|
|
||||||
| Our Story | Handguns | 1911 Parts | FAQ | Subscribe | Contact Us | ||||||
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General questions Specific questions Why should I buy Ed Brown? How do your firearms compare to the competition? Having been in the gun business for over 40 years, and having been a major manufacturer for over 20 years, Ed Brown Products is one of the very few who actually are, what we say we are. We have our own 17,500+ square foot manufacturing facility right here in Perry Missouri containing 25 of the latest, most sophisticated CNC's. These machines are supported by the latest design and machining software including SolidWorks, MasterCam and GibbsCam. The Brown family oversees the all machining and assembly operations, and performs the final testing on every single firearm we make. Competitors find it convenient to imitate us in their marketing, but they cannot match our facility or track record. Ed Brown started the business as a gunsmith, and became world famous as such, being named "Pistolsmith of the Year" in 1991 by his peers. In 1998 his two sons Travis and Wade joined the business and the company has evolved into cutting-edge firearm engineering, innovation, and manufacturing. When a part needs fitting or adjustment, the gunsmith's only possible solution is to file it, bend it, weld it, pound on it, tweak it, and tinker with it until it works. The engineering way is to redesign and remanufacture the part correctly, so a skilled craftsman can fit it properly the first time. The end result is a much nicer product than any gunsmith could ever produce, and at a lower cost and delivery. Our gunsmith competitors cannot compete with us on quality, delivery, cost, or performance. Why buy a gun assembled from a mixed bag of outsourced components by gunsmiths of varying ability and consistency, when you can buy a fully engineered and perfected, consistent product from a single source? Ed Brown guns perform better, last longer, have faster delivery, are backed by a written warranty, can be customized, and cost much less. When you invest in an Ed Brown firearm, you get a fully engineered product that simply cannot be beat. Those in the industry know and choose Ed Brown as their first choice. The top firearms dealers in the country stock and recommend Ed Brown. Cabela's chose us as their first high end 1911 for their famous gun library. Jeff Cooper's family chose Ed Brown to manufacture the Jeff Cooper pistol to commemorate his legacy. The majority of reputable gunsmiths have used Ed Brown parts for many years. Many manufacturers both large and small outsource their production to Ed Brown. We supply much of the production you see on other 1911 handguns. Why not go straight to the source for your next firearm? Our Company History and Manufacturing Philosophy will help you learn more about us and how we manufacture firearms. To see and handle our firearms, visit any of our Authorized Dealers, contact us to find one near you. We have also created a video tour of our facility online, where you can sneak a peak at forgings and bar stock steel being machined into some of the world's finest firearms. But enough about us, what about our customers? Our customers are serious about performance and appreciate the highest quality money can buy. They favor the traditional concepts that have been proven to work over a long period of time. Many of our repeat customers say we make the finest firearms available, anywhere, from anyone, at any price. Don't just take our word for it, see for yourself when you examine our work, and listen to what the industry experts and our customers have to say. Firearm Sales To ship to an FFL in your area, we must have on file a current copy of their signed FFL. If you would like to purchase a firearm and you do not have a FFL, check with your local gun shops, sporting goods stores, or pawn shops for a licensed dealer who can accept shipment for you and handle the legal transfer. FFL dealers generally charge a small paperwork fee, and shipping regulations dictated by common carriers require next day air service for shipment of handguns. All Federal and State regulations apply to all firearm sales. Retail Parts Sales Dealer and Distributor Sales International Sales Business Hours Warranty & Disclaimer The following sections explain in detail how to proceed should you need to return an item for any form of exchange, refund, or repair: Return Merchandise Authorization Number (RMA#) Ed Brown Products, Inc. Order Mistake or Defective Item purchased from Ed Brown Products, Inc. (excluding firearms
and CD-ROMs) Order Mistake or Defective Item NOT purchased from Ed Brown Products, Inc. (excluding
