Kimber vs Ed Brown vs Dan Wesson

[kuma]

I posted a while back about wanting a CCW and I was between a USPc and the Kimber CDP II. I have since committed to a 1911, however I have hit a snag on which one I'd like. I am between the Kimber Super Carry Pro HD (new steel version) the Ed Brown Kobra Carry and the Dan Wesson Guardian. I obviously want a bob tail, 8 round capacity and a steel frame.

I know that all of these weapons are good, but what makes one of them that much better than the next? From what I can gather, quality from worst to best goes Kimber, Wesson then Brown. Is this true? And if so, why?

The gun show is coming through my town this weekend and I plan to pick one of these three up. This will be my first 1911. I shot a kimber and did a little research which led me to DW and EB so i wanted a little clarity.

Thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

If it doesn't matter, and you have the money, get the Ed Brown.

 

[kuma]

But saying that is saying it does matter haha. The money isnt the issue, its the why im spending it thing. I just want the best gun and to know why the gun i got was truly the best one.

 

[PcolaDawg]

I carry my little Kimber just about every day. And I love the gun. It's accurate, reliable, looks great, and built solid as a rock. So if that's the worst one on your list, you're going to be more than fine no matter which one you choose.

Make sure you post pictures when you get it, even if you don't get the best one (Kimber).

 

[kuma]

I dont necessarily think that Kimber is the worst, that is just what my little bit of research has led me to believe. I actually started with the intention of getting a kimber until i found these two others which has made it a little difficult. The .45 acp DW Guardian looks like a fine gun...

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Ed Brown will look the best...nicest finish, everything correctly fitted

The Dan Wesson can be fitted just as well, but might not be perfect, the finish will not be a perfect. The Guardian has an alloy frame as opposed to the other two, the Bobtail Commander (CBOB) has the steel frame

The Kimber can look very nice and might work well...this is based more on their past history, I have not handled a new Super Carry model. Also be aware that the Super Carry isn't a bobtail design, they just round off the heel (rear corner) of the butt. The the Pro isn't an accurate Commander length either ...Kimber makes 1" cuts between the length of their models as opposed to the standard Colt .75" cuts..

If it were my choice, I'd get the DW and use the extra money change a couple of things to my preference anyway. If I were happy with everything about how the Brown was outfitted, it is the easier route

 

[rellascout]

If you have the cash and the best gun is the objective then get the Ed Brown Kobra. The DW is a nice gun. I owned a CBOB and it is 90% of the Ed Brown but that extra 10% makes a huge difference in the guns overall feel fit and finish. The CBOB or VBOB these days is a great gun but it is still a production gun. IMHO at this level its all about diminishing returns. Is that elusive extra 10% worth 2X the cost?

For my money the Guardian with the alum alloy frame is not in the same league with the ED Brown. If you want an all steel DW you need to get a CBOB or VBOB.

I would not consider the Kimber even close.

CBOB



VBOB

Ed Brown Kobra Carry

 

[EddieNFL]

Brown, DW.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Kimber

 

[Jed Carter]

I too would get the DW Guardian, save some cash and have a 1911 to still be proud of. I like the fit and finish on the better semi custom pistols, but think a CCW should be a little rough and loose. I prefer a ramped barrel to a ramped frame for use with jacketed hollowpoint ammunition, however I have not put my money where my mouth is. My current CCW is a SIG RCS 1911 with an ramped frame, it works flawlessly but if I chamber a round more than 3 times the bullet is set back too far to use any longer.
Now this just my opinion but both the Kimber and Dan Wesson pistols are over priced, Ed brown is comparable to other semi customs like Wilson and Nighthawk , my pick would be a Talon II with bobtail, if I was inclined to spend $2500 on a daily beater.

 

[orionengnr]

My experience with the DW (and their CS) has been very negative, and I have read a number of threads on the DW portion of the 1911 forum that mirror mine. (In fairness, mine is a 10mm, but I'm not sure that this is relevant.) If I ever get it working correctly, I will probably love it, but that day is in the future.

I have yet to own a Brown, but hope to one day. I do own a Les Baer, and it's a good 1911, but not the best I own.

After having owned about 25 1911s in the last 25 years, the one on my hip as I type this is a Kimber. It is honestly the only 1911 brand that I have never had to send in or deliver to a gunsmith for work.

It may not be the best of the three listed but in my experience it sure isn't the worst.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

My experience with the DW (and their CS) has been very negative, and I have read a number of threads on the DW portion of the 1911 forum that mirror mine.

i've noticed this as well, and experienced it with a friend of mine that had an out of spec bobtail.

the new DW's cost too much to put up with this sort of nonsense.

NHC is in the same boat. their QC and cust serv is atrocious. since ron phillips left go on his own, that company's not been the same.

 

[critter]

I think you would be well served by any of the three on your list. However, the top-of-the-heap would absolutely be the Wilson. Fit, finish, accuracy, reliability, 'feel', etc will all be 'just right'. Not 'maybe', not 'probably', but "WILL".

 

[shepsan]

you get what you paid for

Kuma, the Ed Brown Kobra is superior to the Kimber and Dan Wesson in these four ways:

Its fit and finish are more elegant. Visually, the pistol reeks of quality.

The mechanical movement of its trigger and slide are buttery-smooth. Racking the slide is effortless and the trigger squeeze a pleasure.

