Bren Ten

S

sosman01

Inactive
Anyone know much about Bren Tens? I am interested in the weapon and would like to find out more about them? I am thinking about trying to purchase one.

Is it truely the first "10"?
Is there any benefit in owning a piece like this?
Qty manufactured?
Different Models offered?
Qty of different models?
Calibers offer in?
Is there a 22 kit?
Value?
Etc.

You knowledge is appreciated!
Thanks.
S
 
It would take a good pile of money to buy one of the original Bren Ten pistols. Lately, the name is heard quite a bit because a new company has been working on one that is supposed to be released sometime in early 2009.

The original Bren Ten was a commercial failure because the folks who built the pistol didn't make magazines for it-- they contracted with an Italian company to make the magazines, and then they found that they couldn't legally import the magazines... so they shipped new Bren Ten pistols to customers who had pre-paid and waited for them-- and they shipped semi-auto pistols with no magazines, but rather, a coupon for magazines!

The Bren Ten was also partially made famous by Sonny Crockett in the TV show Miami Vice who carried one early in the series.

I can't accurately answer all your questions... but they do show up on Gunbroker.com on occasion. Benefit to owning one? Piece of history, inherent collectible value. Of course, that value would be diminished as you shot the pistol. And if you were also lucky enough to have a working magazine, that would likely be worth a couple of hundred dollars all on it's own.

It's a relic, a small glimpse of history and a day long past.

In all practicality, it doesn't make sense to buy or own one for any real purpose other than collectability or "cool factor." Back in the day, it was the first. These days, there are many great options for a pistol in 10mm. I have two myself.
 
Is it truely the first "10"?
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Yes, they were the first production pistol chambered in 10mm auto

Is there any benefit in owning a piece like this?
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Historical or collector interest as well as perhaps a monetary investment.

Qty manufactured?
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less than 1500

Different Models offered?
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There were seven different models made

Qty of different models?
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I'm afraid I can't help you there

Calibers offer in?
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Models were made in 10mm and .45ACP and conversion kits for .45 ACP and .22LR were manufactured by Dornaus & Dixon (the manufacturer of the Bren Ten). Good luck finding either kit particularly at anything resembling a reasonable price.

Is there a 22 kit?
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See above

Value?
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Most of the ones I've seen for sale had $4,000+ price tags.

Original Bren Tens were made by Dornaus & Dixon though another company made a copy called the Perigrine Falcon for a short time. The original Bren Tens had several issues the most notable being the quality and availability of magazines. The original mags were made by Mec-Gar in Italy and were designed so that the same mag would work in both the 10mm and .45ACP models, the problem was, they didn't. Because of this, Dornaus & Dixon cancelled the contract and developed mags specifically for the 10mm Model, but the delays of doing so made magazines nearly impossible to get. IMHO, the collector/historical value and indvestment is the only reason to buy one as much better and affordable 10mm pistols such as the Colt Delta Elite, S&W 10xx series 3rd generation autos, EAA Witness, Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander and Razorback, and Glock 20 and 29 are available.
 
The Bren Ten was the first production gun made with MIM parts. The slide and frame were castings, and a lot of them show evidence of porosity that can lead to structural failure. Some Bren Ten collectors recommend that they not be fired, as they are quite collectible, but if the slide or frame cracks, you have almost worthless junk.
While there is no excuse for shipping guns without mags, the buyers asked for it. D&D asked, "Do you want your gun now, or do you want to wait until the mags show up?", and D&D was on such shaky financial ground that buyers decided they'd better take the gun now, or they'd end up with neither.
The Fortis pistol, which was announced at last year's SHOT show, and is supposed to appear at this year's show in production form, should an improvement on the original Bren in almost every way. The promised price is in the $1000 neighborhood, which seems a lot better than $3000 for a gun you can't shoot.
http://vltor.wordpress.com/
 
As a big, big fan of the 10mm cartridge (I've had mine since '93), I've watched this whole Vltor Fortis Bren Ten thing go and go and go, and 10mm enthusiasts are all giddy about it.

I think it's terrific, just great when ANY company elects to produce a new 10mm and add it to the market. Colt is re-introducing the Delta Elite, Witness has a full line and Glock has stuck with the 10mm through thick and thin and is now planning to introduce SF versions of them.

