Does anyone know how many DET-1 Kimbers ended up in the publics hand? I thought is was around 200, by serial number, but gunbroker has one with serial #300 for sale.
Thanks,
Wally
The Marines bought 200. I am not sure how many were made. Once the Marines got them they attached Dawson rails. The one in the auction does not have any.
The Marines bought 187 of the Kimbers. The members of the Det were allowed to buy a personal Kimber during the original order. A second order was placed and members could again order a personal pistol but the Det was disbanded before the second batch of pistols hit the Det.
There were a total of less than 400 of these USMC marked Det-1 guns ever produced. About 200 of them are in USMC hands. They are, according to Ken Hackathorn and Larry Vickers, the only USMC marked 1911 in history and the rarest of USGI 1911s. By production numbers, they are rarer than the Singer guns.
The guns arrived at the Det without the Dawson rails and were sent to Dawson for the add-on by the USMC. The pistol is factory correct without the rail and “issue” correct with the rail, Gunner grips, and some other small add-ons that varied.
I know of several of the Det guns selling for between $5000 and one sold as high as $15000.
I have 3 sitting in the safe as a long tern investment.
Dave,
And here I thought you were a Glock guy!
Funny this topic has come up. I have been on the hunt for an ICQB pistol for a month. Was initially going to buy a Warrior and a WWII surplus Colt but figured I could just combine the finds for two pistols into one that is marked USMC. God knows a Marine wouldn’t want a pistol with Army or Navy on the side of it lol!
Brad
Semper Fi
The Marines have done alright so far with 1911s marked “US ARMY”. Why would the care now?
I love 1911s but I use Glocks…
The Det guns sitting in the safe have never even been cycled or had the hammer cocked.
David, I would think in 40 or 50 years those would be worth some serious coin. Have you thought about adding the rails or are you just going to leave them as they are.
I’ve got the rails and Gunner grips but have not attached them. I still need to get 3 SureFire Military lights and GemTech lanyards to round out the packages. This way, it’s all there but it’ll be up to the next owner if he wants to install the add-ons or not.
The first guns that sold went for $15 and $10K respectively. Current guns seem to go for about $5K. I’m hoping in the next 10-15 years, as the few examples floating around get sucked deep into private collections, the prices will rise again. I hope it desn’t take 40-50 years because I’ll be dead by then…
Or you could just Will them to me and be done with it! 
There’s one for sale now (#197) for $7500 or best offer, it has all the authentic accessories.
The one on gunbroker didn’t get any bids with a start of 3K and a buy it now of $3900.
#197 has been sold according to the other website…Wally
Can anybody post some photos of the USMC DET-1 Kimbers?
I recall reading that some of the Kimber executives wound up with the DET-1 guns. The first DET-1 gun I saw for sale on the Web allegedly was one of these guns that had been put up for sale by a former Kimber exec.
John