firearms and CD-ROMs) CD-ROM's Firearms Feedback Do you have a written warranty on your products? Yes, we have a lifetime warranty. If you ever need service on your Ed Brown firearm, we are here for you. It doesn't matter what the reason is, how old it is, or whether you are the original owner. We never look for reasons to turn away service calls...if you've got an Ed Brown firearm and you have a problem, we are here to help you. In addition to the excellent service we offer, effective April 10, 2007, all Ed Brown firearms include a legal written limited lifetime warranty as well. We are the only high end 1911 manufacturer to our knowledge who offers a legal written lifetime warranty on firearms, which demonstrates the confidence we have in our product. Anyone can claim their service is the best (and most do), but to go a step further and put it in writing in a legal warranty is something that Ed Brown Products, Inc. does, and the others avoid. All Ed Brown parts continue to be sold as is and without any legal written warranty. No liability is expressed or implied for incidental or consequential damage or injury which may result from the improper use or installation of any parts sold or produced by Ed Brown Products, Inc.. Our parts are intended to be installed by a qualified gunsmith, and parts and firearms sold by us are only intended for factory specification standard velocity ammunition. Any verbal representations made by us related to installation, should be confirmed with your gunsmith to assure safe operation in your particular firearm. At Ed Brown Products, Inc., we hold the privacy and the security of our customers in the highest regard. To earn your trust, we respect your privacy in handling personally identifiable information relating to you and your transactions with us. We have taken numerous precautions to guard your security while making purchases with Ed Brown Products, Inc.. What personally identifiable information does Ed Brown Products request,
and what do you do with it? If you have requested a catalog or placed an order, your name may also be place on our master mailing list. This master mailing list is used by Ed Brown Products, Inc. for sending out our new catalog at the beginning of each calendar year. If you would prefer not to be on mailing list for any reason, simply request that you be removed from our mailing list. If you have subscribed to our email newsletter, we will use your email address only for sending the newsletter. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions included at the bottom of each newsletter email. We do not sell your email address, or share your email address with anyone else. Is ordering online secure? Once you have completed your order online, our security procedures do not end. We take extra precautions to protect the security and privacy of the information stored on our computers. The systems which store your credit card information for processing are not connected to the internet, reducing the likelihood of security breaches. Our systems are also housed in secure facilities, and access by our employees is limited to a "need to know" basis, and controlled by a password protected system. If you are still unsure of giving you personal information over the internet,
please feel free to contact us by phone, fax, or mail at: Other privacy information We may share personally identifiable information with law enforcement or other entities as required by law or as we reasonably determine to be necessary to protect our rights or the rights of others, to prevent harm to persons or property, to fight fraud, or to enforce our web site terms of use. Personally identifiable information may be transferred as an asset in connection with a merger or sale (including any transfers made as part of an insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding) involving all or part of our businesses. In accordance with federal law, we do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under age 13 without the verifiable permission of a parent or guardian. If you are under age 13, you are welcome to browse our web site. However you are not permitted to use any of the features of our site that require the collection of any personally identifiable information. If we determine that we have erroneously collected a child's information, we will immediately undertake to delete that data from our records. This privacy statement was posted on February 14, 2007. We reserve the right to change our data practices from time to time. The current Privacy Statement will always be posted online. If we revise our Privacy Statement, you may decline to permit us to use your personally identifiable information under the new policy by notifying us as described above. What types of payment do you accept? For firearms, we accept personal checks, cashier checks or a money order. Certified funds ensure the fastest delivery. Personal checks are held for a minimum of 10 days for clearance. Credit cards are not accepted for the purchase of firearms. For parts sales, we accept Mastercard, Visa, and Discover credit cards, in addition to the above forms of payment. Return to TopWhat is the delivery time on your firearms? Do you sell direct? Please contact us for current delivery estimates. We do sell direct and can arrange for pick up, or shipment to any FFL of your choice. We also sell through a nationwide network of authorized dealers. Do you accept trades, or sell any used Ed Brown firearms? What about "seconds"? As we are a manufacturing facility and not a retail store, we do not accept trades and have no inventory of used Ed Brown firearms. Please try our Authorized Dealer network if you'd like to trade or are looking for a pre-owned Ed Brown. Our commitment to excellence and quality prohibits us from releasing any manufacturing "seconds" to our customers. Do you offer any type of gunsmithing work? No, we do not. However we do offer an installation service for Ed Brown parts. Download the installation service order form (adobe pdf format) for details. Do you offer any special finishes or coatings on your firearms? Yes, we offer Gen III firearm coating. While this coating represents the third and latest