In Loving Memory of William Edward “Ed” Brown
From Bienhoff Funeral Homes:
William Edward “Ed” Brown Jr., 77, of Perry, passed away at 9:50 AM, Sunday, September 15, 2024, at his home.
He was born on December 13, 1946, in Mexico, the son of William E and Velma Hammack Brown.
Ed married Twylla Roe on November 27, 1965, in Pittsfield, Illinois and she survives.
Other survivors include two sons; Travis (Renea) Brown and Wade (Karri) Brown both of Perry, one daughter; Wendy Brown of Cave Creek, Arizona, and six grandchildren; Trenton and Ethan Brown, Korbin and Katelyn Brown, and Jacey and Jordan Habighorst. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Ed 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 modem 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 the boys 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.
Ed retired from the business in 2010 at age 65, leaving the business operations in the hands of his two capable sons.
Ed was a member of the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, and the Pistolsmith Guild. Ed greatly enjoyed fishing, hunting, shooting and fast cars but most of all Ed enjoyed his time spent with his family.
Private family memorial services will be held at a later date. Cremation rites are under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Rifle Association or the American Cancer Society, in care of Bienhoff Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Perry, Missouri 63462.
Write on Ed’s Tribute Wall: Obituary information for William Edward “Ed” Brown (bienhofffuneralhome.com)
Editor’s note: We’d like to express our deepest sorrow to Twylla Brown, Wendy Brown, Jacey and Jordan Habighorst, and the entire family of Ed Brown. He will be deeply missed.
