Ed Brown or Kimber Custom II

[patentnonsense]

I like .45 and want to upgrade from Llama to something that's very accurate, very reliable, and an all-day shooter. (I'm not very good, but am following a fairly heavy practice schedule.) I've run across a nice Ed Brown at a good price, BUT I can get (for example) a Kimber Custom II for HALF the price.

Any comments on whether the Ed Brown is worth the extra money? I don't mind spending for something high-quality that's going to last, but I don't want to waste money on something that a serious sompetitor needs but I don't.

Thanks,

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've got 4 Kimbers, not because I like the name but because they do the job 100% for me.

Now my carry gun is a Kimber Tactical Ultra ll.
I think it's the best one yet.

I've got a big gun budget and if one of the $2000 45's would do a better job than the Kimber I'de have it.

The wife of a good friend bought him one of the big name $2000 pistols.
I must say it was smooth but it didn't do a thing better than a $900 Kimber.

My friend isn't going to tell his wife he likes the Kimber best.

 

[Sean Smith]

If you can afford it, Ed Brown, by far. I say that as an ex-Kimber owner; those Ed Brown guns are nice.

 

[bountyhunter]

I've run across a nice Ed Brown at a good price, BUT I can get (for example) a Kimber Custom II for HALF the price.

Not sure what price you are wanting to spend, but you might want to look at an STI Trojan. About $900 (new) at dawson's Precision. Basically a hand fitted gun with quality approaching Brown/Wilson but priced about like Kimber.

 

[Dave T]

Since you specified the Kimber was a Series II, I would strongly suggest the Ed Brown if you can afford it.

My $.02 worth.

 

[HSMITH]

I too think that if you can swing the Brown and not crimp your stlye or practice budgets then by all means get it. There simply is no comparison. My shooting buddy has a Kimber Custom Target II and it is SWEET, but it ain't like any Ed Brown I have ever shot and at less than half the cost no one should expect it to be.

Guns are like racing in a way, if you want to go fast it costs money, cubic dollars=speed. The more cubic dollars a project has the faster it can go, but you get to a point where it takes a large infusion of those cubic dollars to get a very small gain in speed. In the beginning a couple hundred bucks might shave a full second off your street car 1/4 mile time, when you get into the 10's a couple thousand more might be needed to get the same gain. The "point of diminishing returns" is individually set, what makes me happy might thrill you or be a total disappointment. Only you can decide what level of 'speed' is right for you. Comparing a full tilt Ed Brown gun to a Kimber is like comparing a VERY nice new Corvette to a purpose built race car. Apples and oranges even though both are VERY fast and VERY nice.

 

[Kestrel]

Get the Ed Brown. Period.

The Kimber has substandard parts, no fitting and a poor firing pin safety.

 

[Stasher1]

I agree 100% with SteveW13.

I wouldn't give $100 for a Series II Kimber.

I've got a Series I Pro CDP and a Series II Stainless Pro Carry and the difference between the two is amazing. The Pro Carry II is a total POS and I'm having to replace all of the small parts with quality aftermarket pieces to make it function properly.
The Series I Pro CDP is absolutely fantastic, though. Looking at the CDP, it's easy to see how they built their reputation. It's a shame they're throwing it away with the Series II pistols.

 

[casual]

ed brown - no question if you can afford it

although watch out for whiplash going from the llama to the ed brown


Stasher1 -

interesting take on the kimbers

is it a decline in quality that you have the biggest problem with or the series II safety, or equal parts both?


casual

 

[Smoke]

Don't get me wrong.....I love my Kimbers...

But comparing an Ed Brown to a Kimber is unethical.

I would gladly trade you two of my Kimbers for an Ed Brown if you don't like it.

Smoke

 

[Stasher1]

Stasher1 -

interesting take on the kimbers

is it a decline in quality that you have the biggest problem with or the series II safety, or equal parts both?

It's the total lack of quality control that I have a problem with. None of the parts are fitted properly, if at all.

I don't have a problem with firing pin safeties, as long as they don't impair the function of the gun. My Combat Elite still had the stock Series 80 firing pin safety and it worked just fine...however, the FPS in my Pro Carry II caused numerous failures to return to battery so I removed it.

 

[MoNsTeR]

Watch out, once you get a real four-figure 1911 it's hard to go back to the cheap stuff. My Briley completely spoiled any taste I ever had for Kimber and Springfield. If the Brown feels good to you and is in good shape, take the plunge.

 

[RWK]

Like many others, I advocate the Ed Brown. Although Kimber 1911A1s are generally excellent, they are simple not Brown's. By the way, for about $1200 you can buy a new Valto, which may be in the same "quality group" as the Brown, while not too much more expensive than the Kimber.

 

[Sean Smith]

By the way, for about $1200 you can buy a new Valto

Not anymore. They are more like $1,500+ now.

 

[cratz2]

Comparing the Kimber to the Brown is very much like comparing a Z28 SS to a Corvette... Comparably fast, looks are subjective but most folks without a bias against one or the other would surely take the vette over the Camaro.

If you can afford the Brown, I'd get the Brown. I'd second the nomination for the STI Trojan as well. Some folks think they ain't as pretty as the Brown, and I'd tend to agree. But that's more like comparing an ugly brown Vette to a shiny silver one but the brown one is only half the cost of the silver. And if you're gonna keep it in the garage (or under your shirt) almost all the time, is it really worth 100% more?

 

[Kruzr]

As the owner of 2 Kimbers, 2 Baers and a Brown, there is no question that a Brown is in a class above the rest in fit, finish and resultant accuracy. I'd pick a Kimber in a production gun over any other high volume maker but a Brown isn't like a Corvette, its more like a Ferrari Enzo (Brown manufactures less than 400 handguns a year.) Everything is hand fitted (only 3 people do the smithing at Brown) and the difference shows.......even over the Baers. If you have a chance to get a Brown at a price you are happy with, jump on it, you won't be sorry. The only bad part is you will probably never own that Kimber.

 

[John Forsyth]

byMoNsTeR..
Watch out, once you get a real four-figure 1911 it's hard to go back to the cheap stuff...

Very true, very true.

 

[patentnonsense]

Thanks much for the input! I'm turning in my Llama as down payment on the Ed Brown today - layaway (deferred gratification) is so much nicer than credit card debt.

Wish me luck!