I have always wanted a really nice 1911. I was in the store yesterday and they had an Ed Brown Special Forces that struck my fancy. I liked the simplistic look and the feel in my hand was great. They had a Wilson CQB that was more money, but I don't really care for the front slide serrations and the fit in my hand wasn't like the Brown. Any thoughts or suggestions. I would like to keep it around 2,500 or less.

You will get more gun for the price with an STI Lawman 5.0.

http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-lawman-5-0/

Maybe saying more gun is overstating it, but you will get every bit the same gun for less price.

I currently have a Springfield Loaded model and it has been a fine pistol. I have always had this desire to own something a little nicer. I am not planning on this just sitting in the safe, but it won't be a carry gun either. I just want something that looks nice, functions 100% and shoots very accurately. My loaded model has been great as for the function, but I can shoot my Glock just as well.

You won't regret buying the Ed Brown. Excellent pistol that will make you smile every time you pick it up.

As much as I love my STIs. The Ed Browns and Wilson's that I've held are different breed.

And I have that exact lawman model

You are saying the Brown and Wilsons are a step up?

I have an Executive Elite with about 7500 rounds through it. It has been flawless. A friend has an SF with 15,000 flawless rounds. Another friend has an SF with 30,000 flawless rounds. Another friend has a Kobra Carry with 4000 flawless rounds.

You will not regret it. They are the best pistol on the market and probably the best value for cost of the high end guns. They're excellent.

Do it.

Yes jpistolero, they are a step up...

But STIs are amazing. I'm not a huge 1911 guy (I prefer Sigs), so I don't know that I will ever buy a custom gun like the Wilson's or Browns. But If I were dead set on spending $2-$3K on a 1911, I would step it up above the STIs (unless I wanted one of their race guns).

STIs work for me. But they don't cost that kind of coin.

Here's my Special Forces with some Tx4guns grips. I can't say a single negative thing about it. The money comments on this thread fail to mention something important. You may be able to get a nice 1911 cheaper, but, you will not find a gun that will hold its value better than the Ed Brown. This is the standard all 1911s measure themselves against. You can't go wrong

You guys are killing me - 1911 porn - Ed Brown nonetheless - with Tx4guns custom grips to boot. Thread added to watch list. Sensei and Phideaux have given me some great advice over the years. 'Buy an Ed Brown' might be at the top of the list. I'm working on it, just can't decide on model, finish, and slide length. Will use it for CC so thinking hard about going w the 4 in barrel.

Boogs - What's the allure of the 4.25"?

I didn't have the cash for the Ed Brown so I went with a Les Baer Concept pistol. Found it on Gunbroker New for $1750. I have owned a few pistols in my life but that one is a tackdriver as long as I do my part.

I believe you can find the Premier II model for $2300-$2500.

Goodluck

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Boogs - What's the allure of the 4.25"?

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Man, I go back and forth on this one all the time.

In the pros column, that .75" is probably worth about 5 oz of weight, which sounds like nothing until you carry it around all day. Slightly easier to conceal.

Negatively, you're going to have shorter sight radius and slightly more recoil.

I've always preferred the 5" guns and don't find them difficult to conceal....and my solution to the weight problem was to carry something about ~14 oz lighter than a loaded 5" 1911 instead.

I'd still like to try out a 4.25" bobtailed 1911 for a while just to see what I think of it.

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I'd still like to try out a 4.25" bobtailed 1911 for a while just to see what I think of it.

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That's why I have this:

Thanks for the great info. I am going to go ahead and get the Brown. I will make sure to post pictures and thoughts.

Phideaux - exactly what Bender said about the pros and cons. First pistol I learned to shoot was my grandfathers 1911 from the war. Lifetime fascination started there. But first 1911 I purchased and put a ton of rounds through was a 4 in Kimber Compact Stsinless II and for me the weight and concealment factor are important. Plus when I CC I sit in my truck a bunch and the shorter barrel makes it a lot more comfortable for me when I'm sitting.

OP - keep us posted. Can't wait to see photos.

I favor a bobbed commander over the government model. Carries much better for me and gives me a good balance at the range. I own several 5" 1911s but always reach for my commanders.

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I'd still like to try out a 4.25" bobtailed 1911 for a while just to see what I think of it.

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That's why I have this:

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I really hated how they looked at first, but those guns are growing on me....

Boogs - I did the same thing. My first 1911 was a Kimber Tactical Pro. Great gun, alloy frame, bull barrel. Never had a problem with it. Then I bought my full sized Ed Brown. There is no comparison. I sold the Kimber.

The extra 3/4" isn't hard to hide seeing as how the barrel length isn't the dimension that is hard to hide. It's usually the grip size that is hard to hide. A bobbed grip is rounded so there isn't a point, but it's still the same length as a normal grip.

If you ask me, the commander is a great size pistol but it just doesn't offer anything for me that the full sized gun doesn't do better. The full sized gun handles recoil better, it has a better sight radius and it is generally more reliable (although I wouldn't expect the Ed Brown Commander to be anything but reliable.)

It conceals basically exactly the same as a commander too. Just get a good belt and holster and you should be good to go.

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I didn't have the cash for the Ed Brown so I went with a Les Baer Concept pistol. Found it on Gunbroker New for $1750. I have owned a few pistols in my life but that one is a tackdriver as long as I do my part.

I believe you can find the Premier II model for $2300-$2500.

Goodluck

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Also not a bad solution. LB makes a great pistol too.

This is what I like about Texags Outdoors Board. I have almost zero interest in pistols and I thought Ed Brown was an old country western singer.

But I can click on here and see cool pictures with comments from real folks not trying to sell the product, and maybe even get interested in it. (I do own one pistol.)

A76.....and an Ed Brown rifle is my go to......

If you are willing to wait the 6 months or so, Triangle shooting sports/Benny Hill will build a custom 1911 for about that price.

Ed Browns are good guns though -LBs and STIs are both good values.

I've had a Wilson, didn't mind letting it go. Wilson and nighthawk both have huge markups built into them. You can easily buy a custom for those prices and get much more gun.

(Wilsons get to be, nearly, as much as an SVI.