evolution in coating technology, and offers superior rust protection and improved wear resistance over traditional bluing, we continue to advise that there is no coating currently available anywhere which never wears and keeps your gun looking like new forever. Gen III coating is now standard on many of our handguns, and optional on other models. We are also now offering Gen III coating on any previously purchased Ed Brown handgun. Download the installation service order form (adobe pdf format) for details. Will you be exhibiting your products at any trade shows? We will be at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, January 17-20, booth #15858, displaying our products. How can I get a copy of the owner's manual for my Ed Brown firearm? The owner's manual for Ed Brown firearms is in Adobe PDF format, and available free of charge. Download Handgun Owner's Manual. Do you have a newsletter or mailing list I can subscribe to? To stay up to date with new products and promotions, sign up for our email newsletter, sent periodically throughout the year. How may I get information about a previously built Ed Brown firearm I own, or plan to own? We offer a historical search via serial number, and provide a factory letter of authenticity. Many customers are curious about this information, and find that it adds to the value of the firearm upon resale. The letter of authenticity includes... 1. Official letter on Ed Brown Products, Inc. letterhead, proving the authenticity
of the serial number. Information required: Name, address, and phone number of the person requesting the letter of authenticity, and the complete serial number of the firearm. Cost is $25. Please contact our sales staff via telephone or email with the above information to purchase a letter of authenticity. How do I perform basic disassembly, reassembly, and maintenance of my Ed Brown 1911? Please view our video demonstration on basic disassembly, reassembly, and maintenance of your Ed Brown 1911 below...
What type of accuracy are your handguns capable of at 50 yards? Which models are most accurate? Does a 1911 barrel/slide/frame fit have to be super tight to get the most accuracy possible? Ed Brown guns are capable of producing the accuracy the highest quality ammunition is capable of. With a 45 ACP, this is about 1 1/2" at 50 yards. A common misconception is that a gun has to be extremely tight to be accurate. What is required to reach the accuracy potential is consistent lock up of the critical components. Any tighter than zero movement is useless, and can only reduce reliability and detract from handling. It doesn't have to be tight, it just has to be right. There are no significant functional or quality differences in our handguns - each represents the best engineering, manufacturing, and craftsmanship we have to offer. They are divided into different models mainly because of cosmetic finishing differences and different features. Under extremely precise testing, the 5" models are slightly more accurate than the 4.25" models, however it is very difficult to notice any practical (handheld) difference. How reliable are your handguns? Which models are the most reliable? There are no significant functional or quality differences in our handguns - each represents the best engineering, manufacturing, and craftsmanship we have to offer. They are divided into different models mainly because of cosmetic finishing differences and different features. Under extremely precise testing, the 5" models are more forgiving and inherently more reliable due to the additional slide travel, however it is very difficult to notice any difference with the 4.25" models when handled properly. How often should the recoil spring be replaced? What recoil spring is used in the Ed Brown 1911's? We recommend replacing the recoil spring every 3000 rounds. Our 5" models are equipped with an 16.5# recoil spring as standard, while the 18# is generally preferred for heavier loads. Our 4.25" models are equipped with a 20# spring. Do guide rods increase accuracy? Do any of your handguns come with a guide rod? Our Classic Custom pistols are furnished with two-piece guide rods. They smooth out the cycling slightly, add a bit of weight to the muzzle, and may increase the life of the recoil spring. They do not enhance the accuracy or reliability of the gun, therefore we do not include one with the Executive series or Kobra series. If you would like to have a guide rod, they are a simple part to install as they drop right in. The two piece design is recommended, because it is so easy to disassemble and reassemble. Why do you use a 9mm size firing pin in your handguns? This prevents primer flow if hot loads are used and prevents a 45 ACP rim from hanging in the firing pin hole during the feeding cycle. Are the handguns tested before they leave your facility? We have what is probably the most extensive testing session of any firearms manufacturer. The gun is triple checked in different stages throughout the manufacturing process, and extensively test fired with a variety of ammunition before leaving our facility. Because of our commitment to quality and our investment in the latest manufacturing technology, we enjoy one of the lowest defect rates in the entire firearms manufacturing industry. Is the serial number on my 1911 frame suppose to match the number inside the slide? Some slides have numbers or letters stamped inside. These are lot codes for heat