Brolin Pistols?

7751 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Richard Jefferies, May 18, 2004

igli

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2004

I recently picked up a 1911 style Brolin "Legend" in .45 ACP. Needed a Wilson extractor & mag to be reliable, but it now seems to be running well. I've had very little luck finding out the history on this gun... contradictory information, mostly. I'd appreciate any information anyone can give on "Brolin".

Amongst the web data I've unearthed, here are some of the more interesting clues. I can't tell which is true, sadly, which is why I came here... help me glean the true details from the "Fat Frank" bullstuff?

1. One vague reference suggested it stood for "Brothers Lin", an Asian importer. And that although it is marked "Made in USA", it is actually Phillipine-made.

2. Brolin reworked some Norincos, adding a few custom touches and re-badging them as " Made in USA", to duck some legal issues.

3. They were a California outfit, trying to break into the "Custom" 1911 market, but went bust after making some decent guns.

It seems a decent gun, with a few nice touches... blued, flat top slide, a barrel that seems throated, extended ejection port. It has a few quirks... it can't eject a live round cleanly, not enough clearance. The slug hits on the way out. The trigger pull is very nice, but the trigger itself is a little loose in the gun, and moves around more than I'd like. I bought it used, but like new, I doubt it was ever fired much. It is quite accurate, and I'm enjoying it a lot, now that it is reliable. I just wish I knew more of the history and reputation of these guns. Can anyone enlighten me on the Brolin story?

One more web search that tells me about James Brolin will probably push me over the edge. I need information that *doesn't* make me want to head-butt my computer.

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Dean Speir

· #2 · Apr 26, 2004

igli said:
I'd appreciate any information anyone can give on "Brolin".

Tricky business…

Yes, they did originate on the Pacific Rim… I am under the impression that we're talking the Philippines, but some of the traditionally unreliable sources have cited Norinco as the actual manufacturer.

Yes, Brolin Arms is out of business.

Yes, the importer was in California, Pomona as I recall.

As far as "Made in USA," that is fudged on a regular basis… my "prize" A-O 1911A1 "WW II" (which now resides in my friend Matt's personal battery) started life in Spain, but was machined in Vermont and assembled in Noo Yawk, and came with that "Made in USA" sticker affixed to the case. Brolin's 1911-pattern pistols probably traveled a similar route, as Oriental components and Occidental assembly. And some, I think, used Kart barrels, which speaks extremely well of their choice of at least that component.

Another "people say" kinda thing is that they had surprisingly decent triggers, but as I never so much as dry-fired one, I cannot speak to that issue.

You carefully avoided mentioning what you paid for the pistol, and uncertainty will do that to a first-time poster, so let's jus' say that if you didn't pay more than $275-300 for it, you didn't have your pants pulled down.

And that's my core-dump on Brolin Arms.

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mikegunner

· #3 · Apr 26, 2004

Another " people say " kinda thing is that they had surprisingly decent triggers, but as I never so much as dry-fired one, I cannot speak to that issue.

You carefully avoided mentioning what you paid for the pistol, and uncertainty will do that to a first-time poster, so let's jus' say that if you didn't pay more than $275-300 for it, you didn't have your pants pulled down.

I have 3 of the brolin pistols "in stock"(in the vault) that were all purchased from Acusport during Aug/Sep/Oct of 1996. They all do have what I consider to be very nice triggers that were around 4 pounds and break crisply (no creep!). Usually I avoid mentioning wholesale pricing online, but since Brolin is out of business for quite a while I will tell you that when purchased the following models cost us: Pro Stock 45=$581.95 P25C 1911=$471.40 P45 1911 Commander=$461.35.

Of course, these were purchased early on when Brolin was an active company and they are NIB. During liquidation when the company shut down and the distributors closed out the merchandise, the prices would probably be considerably less and used pricing would go down considerably.

Mike

SpecialEd

· #4 · Apr 26, 2004

Brolin shotguns have "Made in China" stamped on them.

Ed

igli

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 15, 2004

Brolin pistols

Thank you to all who replied... it sounds like the Brolin info I had was fairly accurate, and that there isn't much more to be found. I still am enjoying the gun.

I paid $375, in the original box, quite possibly never fired. I'm content, a decent gun (after a bit of work) at a decent price.

By the way, Dean... I'm quite impressed with your write-up on the Photon Micro lite. Might be buying one soon, it seems almost too good to pass on. The clip makes it an incredibly versatile thing. One thing... what is the difference between the "Freedom" and the "Micro-lite 2"? And any recommendation on color? I'm thinking white, but could be swayed by an informed opinion...

