Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Cool and inexpensive Kimber Montana Upgrade......................

I just got through installing a Titanium bolt knob on my Kimber Montana:








Not only does it weigh far less than the original it looks and feels better too.


I bought it direct from the manufacturer - our own "schmalts"! It was very easy to install, you just unscrew the old one add a drop of Red Loctite and screw the new one on. Schmalts even included a peice of leather to help hold the old one in the vise better.

The Quality was superb, very nicely made. The only thing I didn't personaly prefer is that it came shiny and so I did a fine bead blast on it to have it match the finish. A lot of people will probably prefer theirs shiny so coming polished is probably better since it's easier and quicker to bead blast something than to polish it.

He only charged $45 for the titanium bolt knob, which considering the quality is a bargain. If I glomm onto another Montana it will definately have one of these on it, I hope he made enough for everyone! Just PM him if you want one and he can give you his address to send a money order to.

Anyway, Thanks again schmalts for a super product at a good price...................................DJ

DJ, looks great. I picked up one as well from him... dandy little unit. Haven't had time to put it on yet but will do like you and put a fine bead blast on it.

Did you blast before or after installation?

I'm interested in the Ti knob, but a newcomer so don't know contact info for "schmalts." Can you post contact? Thanks

Here's a post on the knob - click on schmalts's name and you'll see a link that will allow you to send him a PM, click on that and you'll be home free.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2233133/page/0/fpart/1

Nice!! Whats the weight difference between it and the original?

Before installation. I wrapped tape around the threads to make it easier to hold onto............................DJ

Looks good DJ, congrats schmalts, it adds a nice touch.

Nice addition, but what does that swarovski weight? Looks big on that rifle.

12.7 ounces. It's one of the lightest high quality variables available. For me it's THE perfect scope for that rifle. A couple years ago I made the longest shot I've ever made on a whitetail with that rifle and scope combo.

The QR rings are heavier than the Talley lightweights but I had a little problem with the lightweights - I made a post on it in the Optics section. Fortunately the titanium bolt knob probably just about made up for the extra weight of the QR mounts. Unfortunately I didn't weigh it before I installed it, maybe Schmalts can chime in with what they weigh.................................DJ

That's not bad at all. I thought it was heavier.

Got mine today. It looks great. I will put it on in the next day or two.

the original handle is around 1.8oz and the Ti ones are running about .8oz . So it is far less than half the weight. Don't sound like much but when you hold both in your hand it it really evident.
The bead blast it a nice look as well, but I like the polished look too as it really blends in with the extractor and bolt shaft nice. But like DJ said, it is a lot easier to change it from polished to bead blasted than vice versa. A guy can also chuck it in a drill and hit it with some rough scotch bright or steel wool or 220 grit emery and give it a satin finish. I sent one to someone here with a less polished look and forgot off hand who it was but that looks nice too. If someone wants a less polished finish I can do that for them but prefer to leave the bead blasting to the buyer as there is different levels of grit to use for results.

BTW, I have had one buyer say it will not fit his model 84. I cannot confirm it yet but it looks like the threads are different on the 84 and the 8400 so be aware of this before ordering one. I do not have a model 84 to check the threads on.
If the threads are in fact different I need to find out what they are and modify some in my next batch.

Looks like a 3-9x36? And is that a 260 or 7/08?

Thanks, nice rifle.

That's really cool djp!

How come no titanium barrels out there? Not good metal for that? Bad hoop strength? Galls too much to get clean rifling?

-jeff

They do not fit the 84's tried last night. The 84 handle has asmaller hole. If You get them dialed in I will take one for my 84 also. Neet little upgrade.

I figured there was going to be a picture of a Tikka T3 lite....

OK.. Don't jump on me I just thought that was funny.... I was just kidding... Sort of...

Side note, the bolt knob on the Ti handle is approx. .070" smaller in diameter than the factory 8400's ball. It's actually about exactly the size of the 84's bolt knob.

It is also a tad longer than the factory handle.
I originaly made the first one when I took off the factory one to hollow out the ball and then decided to take it one step further and just find a chunk of ti and really lighten it up.

Jeff O - This comes from a Friend Who built the first Ti Bolts. Ti is too hard to machine for a barrel, It can easily chip like Glass, If that's what You mean by galling.