The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: TexGun on November 22, 2012, 08:30:44 AM
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So my wife and I are at a gun show in Belton Texas this past weekend and I am drooling over an elephant skin holster that my Kimber would look really sweet riding in when i asked the sales guy how tightly the holster holds a full size 1911. Being the prepared sales guy, he pulls out his own 1911, inserts it into the holster and hands it to me. Well, now my attention is on the Ed Brown Kobra Carry (bobtail grip) that's in the holster that I am hoping my wife will be buying me for Christmas. So, as you might expect, our conversation turns to the gun.
Other than what this guy told me and what I have seen on the Ed Brown website, i have not had any experience with this particular brand nor had I ever seen an Ed Brown live and in person until this weekend. My original thought is that when I save my money up and decide to lay down the $$$ for a high end1911, I would look to Wilson Combat. However, the 4.5" Ed Brown Kobra Carry has my attention.
Anyone have any experience/opinions? (other than commentary on the price)
BTW, the holster was purchased, and I am told it being wrapped for Christmas. It is made by Texas Leathercraft out of Porter, TX. ;D
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No first hand experience, but my FFL guy loves them and they feel nice when fondled in the store. Hope you get your wish!
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No first hand experience with Ed Brown. I do have a S&W E series 1911 with a 4.25 barrel that is an excellent carry gun. It has all the extras you would expect on a Wilson at half the price. Worth checking out at least. Good luck and post pics when you get one!
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I don't own an Ed Brown gun, but I have shot several (owned by friends and acquaintances) that were real shooters......and have bought many of his parts to build 1911's and they are solid parts.
He's been in the business a long time, and I would categorize his guns in the upper-middle to lower high-end, if that makes sense.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
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With starting prices between $2550 and $3550 they better be the TOP of the line.
http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/2012-Handgun.pdf
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With starting prices between $2550 and $3550 they better be the TOP of the line.
http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/2012-Handgun.pdf
There's quite a few makers selling 1911's in that price ballpark these days....... the upper-high end stuff like a custom Les Baer (with a 1" @ 50 yds guarantee) can tip the scales at over $5000 clams.
Most of the Baer stuff falls in the range between $1700 and $3500..........
Les Baer Custom 25th Anniversary Model 1911 Pistol = $6995.00.
Bear 1911 Thunder Ranch Special, 45ACP, Special Engraved Model = $6590.00.
Limited Edition Les Baer Presentation Grade 1911 = $6590.00.
Limited Edition Les Baer Presentation Grade 1911 with "To (customer's name) By Les Baer" = $6690.00.
:o :o :o
http://www.lesbaer.com/prices.html
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With starting prices between $2550 and $3550 they better be the TOP of the line.
http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/2012-Handgun.pdf
Yeah, no kidding. I was told they make parts for Kimber, but i cannot verify that. I've got a real itch to assemble a collection of 1911's
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With starting prices between $2550 and $3550 they better be the TOP of the line.
http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/2012-Handgun.pdf
I agree. There is no doubt his guns are top shelf. But when you get well over the $2K mark for a 1911, they damn well should be. Personally, I've been tempted to take the plunge on a high end 1911, but I just could never bring myself to it. I can have 2 really nice Springfield's for the price of just one high end 1911. My Springfield Trophy Match and Range Officer together ran less than a high end Ed Brown, or Wilson Combat.
If I did go the high end route I would most likely go with a Les Baer. He has some really nice guns at or around the $1,600.00 mark. For the way I shoot, and type of shooting I do, that is about as high end as I really need to go. I can't even shoot my Trophy Match as accurately as it is.
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Like any high end pistol you will pay for the name. OTOH My 1911 is mostly Ed Brown parts and They do make quality after market parts. IMO you can have one built or do it yourself with custom after market parts and save a bunch of $. If you want to buy a name there are many out there.
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You always but the name, it does not matter if its a big outfit, or a one man shop. time = money.
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Seems to me that when you look at a 1911 you have to think about the fact that they are pre-polymer era guns. Back in the day cheap steel guns were cheap and needed lots of work to make them run. Revolvers = Reliability was the rule for a reason. Getting a customized gun was the only way to get that same reliability in a semi. For the money you get a beautiful gun that runs like a sports car and feels great.
It is hard to argue with the value of $500 polymer service pistol, but it is not a Ferrari. Pick any polymer gun these days and you can get a very nice reliable gun. there are also some very good base 1911s out there. But in the end, I still like the way my Kimber shoots and feels. Is it worth the extra $, it depends on your "needs". A high end custom 1911 is still on my wish list, just because and an Ed Brown, Wilson, Kimber or Dan Wesson I keep coming back to when I fondle them :)
I would be sad to have it taken away by the PD if I ever had to use it in real life. This leans me back to the practical poly gun side of things.
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I just purchased a springfield TRP for $1k. I am finding that I got one heck of a deal. In store it sells for 1600. This is the most amazing gun I have ever owned. I hit exactly what I want with this gun. The springfield xd always takes corrections. There is something about shooting a poly gun that is soo much different than a steel gun. I don't know what it is. Maybe because of the single stack grip, the way your had fits the grip - I just don't know.
I do know I am much more accurate with my 1911 than with my xd. My groups are much tighter.
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The TRP is a great pistol, no doubt. But if you are purchasing this gun as primarily a paper puncher don't overlook the Springfield Trophy Match. It runs around the $1,300.00 mark, give or take, and is a hell of a pistol. Since I got mine I rarely shoot my Colt Gold Cup anymore. The Trophy Match comes with a lot of the bells and whistles that a lot of .45's costing hundreds more have.
(http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/billt460/SpringfieldHK45s011.jpg)
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A big plus one on the SA 1911's...... don't overlook the "Loaded" models. I bought one of the Loaded Black Stainless guns for less than a grand a few years ago (probably more now) and right out of the box it will shoot very good groups with factory hardball all day long.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=18
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From some of the comments here I feel that the bottom line is the gun makes you a better shooter and its worth any price to reach a more proficient level. I would think any polymer pistol shooters would find this is true. The shooters that have always used 1911s have known this as long as they have been shooting them.
And a low dollar 1911 with a few modifications will shoot with the best upper $ 1911.
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And a low dollar 1911 with a few modifications will shoot with the best upper $ 1911.
I can't agree with that. I have gotten to shoot a few of the race guns at our club and they are amazing. Not something that you might carry but very fun to shoot. Just like lugging a 3# steel 1911 all day is not as comfortable as a light poly gun.
I think the real change in the last few years is the dramaitic increase it the quality of guns in the $500 range. CAD design has made getting a design that is cheap to machine, works well and fits well much easier. CNC machining has brought the production costs and fit and finish up to a degree that custom gunsmithing is not "required" the way it was in the past to get reliability. the extra money gets you a Ferrari, but don't drive it in the snow!
I was looking at the Ruger American rifle the other day and was amazed at the level quality for $400. They did some really neat design things to take advantage of high end production techniques. The bolt starts as a steel rod and they take away enough metal to make the lugs etc. instead of adding material to build up a thinner bolt tube. The action mount to the stock is also a new design that is robust but easy to make. Then they put the savings into giving it a decent trigger. Hard to argue that I have to have a Browning X bolt at 2x the price.
We are living through a high point in gun design.
Next step is a home CNC machine that lets you tweek the ergonomics to suit your measurements. You can already do it in plastic.
Joe