Combat has a terrific trigger. It is both repeatable and predictable in single action and double action. I can shoot reduced size targets at distance with nearly as much confidence in double action as I can in single action, albeit with a bit more focus and time.
The double action pull is predictably heavy, but with a repeatable cycle. It took me only a handful of dry-fire presses to get it mostly figured out. The first stage of the pull quickly increases in resistance, until reaching the last stage, where the resistance appears to gradually fall off before the hammer falls. There is a bit of variable resistance during the pull, as you can feel the interaction of the internal components working together like a 34 jewel manual wind watch, all through the trigger shoe.
With the hammer manually cocked back, the trigger is in single action, and much more simple to operate. The process of firing the K6s Combat in single action feels similar to some of my precision rifle triggers. There is minimal take up, then the break, followed by a small amount of over travel. Very crisp.
Sights:
The sights of the K6s Combat are simple and would be familiar to all shooters. Black hardware with two white dots on the rear sight, and a single white dot on the front sight. The front sight is pinned in place while the rear sight uses a dovetail system. The rear sight is also somewhat ramped, preventing it from being an additional catch point on a draw. Overall, I’d say the sights are perfectly adequate for the task. No need for fiber optics or night sights. Just a simple three dot system that requires practically no maintenance, and everyone knows how to use them.
Use:
I carried the K6s Combat into the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains on several winter hikes by myself, and with my kids. It was my primary means of protection against the growing population of mountain lions in the area – of which I saw a great deal of sign.
I placed the K6s barrel down into a small pocket on the back side of my binocular pouch, something I’d never do with my Glock 19. Placing the revolver in my binocular pouch allowed it to be accessible with both hands, and without the added weight of a holster. It was both safe and secure, and ready to fire.
The smooth profile and beveled edges of the K6s Combat made drawing and presenting it on target a simple process. Its lightly checkered wood grip provided a platform for secure purchase in my cold hands, without the discomfort of excessive texture or soulless polymer. Although still a tool, I almost felt as though the K6s was a trusty companion on those hikes. A companion who would react appropriately and with exactness in each encountered circumstance.
Conclusion:
To speak plainly, as I’m sure the K6s would prefer, I think it is a very well executed firearm. One that I very much enjoyed using, carrying, looking at, and writing about. One that I am quite sad to have to send back. One that I’ll very likely buy in the future. If you happen to be in the market for a tool that could potentially double as a companion, you’d be wise to consider the Kimber K6s Combat.
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