We at Ed Brown Products are deeply saddened to report that Ed Brown, industry icon and founder of Ed Brown Products, passed away at his home on September 15, 2024, after an intense battle with an aggressive, un-treatable liver cancer. Ed was born on December 13, 1946, and is survived by his wife, who he married Nov 27, 1965. Next year would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Ed is also survived by his three children, and six grand-children.
Ed Brown received his FFL and began business as a part-time gunsmith in 1968 under the name “Brown’s Gun Shop”. For 20 years on evenings and weekends, he honed his skill, experience, and reputation as one of the world’s finest pistol-smiths, while during the day he worked as a tool and die maker, CNC programmer, and CAD/CAM designer. Ed began shooting IPSC and Bianchi Cup in 1980, and was ranked in the Top 16 of the World as a championship combat shooter.
Frustrated by the second-rate quality of 1911 parts he had to work with, he envisioned a full line of quality aftermarket parts of superior designs, that met the needs of the modern combat shooter. On March 30, 1988, this vision became reality when he quit his day job as a tool and die maker to launch his parts business. Within months, the world’s largest firearm components distributor, Brownell’s, added Ed Brown’s famous beavertail, magwell, and hammer to their catalog. Parts production began to take off, while demand for Ed’s gunsmithing work continued to increase. His gunsmithing career peaked in 1991, and he was awarded “Pistolsmith of the Year” by his fellow American Pistolsmith Guild members, a prestigious honor which, at that time, was awarded only to those who have shown the highest degree of honesty and craftsmanship in their work. That same year, Ed announced he was changing his focus from gunsmithing to parts manufacturing exclusively, as time was too limited to effectively do both.
Ed Brown Products, Inc. incorporated June of 1992 to manufacture a complete line of 1911 components and accessories. Custom pistol work was no longer being accepted.
In 1998, after manufacturing all the major components of the 1911, Ed’s two sons Travis and Wade joined the business full time. A new direction was established – the design and manufacture of a complete line of Ed Brown firearms. The next few years were invested in plant expansion and R&D for the design and manufacture of the Ed Brown 1911 frame and slide.
In the year 2000, the Kobra Carry was introduced. It was the first 1911 to be available in all stainless, with the snakeskin metal pattern, and was equipped with the Ed Brown Bobtail, designed and trademarked by Ed Brown earlier that year, and the Ed Brown Bobtail was soon copied in some form by nearly every 1911 manufacturer in existence.
In 2001, the Brown family began to selectively establish an authorized dealer network across the country for Ed Brown firearms. Within a few short years, Ed Brown firearms were present in high-end retail establishments across the US, and in many foreign countries. With his sons taking care of the business, Ed pursued another path – the innovation and design of a new bolt action for hunting and sniper rifles, the M-702, and later, the M-704 controlled feed, which were the foundation of the newly created line of Ed Brown rifles.
The presidential elections of 2008 and 2012, combined with the 100 year anniversary of the 1911, created an unprecedented demand for our 1911 product line, and years of explosive growth followed. Ed Brown retired from the business in 2010 at age 65, leaving the business operations in the hands of his two capable sons. The rifle company was later sold as capacity was too limited to do both pistols and rifles and maintain the highest quality level the Brown family demanded.
Since Ed’s retirement in 2010 the company has continued to thrive and innovate. Some examples include the popular EVO series pistols, which optimizes the 1911 platform for the popular 9mm caliber, the entire line of Ed Brown Performance 1911 magazines, and the Fueled series pistols which currently include the Springfield Prodigy, Springfield Prodigy Comp, S&W M&P 2.0, and the world’s largest selection of aftermarket S&W M&P parts. Next year in 2025 we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ed Brown Kobra Carry as the most popular, longest running, high-end custom 1911 handgun of all time.
As you might have imagined, over his lifetime Ed Brown had collected many fine firearms, and one-of-a-kind pieces, not only Ed Brown Custom rifles, and Ed Brown 1911’s, but many other makers. The Brown family will be selectively offering several of these firearms, along with ammunition, reloading equipment and components, knives, and other items from Ed’s personal collection over the coming months, on the company website www.edbrown.com. Each item will include a letter certifying it as an authentic piece from Ed Brown’s personal collection, and will be signed by a Brown family member. If you are interested in this rare opportunity to own something from Ed’s personal collection, please visit this link www.edbrown.com/personalcollection and subscribe to be notified when new items are presented.
The Brown family and all of our employees would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ed Brown, as the founder of Ed Brown Products, a phenomenal, family-owned and operated, American firearms company, which continues the now 56+ year incredible legacy of high quality products and innovation in the industry. We will miss you!
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