Does anyone carry Ed Brown .45's? I am looking at one of the Special Forces bobtail versions. Opinions please.
Thanks,
Randy
Thanks,
Randy
Suppressors Ed Brown .45
- Thread starter randyp
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Re: Ed Brown .45
They are nice pistols. Instead of checkering on the grip, they use dished out scallops. You might want to hold one side by side with a Wilson and a Les Baer. Also, the bobtail is nice for carrying, but when I borrowed one to try, I found it harder to control when firing than the straight grip.
fwiw - Based on the scallops vs. checkering, I went with Wilson, but ended up trading it a year later for a Baer SRP. I am extremely happy with the SRP.
They are nice pistols. Instead of checkering on the grip, they use dished out scallops. You might want to hold one side by side with a Wilson and a Les Baer. Also, the bobtail is nice for carrying, but when I borrowed one to try, I found it harder to control when firing than the straight grip.
fwiw - Based on the scallops vs. checkering, I went with Wilson, but ended up trading it a year later for a Baer SRP. I am extremely happy with the SRP.
Re: Ed Brown .45
opinions?
Well other than the fact it says "special forces" on the side it's a sweet ass pistol. of course you can get it without that.
opinions?
Well other than the fact it says "special forces" on the side it's a sweet ass pistol. of course you can get it without that.
Re: Ed Brown .45
Over rated.
I had one and sold it about as fast as I received it.
The 'snakeskin' checkering is a cheaper machine version of handcheckering.
Brown fanboys want to say they have better fit and finish - OK. Mine had a nasty burr on the frame at the grip safety.
When I bought mine (and they may still be doing the same) the used the 'slip fit' sight system - they cut the dove tails wide and you moved the sights by hand and then Loctited them in. My Brown carry gun had the sights shoot loose twice b/c of this stupid idea and I immediately sold it.
Aside from that - it went bang. Nothing special.
Good luck
Over rated.
I had one and sold it about as fast as I received it.
The 'snakeskin' checkering is a cheaper machine version of handcheckering.
Brown fanboys want to say they have better fit and finish - OK. Mine had a nasty burr on the frame at the grip safety.
When I bought mine (and they may still be doing the same) the used the 'slip fit' sight system - they cut the dove tails wide and you moved the sights by hand and then Loctited them in. My Brown carry gun had the sights shoot loose twice b/c of this stupid idea and I immediately sold it.
Aside from that - it went bang. Nothing special.
Good luck
Re: Ed Brown .45
Call me a fanboy I guess. LOL. I carry a Brown SF almost daily and have since November of 2007. The day after I bought the gun I attended a pistol class with it specifically to see if it would survive the two day class without failures and the gun performed beautifully. The only problem encountered was feed lips spreading out on Wilson 10-round magazines. The couple mags with problems were to blame; so no pistol issues.
Total round count through my SF during that class was about 1300. My friend used his SF in the same class. His had 1800 rounds through the gun prior to the class and he also had no problems during the class.
The SF finish is a melonite-type metal impregnated finish that is very durable. I've carried this pistol hiking and in other environments where it got very sweaty and it never showed signs of rust.
The chain link won't hang up on concealment garments like some aggressive checkering can do. Yet the chain link is a wonderful gripping surface for your hand. In that class I attended we did some work around some of the "range vehicles" that are used as targets for machine gun shoots. We were running drills around the shot up vehicles. At one point I grabbed the surface of a car door and cut the palm of my shooting hand pretty badly. The bleeding stopped after a few minutes but I did run the gun with a sticky, bloody hand for at least 30 minutes. The gun stayed put in my hand easily thanks in part to the chain link. The finish was never discolored from the blood.
Say what you will about the gun's name, it performs very well and that is all I care about.
Regarding the sights, again I bought mine in late 2007 and never had issues with the sights nor did I ever see sights on other EB SF pistols come loose or even installed loose. Not saying it can't happen but that certainly was not my experience.
So, yeah, I am a fanboy.