It is most reliable. None of my Ed Brown pistols have ever failed to fire.

The Kobra provides a level of accuracy unequaled by either the Kimber or Dan Wesson.

Buying an Ed Brown validates the old saying that you get what you paid for.

 

[rellascout]

I agree that the Ed Brown will be the best looking and best fitting but they will not always be the most accurate.

 

[CDW4ME]

I've never handeled a ED Brown or Dan Wesson, but I typically go for compact aluminum frames; I have Kimber.

Kimber does use MIM for some parts: safety, slide stop, others. They advise a 400-500 round break-in. My Kimber(s) would not feed the last round from the factory supplied magazine so I bought Tripp magazines.

Of those 3 makers, I do believe Brown and Wesson use machined small parts vs some MIM (metal injection molding) in Kimber.

If someone handed me $1,500 and said, "Go buy yourself a pistol with this" I would get a Dan Wesson CCO.

 

[Cards81fan]

If you have the cash and the best gun is the objective then get the Ed Brown Kobra. The DW is a nice gun... I would not consider the Kimber even close.

+1 on this, though we would also agree one other good option is always an $800 new Colt plus some custom smith work. That is what I would do if I were given $1500 and told to go get a 1911.

$500-600 could go a long way, even at say... Wilson:

W233 Tactical Combat Sights
W186S Standard Trigger Job,
WRP Complete Reliability Package, 80 Series
W192L Lower Ejection Port, 80 Series (that may be included in the package above, not sure)
W184 Target Bushing Fit

And splurge to tighten the slide to frame fit if you want, and you'd have a helluva gun for the money.

Though for me, I bought a NIB Colt 70 Series Repro for my first 1911, and it's plenty of gun for me as it came. I would recommend that over a NIB Kimber, which is approximately in the same price range. Of course, the Brown and usually the Wesson are a bit more.

 

[FullEffect1911]

out of the specific three you mentioned I think the Ed brown will serve you best.

I would also say the Dan Wesson if you were looking at a steel frame model. I am just not a fan of aluminum frames and would certainly opt for steel in a .45 auto. Also assuming that Kimber has a firing pin safety is also arguable a strike against it.

The Dan Wesson and Brown will have better quality parts with Ed Brown small parts having the better reputation of the two. I believe Dan Wesson started to manufacture their own small parts but this may or may not be true.

With all that said I am the type of person to just buy a middle tier gun and put what I want in it. I own and am very happy with my Springfield Range Officer as far as quality is concerned, and if the MIM parts break I will replace them with good quality stuff.

As long as a 1911 has a good frame, slide, barrel and all of those parts are in spec I am happy as could be. Everything else can be diagnosed and fixed easily.

 

[Olympus]

If money isn't an option, the Ed Brown is the one I would choose.


Sent by Brown's Custom Grips using Tapatalk!

 

[wtfd661]

The Kimber can look very nice and might work well...this is based more on their past history

Thats quite the OPINION (but I guess the old saying is true), I on the other hand of owned three Kimbers so far and they have ALL been great guns. Kimber has consistently produced and sold more 1911's of the past 10 years then anyone else, seems to me if they didn't work they would'nt or couldn't keep doing that.

Any of the three will make great guns, decide for yourself which one has the features your looking for.

 

[Zerodefect]

I'm going to vote for the DW's.

Everything a good 1911 needs, without going too overboard with fit & fini$h. I got one of the really good ones. Perfect barrel and slide/frame fit. But it had a front sight that was a hair too tall.

I can't speak for all the Valor's/Vbob's, but you couldn't trade a LB or EB for mine.

 

[Shipwreck]

I've owned numerous 1911s over the years. If those are your choices - I say that you should get the brown.

I had a Brown 5" Special Forces up until a couple of months ago. I sold it to consolidate my calibers. I've got a 9mm 1911 that I am keeping, and I changed everything to just 9mm.

But, the Brown was the nicest 45 cal 1911 I have ever owned.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

The fact is true that kimber does sell the most 1911's of the bunch....but if an Ed, Wilson, Nighthawk, or any other custom maker sold them for 1000.00 kimber wouldn't sell a gun. Reason that Kimber sales so many is strictly price point. They do make a great looking gun for the dollar though. They are also extremely reliable. Can't go wrong with any but if money is not a problem, buy the Ed Brown.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

i would take a look at the springfield armory custom shop.

 

[kuma]

After reading all of your posts I have realized two things.

1. I did not know how many 1911 makers there were.

2. I suppose that I should have clarified a bit more. This is going to be my CCW gun and my main focus is accuracy. I do prefer a steel frame to an aluminum one, and anyone with any words in the other direction for a CCW (besides the obv. weight) please weigh in as I have never owned aluminum. Basically, the new black finish of the Kobra Carry is ridiculously appealing, however, if it isnt as accurate then it isnt enough to sway me to that 1911.

Is a steel 1911 vs the aluminum really a hinderance when carrying?

There have also been a few comments about buying low and upgrading by myself, and then at other points I hear that its more expensive to upgrade and just better to go with an already upgraded version like a Brown. Anyone have further clarity on this? I dont prefer one route over the other, I just want the most accurate 1911 possible.

 

[EddieNFL]

I would place reliability before accuracy. Virtually any decent handgun will provide more than adequate accuracy.