Dean Speir

· #6 · May 15, 2004

Re: li'l lights

igli said:
... what is the difference between the "Freedom" and the "Micro-lite 2"? And any recommendation on color? I'm thinking white, but could be swayed by an informed opinion...

Essentially, it's features and functions… click on the one of the AmBack links and there'll be a product description of each Model:

Micro-Light II
[/*:m:nt24tc36]
Photon Freedom - for openers, this has an additional "chip" in it.[/*:m:nt24tc36]

As for color, clearly the White is the brightest… but I happen to like the Blue, is all. If I want "bright," I always have my SureFire.

But ya know what, Igli?!? At these prices, you can get one of each!

Lemme know which way you decided, and how it works out for you.

SpecialEd

· #7 · May 15, 2004

I got two of the Photon Freedom lights last week. One in Blue and one in White. After a couple days I quickly ordered three more. This time two in white and one in Blue Green.

Like Dean says you can't go wrong at that price. The clip works great on a hat or mounted on your work bench.

Ed

Fernando Coelho

· #8 · May 15, 2004

We have a color chart on the site that describes the benefits of the different Photon colors. Here is a link

Rosco Benson

· #9 · May 15, 2004

It's funny what will finally make one take the time to register on a new forum. As a long time viewer of the old Prodigy board, I'm glad that I don't have to join an ISP cult to participate here.

I have one of the mini-lights, in blue, on my key-ring. It was a give-away from the the KelTec folks at the '03 SHOT show. The price was certainly right and, when it finally craps out, I'll get another.

The best use to which I've put it was at the jail where I work. I was part of a detail sent to deal with the complaints of some female inmates. One of our "regulars" was housed in a cell within this housing unit. This regular is a crazed crack 'ho--nothing odd about that--who likes to save up her excrement to make little sculptures which she then displays and/or eats (performance art at its tastiest). Her neighbors were complaining of the smell (everyone's a critic, eh?).

When we arrived, she was sitting on her bunk with a blanket over her head. She vehemently denied having any "dooky", though the smell indicated otherwise. The usual ploy of offering to let her watch CSI on television (she's a big fan) did not get her to hand over the contraband dooky. In a flash of inspiration, I turned on my blue mini-light and told her that it was a special dooky-detecting light, "just like on CSI", as I shined it on her and around her cell. Confronted with my superior technology, she gave up and revealed the location of the dooky (cleverly, it was still in her pants) and handed it over to a female Corrections Officer. That little blue light sure saved us from having to deal with some crap...sort of.

Rosco

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WaltGraham

· #10 · May 15, 2004

Good tale RB - welcome home - but always be prepared to duck

John Hunter

· #11 · May 16, 2004

Re: li'l lights

DeanSpeir said:
Essentially, it's features and functions… click on the one of the AmBack links and there'll be a product description of each Model:

Micro-Light II
[/*:m:2pqgpyth]

Photon Freedom - for openers, this has an additional "chip" in it.[/*:m:2pqgpyth]

As for color, clearly the White is the brightest… but I happen to like the Blue, is all. If I want "bright," I always have my SureFire.

But ya know what, Igli?!? At these prices, you can get one of each!

Lemme know which way you decided, and how it works out for you.

Dean, one question. The lithium battery. The ones I use in the 6P are carried by Radio Shack and I can get them anywhere. That comes in handy when on the road. What about the lithium battery this light uses? Is it a common one or a special order?

Dean Speir

· #12 · May 16, 2004

Welcome, Rosco… helluva story… not! (I know, I know… it always helps to share your pain.)

John… it's a standard, easily replaceable, available-in-any-store-where-more-than-D-cell-batteries-are-sold lithium battery. (And the "easily replaceable" no-special-tool-required part may be a new feature… it seems some earlier models from LRI-Photon might have been not-so-easy-but-not-as-hard-as-reassembling-a-Ruger-Mark-I/II difficult.)

Richard Jefferies

· #13 · May 16, 2004

A word about batteries....there IS a difference in brands. I have tested Energizer and several other brands against Duracell batteries by taking AA of each brand and putting them into identical cheapie flashlights. I would place them in a dark room and turn them on simultaneously. The beam from the Duracell-powered light would always be noticably brighter than the other brand, and the Duracells would always last longer, too.

John Hunter

· #14 · May 18, 2004

thanks Dean

Richard Jefferies

· #15 · May 18, 2004

BTW, I've tried some of Surefire's brand of lithium batteries, and the Duracells outdo them, too.

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