Ed Brown

[Clarence]

I have no experience with the Dan Wesson 1911's so can offer no opinion on them one way or another. However I've owned several other brands of 1911's for comparison. If you understand how a 1911 should properly function as far as timing, lock-up and so on, you can take apart my Ed Brown and see that it locks up perfectly on the bottom & top lugs of the barrel, the timing is correct, there is no springing in the barrel/bushing fit, and the back lug makes full contact with the frame.

There is no doubt that a 1911 will function with one or more of these issue out of spec, however it will eventually result in problems if you run enough rounds through it. I've seen the problems that result from these items being out of whack. If you're only going to shoot 1000 rds a year out of a gun they may not show up as a problem for a number of years, but if you want to shoot a gun a lot, they need to be right.

Without a doubt an Ed Brown isn't for everyone. But if you want a gun that is manufactured correctly with the best materials and parts possible you can't beat an Ed Brown............IMO

If you don't demand the best quality and expect the best performance out of your equipment then you probably won't appreciate the difference between and Ed Brown and a Dan Wesson.

My advice - get the one YOU want.

 

[jackpinesavages]

Fact: doing more research is always time well spent.

What do you want to do with it? Match shooting, plinking, collector?

 

[Benzene]

All of the above

jackpinesavages, thanks for the question. But I have never thought of buying a gun for any one purpose only.

 

[Benzene]

60-90-day wait.

I've read elsewhere that people have a 60-90-day wait to receive an Ed Brown. I wonder why this happens, especially when purchases could be made on some web sites. Thanks for clarification.

 

[Clarence]

The wait time is typically because a lot of people who want to buy an Ed Brown custom order their gun with some features that are "optional".

The Ed Brown website currently lists over 30 guns currently "in stock" in a variety of models and combinations. If you wanted to buy one of those you could probably have it delivered to your dealer by early next week, if not this week.

 

[speeddeacon]

I own two 1911s. My first is an Ed Brown Executive Carry. My second is a Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm. Both are two-tone blue over stainless and are beautiful to look at and are cosmetically very, very similar. They are both very tight and are ergonomically perfect for concealed carry for me.
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My Ed Brown has functioned flawlessly with every kind of ammo from re-manufactured ammo to hot Double Tap loads. I've used 7 and 8 round mags from Brown and Checkmate without any failures of any kind. It is simply a flawless performer which oozes quality in every detail.

My Dan Wesson CBOB is simply not in the same league as the Brown, but then it only cost half as much. The frame shows inferior machining detail which doesn't really bother me all that much but it is noticeable. The black coating on the Wesson is far, far inferior to the Gen. III coating of the Brown and nicks and scratches very easily. That is the only area that I'm really disappointed with, fit and finish wise.

Functionally, the Wesson needs a lot of break in to get it to run reliably. It may be unique to the 10mm platform I don't know, but it has taken 500 rounds to get it to the point that I will consider it for daily carry. I had a real problem with failure to return to battery constantly during the break-in. You can do a search on this or the 1911 forums to read all about the break in procedures for the Wesson which I didn't do prior to taking it out to the range the first time. Whether it is because of the extraordinarily tight tolerances or simply needs a bit of tuning out of the box the fact is neither were necessary on the Brown. I've used 9 round mags from Checkmate, Metalform, Dan Wesson and Tripp research and they all function the same. So if you add the cost of 500 rounds of ammo to the purchase price, you will narrow the price gap between the two a bit. Now that it is broken in, I really enjoy the CBOB and it is a pleasure to shoot.

Bottom line, I am a huge fan of the 10mm round for personal defense. The Dan Wesson is the only 10mm commander sized bobtail 1911 I knew of that was available in a 1911 platform at the time I bought it. But, if I could get an Ed Brown Commander Bobtail in 10mm I would sell my Wesson and get one in a heartbeat.

 

[inutero1212]

You can MIM part question all day long. I doubt you are going to run the gun to the point it is going to make a difference. Fact of the matter is both guns are probably going to meet your needs. I know myself that I have issue using a working gun that cost what you are looking at. Not that it shouldn't be done, but I always end thinking about how much it costs before i beat it up. This is why I carry a old sig 228 that is 100% reliable, cost 500 bucks and I don't care what happens to it. If you want to be talked out of it, from my frame of reference, do you really want to be kicking the piss out of a 2000+ dollar gun? and does it really take or 2k to defend yourself? Or do you just want all the bells and whistles? While I admit all the guns talked about here are nice what are they possibly going to do that you aren't getting done now?

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have a CBOB its a great pistol. I look at Ed Brown , and say That's a great pistol. But is it really worth all that more money than my CBOB. My CBOB is more accurate than my Colts and the Brown might be even more accurate. But how much more accuracy do I need. The cast frame on the Dan Wesson has never bothered me. Lots of cast frames 1911's out their . I decided I would for time being. Just change trigger, hammer, sear, disconector, extractor . add a ambi safety . Buy all Ed Brown parts and carry the DW till I win a 150 million power ball . I doubt in my life I will ever wear out the Dan Wesson.

 

[rc109a]

I have been debating this point for some time. I am placing an order with Ed Brown next week for two guns. My biggest reason? They are providing me with services that oters would not. They do not have as long a wait time as others for similar services (12-14 months with SA and 14-18 months with Kimber, 2 months with EB). So the custom work is a big factor in ordering from the higher end companies. I could have gotten a lot of 1911's for cheaper, but not the way that I wanted them.

 

[CoRoMo]

Where does Volkmann Custom fit in?

 

[cmgred]

I shot a guys EB at the range, nice pistol. Right up there with my Wilson. I'd buy one any day (that I had 2K+ to spend).