With just one cursory fieldstrip/cleaning, the Ed Brown Special Forces fired more than 5,000 rounds without a failure.

The Special Forces model's handling is enhanced by a unique and highly durable Brown exclusive ChainLink pattern on forestrap and mainspring housing. This pattern provides for a secure grip under any condition.

All sharp edges on the pistol are gently and tastefully dehorned. The trigger guard is undercut to allow the knuckle to fully contact the bottom of the trigger guard as a definite stopping point, allowing a more consistent grip and better practical accuracy. The magazine release has a 40-lpi checkered button, and the magazine-well opening is beveled for smooth magazine changes. The grip panels are exotic checkered cocobolo wood grips with traditional M1911 double-diamond pattern.

The Gen III finish on the Special Forces M1911 offers superior wear resisance and corrosion protection--better, Brown says, than traditional oxide blueing and even better than older polymers.

ACCURACY RESULTS: ED BROWN SPECIAL FORCES
Load	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Avg. Velocity (fps)	Extreme Spread (fps)	Avg. Group (in.)
CCI Blazer Combat Match TNJ	200	976	21	2.25
Federal Personal Defense HS JHP	165	1,088	27	1.83
Hornady HP/XTP	185	972	20	2.50
PMC/Eldorado Starfire JHP	230	832	16	2.75
Remington Golden Saber (=P) BJHP	185	1,191	24	2.63
Winchester SXT	230	865	21	2.33
NOTES: Group size is an average of five full-magazine groups fired from a benchrest at 25 yards. Velocity is measured 10 feet from the muzzle with an Oehler M35 chronograph.

"Of course, wear is still possible under extreme conditions," he says. "Nothing will prevent wear, but you will find it will occur much more slowly than with blueing, and Gen III will outperform other polymers in a Taber abrasion test."

SPECS ED BROWN SPECIAL FORCES
Manufacturer:	Ed Brown Custom, Inc.
Type:	Recoil-operated semiauto
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Capacity:	7 +1
Barrel Length:	5 in.
Overall Length:	8.7 in.
Weight:	38 ounces
Metal:	Gen III satin black thermoset
Stocks:	Checkered cocobolo wood panels
Sights:	Novak three-dot sights; slip-fit, front drift-adjustable for windage
Notes:	Tactical manual safety, beavertail grip safety, firing pin safety
Price:	$1,995

And it looks good, too. The gun has a satiny-smooth and clean overall appearance--like finely finished bead-blast blueing--with the trigger and exposed barrel hood the only contrasting elements. There are few markings. The left side of the slide is completely clean, and the only label on the gun is a Special Forces logo on the right.

The gun comes with Novak low-mount three-dot tritium night sights (see accompanying sidebar for more on the sight setup) and one seven-round magazine with steel follower. You can order extra magazines pre-tested with the pistol. The standard package includes a deluxe Cordura pistol bag with internal magazine pockets and external zippered accessory pocket, plus owner's manual, cable lock, wrenches and thread-locking compound for the rear sight.

All this is well and good, you say, but how does it shoot? Any premium M1911 pistol from any manufacturer should perform flawlessly right from the box. If it doesn't, it's not worth having. The Special Forces model in my hand is thus far flawless. I began by firing it with 100 rounds each of 17 different brands and loads of commercial .45 ACP ammunition in various bullet weights and configurations and then targeted it at 50 yards with five full magazines with each of six of my preferred service and defense loads.

As indicated on the accompanying chart, the overall group average was 2.38 inches. There were no failures to feed, function or cycle. That was nearly 2,000 rounds to start, without any initial maintenance or lubrication. Then I fieldstripped it and gave it a standard cleaning and decided to keep on letting it run right up until I finished the article. I put several ammo cans of 230-grain mil-spec hardball ammo at the disposal of the members of the rifle range I run and told them to help me shoot it up.

Super Sights

The Special Forces' Novak low-mount three-dot tritium night sights are installed using Brown's advanced and convenient slip-fit system instead of a traditional force-fit dovetail. Adjusting a force-fit system requires disassembly of the slide from the frame, a sight pusher or padded vise, a nylon punch and a hammer--not to mention a considerable amount of skill. Brown's slip-fit system is a lot less hassle. The rear sight's dovetail is machined to tight tolerances so that the rear sight just barely "slips in" with finger pressure or just a dowel-tap more; it's held with a set screw. Zeroing the pistol requires only a 1/16-inch Allen wrench and Loctite (both supplied). It's just a matter of loosening and tightening the set screw to move the iron sights until they're shooting where you want, then one final tightening.--DM

Right now we're past another 3,500 rounds, and the gun still hasn't hiccupped. I plan on keeping it going until Ed Brown tells me I have to give it back. A man just can't have too many good M1911s on hand.