Kimber built the KDS9c around a 7075 aluminum frame instead of polymer or steel. That puts its weight at 25.3 oz, which is heavier than polymer compacts by about 2 oz but 10-15 oz lighter than a steel-framed 1911. The aluminum frame absorbs more recoil than polymer while staying light enough for daily carry. The G10 crosshatch grips lock into the hand better than textured polymer. The KimPro Silver finish on the stainless slide resists corrosion and gives the gun a distinctive look that separates it from the black-on-black polymer market.

The 4 lb single-action trigger is where the KDS9c earns its keep. That pull weight breaks 1.5-2 lbs lighter than any striker-fired compact 9mm, with a clean wall and minimal overtravel. The trade-off is the ambidextrous thumb safety, which requires manual engagement and adds a training step that striker-fired guns skip entirely. Shooters coming from 1911s will find the controls natural. Shooters crossing over from Glocks or Sigs will need deliberate practice before the safety sweep becomes automatic.

The KDS9c does the 1911-to-modern-capacity conversion better than anything else in the compact class. Fifteen rounds in an aluminum frame with a true single-action trigger and traditional 1911 controls is a combination no polymer gun replicates. The CZ P-10 C offers a lighter trigger than most strikers at 4.5 lbs, but it is still a striker with a different trigger character entirely. The Canik METE SFT breaks at 3.8 lbs and comes closer on pull weight, but it is polymer-framed and lacks the manual safety some carriers prefer. For anyone who already shoots 1911s well and wants to carry one with 15 rounds, the KDS9c is the answer.