For me, I hope the "new" Bren brings some hype and publicity to the caliber and brings up it's popularity. I'd like to see S&W make an M&P and Springfield build an XD in 10, with others to follow.
 
I bought one back in 1985 was one of those customers shipped a single shot pistol.

After waiting a few months for magazines - I bailed and sold it for a Sig 226. I don't have any regrets, as I have never had a use for a collectors piece (Sold a SW 610, Colt Python, last run of 500 of a P7M8) sitting in my safe doing nothing.

Trigger stunk, and after reports surfaced of frames cracking from the Norma 200gr@ 1200fps load, I was glad I got rid of it.

About 10 years ago I saw a kit of two Brens, consecutive serial#s, with .45 ACP converstion kits, with a total of four magazines (2 10mm, 2 .45) for $7000, at a gun store.

Tom
 
As a collector's piece? It's blue chip.

As a launch platform for the 10mm round? There are a lot of better choices.
 
I have 2 10mm pistols now, but I admit I'm interested in the new Vltor Fortis. I might just have to have 3 or more 10s, as the DWs are nice too.
 
It is great to see that people seem to know and have an interest in such weapons. One of you all said that there are several different models, I have found the Bren Ten.com site and it seems as though there is some great info there. I am still learning more and more.

Thanks to all that have contributed to the thread and keep the information coming.

Let me know if you might know of a Bren becoming available at a reasonable price.

Thanks again.

Sman
 
Bren Ten Fans

I think I am starting to like the sound of a Bren Ten.

Anybody got one? (For a reasonable price)

Just checking,

What is one worth w/o clip? I hear tales of new and no clips but I have not seen such a beast.
I would probably consider one of these within reason............

Any other 10's one might suggest? Perhaps collectables?

Heck sounds like a Jeff Cooper would be a Picaso.

Any further suggestions/information greatly appreciated.....


Thanks again to all contributors and readers.

Sman
 
Like so much of the information floating around on the internet, much of the information given in this thread is based on "common knowledge" and "urban myth". It is in error! For instance, there were never any .22 LR conversion kits built for the Bren Ten and the only Pocket Model ever built was the hand made prototype used for display and photo op purposes. Even though these items are listed in company literature and in the Blue Book of Gun Values, they DO NOT EXIST.

If you are looking for accurate information regarding the Bren Ten, please see the following article at www.Bren-Ten.com and also read the book "Bren Ten-The Heir Apparent" by Ron Carrillo.

http://www.bren-ten.com/website/id39.html


Other common knowledge concepts which are grossly in error include: "the project failed because of lack of magazines" and "I can't shoot it because no replacement parts area available".

:)

Bruce
 
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I know very little about the Bren Ten other than what Col. Cooper wrote in Guns & Ammo, and never even considered buying one, as they were priced well above my pay grade. I did buy and shoot a Glock 20 and admire it greatly; a truly reliable firearm that will handle the 10mm round without stuttering or breaking. If I was to roam around big bear country with a semi-auto pistol to back up my rifle, it would be a Glock 20, not a Desert Eagle (in any caliber).
 
I've handled (never shot) a couple of Bren 10's. I have to say, I do like the look and the feel of this gun. There's just something about it that draws me in and makes me want to buy one. If they do come out with a new model, hopefully it looks just like the older one, but with the capability to eat hot loads. From what I have read, the Bren 10's sometimes suffered from cracked frames.
 
Not cracked frames but slide fractures. Investment castings for all models are the same and came from the same vendor in Texas. A number of them were porous in structurally critical areas. No Bren Ten, whether fired or unfired, should see further shooting without having the slide inspected for casting flaws by either magnafluxing or x-ray.

;)

B.
 
No Bren Ten made in the 1980's that is. ;) Assuming the Vltor Fortis hits the market as the Bren Ten (Vltor having been able to secure the naming rights), there's hopefully no lasting stigma attached to the name.
 
Picking up an old thread

Looking for the book : The Bren Ten - The Heir Apparent

If you have one . . . please send me a PM and I'll get back to you asap !
 
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