It apparently wasn't just the 3" guns. My Ultra CDP had the issue as did a 5" Kimber, which I no longer have. In both cases, Kimber sent me a replacement and all was good.The Annoyed Man wrote:I had a stainless Ultra Carry II and loved it. It had a defective slide lock when I first bought it, which caused the gun to lock back on a full mag about every second or third round or so. Apparently, a run of 3" guns were shipped with this defective part and Kimber was aware of the problem when I phoned them, and they sent me a new part right away. The gun ran flawlessly after that. Curiously, when my son's PT1911 broke the pin on its slide stop, right at the link, we stuck the "defective" Kimber slide stop in it, and that gun is still running just fine with that Kimber part in it. I sold that Kimber to another forum member, who for all I know still has and carries it.
My son has a Pro Raptor which he carries, and his wife carries a Pro Carry II, both for several years now, and they've never had any issues.
The thing that truly irks me about Kimber is that they ship with a plastic mainspring housing. For the price they charge, its very disappointing that they cheap-out on such an important part. I have read about, and seen pictures of, failed Kimber mainspring housings. If it breaks, the gun is rendered inoperative.
IMHO, Kimber puts a heck of a nice paint job on a mediocre pistol.