utm fk

50 G&A February 2020 | Another steel fist
Ed Brown Jeff Cooper Commemorative
Type: Hammer fired, recoil operated,
semiautomatic
Cartridge: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8+1 rds.
Barrel Length: 5 in.
Overall Length: 8.7 in.
Weight: 2 lbs., 6 oz.
Finish: Blued; polished (slide), matte (frame)
Trigger: 3 lbs., 11.5 oz. (tested)
Sights: Novak Low Mount; gold bead (front);
drift-adj. square notch (rear)
Safety: Manual, single sided
MSRP: $3,170 (pistol only); $3,420
(pistol and Commemorative package)
Manufacturer: Ed Brown Products, 573-565-3261,
edbrown.com
LT. COL. JEFF COOPER OPENED “Cooper on Handguns”
(1974), an out-of-print special issue published by Guns &
Ammo,
An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome
by fleeing from it. This book will examine one particular
form of weapon: the handgun. The handgun is an interesting
artifact, and its mastery is a notable accomplishment. Those
who master it achieve a peculiar satisfaction, for they partake
in some measure of one of the attributes of the gods: The ability
to point the hand and smite at a distance. This idea existed millennia
before anyone ever saw a pistol. So, it must be an innate
human aspiration, independent of technology. It is obviously the
basis of the pleasure we take in pistol craft. As the handgun has
no evil of its own, it has no skill of its own; however, in a master’s
hands, its efficiency is almost unbelievable. As with all instruments,
it is the man, not the tool, that makes the difference. The
more subtle the tool, the greater the difference. Skill with a shovel
makes less difference than with a violin. The handgun lies somewhere
between.
Appearing since Guns & Ammo’s first issue in 1958, Cooper
penned reviews and thought-provoking commentary. I met him
on two occasions at his home adjacent to the Gunsite Academy
in Arizona and was privileged to discuss The Modern Technique,
as well as study his collection of small arms and books in his
library. My lasting takeaway has been that Cooper was well read
with deep interests in classic literature, early automobiles, firearm
development in addition to military and world history. His use
of the written word reflects that of a master who benefited from
a thorough education and a love for reading. Combined with
his service as a U.S. Marine officer during World War II and
the Korean War, his experiences and understanding of human
instinct made him a writer with few peers.
Cooper believed in deductive logic, the process of reasoning to
reach a definitive conclusion. This is most apparent when considering
his recommendation of the .45-caliber Model 1911A1
as the preeminent defensive handgun. Forever a student, Cooper
continued to consider and evaluate new models as they were
introduced but felt that all other handguns, though they may
be deemed “adequate,” fall short of the 1911’s standard for one
reason or another.
When Cooper passed away at the age of 86 on September 25,
2006, the industry mourned with his family and friends. We all
did. Ed Brown collaborated with Cooper’s surviving family members
to develop an authentic pistol that would honor him with
proceeds benefiting the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation. Janelle,
Cooper’s wife, and Lindy Wisdom, Cooper’s daughter, provided the