treating, not serial numbers. They have nothing to do with the serial number on your frame. How are the fixed sights set up? What is the point of aim? Ed Brown handguns with fixed sights are set to impact approximately point of aim 25 yards using Federal American Eagle 230 grain ammunition. Variation in grip, ammunition, or people's eyes can affect the point of impact. If you feel the gun shoots too high or low for you based on the grip and ammunition you are comfortable with, we can custom install a higher or lower front sight at your request. What type of ammunition do you recommend for your handguns? We recommend high quality Federal or Winchester ammunition, and nothing else. In our years of testing and experience, ammunition by these makers has proven to be of consistent high quality. The core of our function testing is done with Federal 230 grain FMJ, which is great self-defense ammunition. For accuracy, the Federal 185 grain Gold Metal Match ammo tends to produce the best groups. What is the difference between 70 and 80 series guns? Are Ed Brown handguns 70 or 80 series guns? 80 series guns have a firing pin block mechanism, while 70 series do not. If you aren't sure which you have, 80 series parts will work in both series 70 and 80 with no negative effects. Ed Brown handguns are all series 70. Do Ed Brown handguns have any MIM (metal injection molded) parts? No, we use no MIM parts in Ed Brown firearms. While the current thinking is that MIM parts are "good enough" for firearm applications, this thinking doesn't fit with our philosophy at all. All Ed Brown parts are made from either forgings, bar stock steel, or quality investment castings. What is the trigger pull on your handguns? The trigger pulls are set at a crisp 3.5 - 4 pounds that will last for thousands of rounds due to the fully machined components. Do you recommend any particular type of lubrication? Yes, we offer a special blend of synthetic oil (part #960) intended for the lubrication of Ed Brown 1911's. It works perfectly with both stainless and blue steel, as well as our Generation III coating. A bottle is included with all new firearms shipped, and you can purchase more direct from us. What is the difference between stainless and blue steel? Does stainless steel gall? Stainless steel is more rust resistant, and costs a little more. There is no other significant difference between the two with regard to any attribute of a 1911 - accuracy, longevity, durability, etc. are all virtually identical between the two. We have been building all stainless guns for many years from high quality 416 stainless steel and there are no problems with galling. How do I get the maximum reliability out of my Ed Brown 1911? What are the fundamentals of 1911 handling? The fundamentals are simple and easy. Like all fundamentals they are the source of most problems people experience. 1. Use high quality ammunition, such as Federal or Winchester. 2. Use high quality lubrication, and keep the firearm well lubricated and clean. 3. Maintain a firm grip on the firearm throughout the entire firing cycle. The 1911 is a recoil operated firearm. 4. Make sure your recoil spring is correctly matched to the ammunition you are shooting. When you have the proper weight recoil spring for a particular load, ejected brass should land 8-12 feet away. If brass is falling within a few feet of you, your spring is too heavy for that load. If brass lands more than about 12 feet away, your spring is too light for that load. Either case leads to reduced reliability. A common problem is a novice shooter trying to "shoot anything and everything" through his 1911 from 185 grains up to 230 grains without considering the proper recoil spring setup. Another common problem is the novice buying a carry gun with a shorter slide, then shooting the hottest personal protection ammo he can get, while ignoring the recoil spring and ejection pattern. For the ultimate in reliability, we recommend choosing a consistent high quality load and sticking with it once it's proven to work well with your particular setup. What if I want some custom handgun options - can you accommodate my requests? Absolutely...we have always been a full custom shop and remain true to our roots. We have an extensive printed price list of custom options in our catalog, and can do special quotations in a timely manner - just tell us what you want. Popular requests are two-piece guide rods, mag-wells, or different trigger pull weights. We frequently custom build Kobra Carry's and Executive Carry's without the bobtail option, and Kobra's and Executive's with the bobtail option. Some customers prefer no engraving on their slide. Others like front cocking serrations on their slides. Slim grips, lanyard loop housings, short triggers....the list goes on and on. Extensive personalization is available on our in-house laser engraving machine, whether it be custom text, fonts, etc. Please note, due to California regulations, no options or changes are possible to California models before they leave our factory. After the California dealer has transferred the firearm to you, you may return it to us for changes if you wish. Also, we are currently not building handguns in any caliber other than 45 ACP. We built our reputation by building the world's most reliable, high performance guns which have been extensively tested and proven in a variety of situations, and the 1911 pistol was designed around the 45 ACP cartridge. |
