How Good Is the Kimber Version of the Legendary 1911 Pistol? There are many good 1911s out there and the one built by Kimber is among the finest. Key point: Colt made its fame through the powerful and reliable 1911 pistol. That weapon has been around for over 100 years and new companies, such as Kimber, now make their own versions. While it was Colt Firearms that produced the first of the John Moses Browning-designed M1911 .45 pistols, today the market leader in the category is Kimber. And it isn’t hard to see why, as the company has become known for building fine sporting firearms that are better than even the classics from the golden age of American firearms.