Call me a fanboy I guess. LOL. I carry a Brown SF almost daily and have since November of 2007. The day after I bought the gun I attended a pistol class with it specifically to see if it would survive the two day class without failures and the gun performed beautifully. The only problem encountered was feed lips spreading out on Wilson 10-round magazines. The couple mags with problems were to blame; so no pistol issues.
Total round count through my SF during that class was about 1300. My friend used his SF in the same class. His had 1800 rounds through the gun prior to the class and he also had no problems during the class.
The SF finish is a melonite-type metal impregnated finish that is very durable. I've carried this pistol hiking and in other environments where it got very sweaty and it never showed signs of rust.
The chain link won't hang up on concealment garments like some aggressive checkering can do. Yet the chain link is a wonderful gripping surface for your hand. In that class I attended we did some work around some of the "range vehicles" that are used as targets for machine gun shoots. We were running drills around the shot up vehicles. At one point I grabbed the surface of a car door and cut the palm of my shooting hand pretty badly. The bleeding stopped after a few minutes but I did run the gun with a sticky, bloody hand for at least 30 minutes. The gun stayed put in my hand easily thanks in part to the chain link. The finish was never discolored from the blood.
Say what you will about the gun's name, it performs very well and that is all I care about.
Regarding the sights, again I bought mine in late 2007 and never had issues with the sights nor did I ever see sights on other EB SF pistols come loose or even installed loose. Not saying it can't happen but that certainly was not my experience.
So, yeah, I am a fanboy.
Re: Ed Brown .45
See Luke Volkmann if you want a Ed Brown Bobtail on a custom package. Luke worked for Ed Brown and then struck out on his own and makes a fantastical 1911.
http://www.volkmanncustom.com/
His Combatant Carey is super accurate, I have one that he NP3 coated.
I had an review up but have since changed the site around so it's not up anymore but I beat the snot out of his 4.25" Bob and it ran flawlessly for me.
See Luke Volkmann if you want a Ed Brown Bobtail on a custom package. Luke worked for Ed Brown and then struck out on his own and makes a fantastical 1911.
http://www.volkmanncustom.com/
His Combatant Carey is super accurate, I have one that he NP3 coated.
I had an review up but have since changed the site around so it's not up anymore but I beat the snot out of his 4.25" Bob and it ran flawlessly for me.
Re: Ed Brown .45
Me and my dad carry Ed Brown bobtails and they are remarkable.
Now to be fair about it both of ours are early models when he was using Les Bear frams and not even marking the slides (yes both are real with paperwork).
Hes kind of an asshat to deal with for follow on support and generally my opinion is hes not much of a people person at all. The tritium on the front sight finally crapped out and it was impossible to get him to fix it.
Mine is a plain jane version while my dads is the executive level and has bluing and a mirror finish that is without equal IMO. Think his shop like many others built their reputations as true custom smiths and now have rampped up to a semi custom or one off custom level and as with others the quality just isnt where it use to be. Another case of ridding on a once well deserved reputaion.
Seen a few of the newer models and agree not the best for the money but if a guy can find an older one I say snag it.
LL, I didnt know that Volkman used to work for Ed Brown, thats good to know info right there.
Me and my dad carry Ed Brown bobtails and they are remarkable.
Now to be fair about it both of ours are early models when he was using Les Bear frams and not even marking the slides (yes both are real with paperwork).
Hes kind of an asshat to deal with for follow on support and generally my opinion is hes not much of a people person at all. The tritium on the front sight finally crapped out and it was impossible to get him to fix it.
Mine is a plain jane version while my dads is the executive level and has bluing and a mirror finish that is without equal IMO. Think his shop like many others built their reputations as true custom smiths and now have rampped up to a semi custom or one off custom level and as with others the quality just isnt where it use to be. Another case of ridding on a once well deserved reputaion.
Seen a few of the newer models and agree not the best for the money but if a guy can find an older one I say snag it.
LL, I didnt know that Volkman used to work for Ed Brown, thats good to know info right there.
Re: Ed Brown .45
It's a great choice.
I've owned 1911's from just about all the semi-custom shops - Brown, Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk. I've also owned a full-house custom from CT Brian - now that's in a whole different league!! And at twice the price it better be!
