{"id":75316,"date":"2017-06-21T13:22:56","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T17:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=75316"},"modified":"2017-06-21T13:22:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T01:39:43","slug":"gunfighters-dream-ed-brown-special-forces-45-acp-full-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/gunfighters-dream-ed-brown-special-forces-45-acp-full-review\/","title":{"rendered":"A Gunfighter\u2019s Dream: The Ed Brown Special Forces .45 ACP \u2013 Full Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>

Ed Brown 1911s are renowned for their high quality and tight tolerances. The Special Forces model was no exception.<\/p><\/div>\n

The story of Ed Brown Products is the American dream! For over 50 years, Ed Brown has been a leader in the 1911 market in both premium components as well as superbly built pistols. Running a one-man show, Ed opened Brown\u2019s Gun Shop in 1968 as a part time gunsmith, full-time tool and die maker; and later he became a CNC programmer and CAD\/CAM designer. These skills would become critical in the future. In 1980, Ed entered the competition arena and began shooting in IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) and the Bianchi Cup. At one time, he was ranked in the top 16 combat shooters worldwide.<\/p>\n

Gunsmithing part time and competing allowed Ed to see what was needed to build a high-quality 1911 that was reliable and accurate. Firsthand, he witnessed what inferior and poorly designed parts failed.\u00a0 As an engineer, he knew he could do better. Ed quit his tool and die job in 1988 and opened up his own machine shop. He began designing and manufacturing his world-famous beavertail grip safety, magazine well and hammer. He hit it big when Brownells started selling his parts. Ed was now managing a growing parts business along with a successful gunsmithing business. In 1991, Ed was selected by the American Pistolsmiths Guild as their Pistolsmith of the Year. Shortly thereafter, Ed closed the gunsmithing portion of the business to solely concentrate on parts and accessories.<\/p>\n

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Ed Brown Products has grown exponentially from Brown’s Gun Shop in the 1968 to its modern-day facility located in Perry, Missouri.<\/p><\/div>\n

By 1998, the business had continued to grow and Ed\u2019s sons, Travis and Wade, joined the team. With their assistance, Ed Brown set out to expand manufacturing with a goal of producing an Ed Brown 1911. Not content with existing blueprints, the company utilized their extensive engineering experience to improve on parts with an emphasis on tolerances, materials and design. By 2001, the company produced its own complete 1911.<\/p>\n

According to their website, \u201cBrown\u2019s parts are engineered for performance.\u201d The company has over $15 million invested in their CNC capability to ensure vertical integration, eliminating the need for outside vendors for critical components. Frames and slides are machined from forgings on multiple 5-axis CNC machines. Hammers, sears, disconnects and other internal parts are CNC machined from bar stock. The company even has a Swiss screw machine to make their screws in house. However, a bin of parts is just that without the skill to fit and assemble the parts into a pistol. The only parts not produced in house are the springs and magazines. Every pistol is assembled by a master craftsman to ensure that each one meets Ed\u2019s high standards. Ed Brown retired from the business in 2010 at age 65 and left the business operations in the hands of his sons. Today, Ed Brown Products is located in a 20,000 square foot production facility in Perry, Missouri.<\/p>\n

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The author found the Special Forces model to be accurate out to 25 yards.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ed Brown\u2019s Ergonomics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I have been writing for over 35 years and until this project I\u2019ve never owned or shot an Ed Brown 1911. When I contacted Ed Brown Products, I requested the Ed Brown Special Forces model<\/a>, which has been the anchor of their pistols lineup for many years. If their base duty\/personal-defense handgun was up to par, the other models would be also. I was not disappointed. Every Ed Brown pistol ships in a pistol case that is embroidered with the company\u2019s name. Included with the pistol is a detailed instruction manual, a bushing wrench and a bottle of Ed Brown lubricant.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

The test 1911’s frontstrap checkering is Ed Brown’s Chainlink III.<\/p><\/div>\n

SPECS<\/h2>\n