Kimber CDS9 Classic Review

Kimber fans are, in my experience, a devoted lot, loyal to the handsome single action, single stack guns with which the company built a brand. But Kimber America has shown out-of-the-box design on occasion. Their K6 revolvers, for example, are a capacity-boosting reinterpretation of a wheelgun. Also out of the norm for the company, if not the market in general, is their CDS-9 line of double stack 9mm single action semiautos. This year’s line extension of the CDS-9 is the Classic edition. While it’s not immediately obvious to me why we call this one “classic,” I’ve had the chance to use and carry one lately, and I’m sure it’ll earn its share of fans.

What is the Kimber CDS9?

The Kimber CDS 9 pistol with a 15 round magazine

CDS stands for covert double stack, with the name clearly revealing Kimber’s apparent intent: make a carry-size gun with enough ammunition to lend peace of mind. It’s not just popular to have more ammo at the ready, it’s smart. Self-protection expert John Correia analyzed videos of 66 defensive shootings that occurred in 2025 and involved “good guys” who weren’t on-duty police officers. What he found in this interesting study is that 15% of these encounters led the law-abiding citizen to fire seven or more rounds (more than 11 in some cases). Five or more rounds were fired in about half the incidents. Distance was also a stereotype-busting factor, with 24% of defensive shootings happening with 10 or more yards separating threats from lawful actors.

In view of that data, Kimber delivers with this gun, providing two mags. There’s a 13 rounder, and a 15 also. Both have substantial pinky support. Both drop freely from the gun when the magazine release is pressed—an essential feature, in my opinion, in a personal defense pistol.

The Classic designation is surely clear to those who named the gun; it’s less clear to me. This gun features modern black synthetic grip panels with substantial, sandpaper texture. The first edition of the gun employs checkered wooden grips. Finish-wise, the aluminum frame is dark gray with Kimber’s trademarked, corrosion-resistant Kimpro II treatment.

Shooting the CDS-9 Classic

Many owners of late-model Kimber 1911s are generally familiar with the brand’s notably tight tolerances, a sign of high machining standards. The CDS-9 has an internal firing mechanism virtually identical to the company’s 1911 pistols. The barrel feed ramp is polished and nearly vertical, the latter being a bit unusual in pistols overall.

Now, I approach handguns from the perspective of protection and defense, not sport or hobby. While I appreciate exacting standards and the minds capable of moving fire controls from drawings to a real gun, I value more the confidence that the gun will say “BANG!” for every fall of the firing pin on a live round. On the range test, I discovered that ammo must be carefully chosen to ensure reliable firing.

The gun seemed to “like” rounds that are fairly conical in shape, with the notable exception of the 9mm Hornady Critical Defense loads, which did not feed reliably. The test gun ran well with Federal 115 grain FMJ, and also made a fantastic group with that ammunition, laying down a single hole of five rounds from seven yards that surprised me as I felt I’d not done by best trigger presses with that group. In terms of accuracy, this gun is excellent, a sign that the barrel is very well made.

Our groups after shooting the CDS 9 at the range.

Ergonomics

Ambi controls are now common in handguns, a very good development. Kimber tries here but delivers only in part. The extended slide lock is ambi, a handy feature. The right-hand bias magazine release is not reversible, though. As for the safety, it’s present on both sides of the gun, a feature that has been known to fail without the wearer’s knowledge when an external object like a seatbelt rubs the frame just so. I find the safety has appropriate tension for expedient operation—it doesn’t disengage too easily yet does require conscious effort.

My medium-glove hands fit the CDS-9 well, with all controls in reasonable reach. As with any 1911, I experienced a bit of chewing-up of the web of my firing hand after the round count climbed to 50. Again, personal preference and hand structure play a role here.

Wearing the CDS-9 was surprisingly comfortable. It fits well in the JM4 Tactical “Quick Click & Carry” holster I find useful for a variety of handguns. Acceptable concealment was easily achieved, and the gun proved wearable and discreet on a day spent hiking, traveling by car, and dining out.

What’s Generous, What’s Not

Looking down the barrel toward the front sight of the CDS 9.

The field strip procedure for the CDS-9 is a little more difficult, even, than for most single action guns. It requires a punch or other tool (not included) to push the takedown pin through for removal. It’s not a procedure easily done outdoors on a windy day, which describes a typical range condition for me. In a package that is otherwise generous, Kimber could have included a tool that’s not easy to lose—or any tool at all that would work for this purpose.

What’s nice is the packaging, which lasts beyond the “unboxing experience” that is so overvalued today. Kimber included an elegant cardboard box that’s gift-worthy. Inside, there’s a nice-size range bag with lots of practical features like elastic mag holders and multiple zippered compartments. Unless one needs a TSA-approved box, it’s far more useful than most pistol packaging and is capable of carrying much more than just this gun, for a long time.

Fans of the Kimber brand who’ve been reluctant to hang up their low-capacity 1911 will find satisfaction with the CDS-9. It delivers 1911 accuracy and elegance in a package that’s wearable and practical for personal defense and recreation. A friend who meets that description was impressed enough to place an order for a CDS-9 in the optic-ready rendition after shooting my tester. Market prices are in the mid-$600 range for the non-optic ready version; add about $100 for the optic cut.