I'd place Brown at the top of the semi-custom list. With Nighthawk in second place.
My current favorite is the Kobra Carry. Basically the same as the Special Forces, but with different checkering. I've had no issues with accuracy or reliability.
It's a great choice.
I've owned 1911's from just about all the semi-custom shops - Brown, Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk. I've also owned a full-house custom from CT Brian - now that's in a whole different league!! And at twice the price it better be!
I'd place Brown at the top of the semi-custom list. With Nighthawk in second place.
My current favorite is the Kobra Carry. Basically the same as the Special Forces, but with different checkering. I've had no issues with accuracy or reliability.
Re: Ed Brown .45
Luke is a great guy to work with, and he worked for Ed Brown for 5 years, he knows his trade very well, and makes a great 1911.
His Combatant Carry is my favorite.
Here as it as it looked originally
Now it looks like this:
It's some serious silk now...
My full size is:
Luke is a great guy to work with, and he worked for Ed Brown for 5 years, he knows his trade very well, and makes a great 1911.
His Combatant Carry is my favorite.
Here as it as it looked originally
Now it looks like this:
It's some serious silk now...
My full size is:
Re: Ed Brown .45
So was it first a SS frame and slide coated or is it carbon later coated with a silver finish? Either way both very nice.
Only complaint I have about bobtails is the lack of available aftermarket grip panels.
So was it first a SS frame and slide coated or is it carbon later coated with a silver finish? Either way both very nice.
Only complaint I have about bobtails is the lack of available aftermarket grip panels.
Re: Ed Brown .45
Thanks for replies. The Volkman pistols are definitely the work of a craftsman.
Randy P.
Thanks for replies. The Volkman pistols are definitely the work of a craftsman.
Randy P.
Re: Ed Brown .45
I am into 1911's and have some nice ones......I still covet an Ed Brown Special Forces with a bobtail. Gonna get one one day.
I am into 1911's and have some nice ones......I still covet an Ed Brown Special Forces with a bobtail. Gonna get one one day.
Re: Ed Brown .45
OK I'll play too
Also shown is the spare optional 400 CORBON barrel and bushing. I have yet to use it.
I always feel ashamed to post a pic in a thread LL has posted one in, makes me want to take a class in photography.
OK I'll play too
Also shown is the spare optional 400 CORBON barrel and bushing. I have yet to use it.
I always feel ashamed to post a pic in a thread LL has posted one in, makes me want to take a class in photography.
Re: Ed Brown .45
The Ed Brown SF is one of the finest finished production 1911s out there. Thanks to the good people of CA, I'm not allowed to carry mine but if I could, I would.
The only thing that sucks about this pistol is the ghey name.
The Ed Brown SF is one of the finest finished production 1911s out there. Thanks to the good people of CA, I'm not allowed to carry mine but if I could, I would.
The only thing that sucks about this pistol is the ghey name.
Re: Ed Brown .45
I have several friends who carry and shoot quite often Ed Brown 1911's and they all praise his work
I have several friends who carry and shoot quite often Ed Brown 1911's and they all praise his work
Re: Ed Brown .45
An opportunity to buy an EB SF government a couple years ago for a price I could not pass up landed one in my safe. After shooting it in a couple pistol courses, I liked it so much I sold my Yost 1* Colt because it did not shoot as well for me (originally bought the EB as the backup to the 1*, started the first day of a class with the EB to get some more rounds through it and ended up not wanting to go back). Would have obviously preferred the plain slide, but I do not even notice it anymore. I like mine, while it is not a full blown custom I paid less than half of what those cost. Fits my personal requirements for a Gov 1911.
An opportunity to buy an EB SF government a couple years ago for a price I could not pass up landed one in my safe. After shooting it in a couple pistol courses, I liked it so much I sold my Yost 1* Colt because it did not shoot as well for me (originally bought the EB as the backup to the 1*, started the first day of a class with the EB to get some more rounds through it and ended up not wanting to go back). Would have obviously preferred the plain slide, but I do not even notice it anymore. I like mine, while it is not a full blown custom I paid less than half of what those cost. Fits my personal requirements for a Gov 1911.
