1911 Conversion to Double Action Question
 

Anyone know much about Seecamp or anyone offering a quality kit to convert my Kimber 1911 to a double action gun? TIA

No

1911's don't come like that, unless you're thinking of the PO LDA.

Here's something you're probably thinking of...SFS Kit. Take it to a gunsmith for proper fitting.

Better yet, sell it or trade it in on the AO LDA instead of ruining a perfectly operating Kimber.

If you want a double action, I fully expect that you would be much more satisfied with a weapon that was designed from the get go to be a double action.

One of the MANY desirable features of a properly tuned 1911 is the trigger that is commonly set up on them. Most 1911 lovers are a duck out of water when having to deal with the trigger take up of a double action pistol.

AFAIAC the 1911 is John Brownings Masterpiece, and given his family of designs there will be folks that will give this honor to many of his OTHER designs. Turning it into something different would be like putting fender skirts on your Mercedes IMHO.

The Kimber and the Kimber II are both fine handguns. If you're concerned about carrying it cocked and ready, three things need to happen prior to it firing...Manual safety must be disengaged, Grip safety must be engaged, and you must pull the trigger. If those three are met, then it will fire...otherwise, it's safe to carry locked and loaded.

I actually prefer those safeties over a DOA Glock style safety...which is built into the trigger only. It's because of those missing safeties on my weapon that I don't carry with one in the chamber. Granted, the safety design has been proven time and time again, I still prefer a mechanical block-type safety.

cocked and locked is perfectly safe.
You'll spend as much money in gunsmith time and parts converting your Kimber as you would buying a good DA pistol. Might as well just go buy one. The conversion you have in mind is NOT an upgrade.
If you like the look and feel of a 1911, as anyone in their right mind does, but just have to have a DA, look at the Para Ordnance LDA line. Nice pistols I hear, lifetime warranty, made in the U.S. Their website is wonky right now, they're re-doing it.
http://www.para-usa.com/2013/-/uploads/96663_Elite_SpecSheet.pdf

Seecamp:"In the early 1970s through the early 80s they converted nearly 2000 1911 pistols to double action. These are very much sought by collectors today."

Rare Seecamp DA conversion of Colt Combat Commander - 1911Forum

Seecamp:"In the early 1970s through the early 80s they converted nearly 2000 1911 pistols to double action. These are very much sought by collectors today."

Rare Seecamp DA conversion of Colt Combat Commander - 1911Forum

ODI Viking-the production version of the Seecamp conversion.

Colt Double Eagle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why would you want to go and do a thing like that?

Like Larry said, if you want DA just buy a gun that was designed from the get go as a DA gun.

I just thought it would be nice to be able to pull the trigger to fire. However, if it involves that much machining and gunsmithing, perhaps this is a stupid project. Not knowing much about this conversion and having read about it, I thought it might be something nice to venture into but if it is such a PITA, I think I might just leave it with the safety on and cocked, unless someone has any other suggestions. Thanks. Keep the opinions coming.

Not what I had in mind. I want to be able to pull the trigger and make it cock the hammer for the first shot instead of having to release a safety. Thanks

Why in the world would you want to ruin a perfectly good pistol by making it DAO?


Go buy one of the police Sig's they offer in DAO for a loooooong and smooth trigger pull.

If you don't want to have to sweep a manual safety than a 1911 might not be the pistol for you to carry.

Ever try a Glock 19? Very nice size and lots of fire power for its size.

P226 DAK

Or something with a Sig DAK trigger.

I guess I never gave it a thought. I modify whatever I buy to make it do what I want so I never considered it ruining unless it is so hacked up that it cannot ever go back and/or it is made unreliable. Hence I cuious if such modification would make it unreliable. I was wanting it to be more like my revolvers that could fire when you pull the hammer back or when you pull the trigger for the first shot with the difference being that the 2nd shot will be easier.

I was hoping for a 45 and not a 9mm or 40 S&W.

Wife has a G23. For CCW, I like it slimmer though. I basically like my 1911 feel probably because it is single stack in the magazine and it would be great to have that in double action.

Here's a good looking Para single stack DA 1911. 850 BIN plus whatever your LGS charges you for the FFL transfer. Good looking pistol.(except for the funky trigger.)
And you're right. 45acp is god's own caliber.

PARA ORDNANCE CCW LDA .45ACP S/S LNIB 45 : Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com