It seems since the Bren Ten was first introduced it has been cursed. The first edition could not fulfill orders, could not obtain magazines and folded. Since then there has been a number of attempts to resurrect the concept that have not worked out. It should not really be that hard. Tanfolglio has made 10mm CZ pattern pistols for years.

Being a child of the 80's and watching Miami Vice in my formative years, I have always wanted a shootable Bren Ten. When one could still afford one, I could not. Now, they are stupid expensive if you can even find one. Still beyond my ability to afford one. That said, you can't really entertain shooting one, even if you find one because it is so expensive and not easily replaceable.

The 10mm is still going strong if not gaining ground in recent years. The CZ pattern 9mm pistols are selling everything they are making, and are doing very well in modern competition. All steel pistols are still very much in demand.

If a replica Bren Ten could be produced using modern technology, with obtainable magazines at an affordable price point, how many of us aging Gen X'ers would be interested in one?

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Plastic has no soul

Since the gun was patterned off the CZ75, I don't see why anyone would buy it over a current 10mm CZ. I couldn't quite remember what they looked like and after doing a Google image search, frankly they look ugly. I don't see any market for a reproduction at all.

I can feel it
Calling in the air tonight.

I recall seeing the Bren 10 for sale at Gunshows with no Magazine.
I think they were asking around $1,800.
Told the tale of the local Deputy Sheriff who finally got his after a long wait.
When out to qual so he could carry it.
Didn't get through the first Mag before he Split the slide!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

In the late 80s, I worked for a small gun shop whose owner had purchased a large amount of Bren Ten frames, slides and parts from the bankruptcy of Dornaus & Dixon. He had a well known, and very competent local gunsmith assemble several pistols from the available parts, and sold a few through the shop. Unfortunately, he didn't have the rights to the name, and eventually was delivered a cease and desist order from those who did. That got tied up by the lawyers, and I don't know if it was ever resolved.

Not sure what happened to the parts, but it was enough to fill several 18x18x18" boxes. Would have to be worth a small fortune today...

I thought the guns were cool at the time, but I like my magnums in revolvers, so the 10mm never really appealed to me enough to want one. Even way back then, the guns would bring ~$1k, IIRC.

I got one of the first Bren Tens delivered to dealers when I had my FFL back in the day. I recall a certificate came with it for a free magazine when they became available - which never happened. Fired a few boxes of Norma ammo through it and kept it a number of years until I traded it off at a gun show. And to answer the OP question - No, I would not buy another or a copy.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I never had any interest in the Bren 10, but am a huge fan of the 10mm.

610-1
610
1076
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Kimber GT10 #207 of 250
DW Razorback
Glock 29
SA Ronin

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213th FBINA

The EAA all-steel Witness is already about as close as one can get to the Bren Ten and it comes in a wider selection of calibers. I have owned one for 15 years and am completely happy with it. I am not particularly interested in a 10mm but the Witness is available in it. Mine is set up for .45 ACP, .38 Super, and 9mm. I have one of the original Bren Ten instruction manuals from around 1983. Probably the most thorough gun instruction manual you will ever see.

As DWalt said, the EAA Witness is as close to getting a functioning Bren Ten as the majority of shooters will ever get. I wanted a Bren too, saw one at a gun show, but I did not have that sort of money to spend, especially with the constant back order status of the magazines. I ended up with a Colt Delta Elite stainless to salve my 10mm desire.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

You had a bunch of new crummy auto designs and a new 10mm cartridge that had to fit into a 9mm/ 45acp size gun.

Nobody would make that gun because a dozen better guns can be had for half the price. Buy a busted one and keep it on display.

No! I had one on order, actually coulda had it without mags, for over a year! I have owned several of the other da/sa 10’s but never really got to like them.

I’ve settled on the polymer brand of 10’s, and see no need to look further. They function 100% of the time, carry well and are “just right” in my book.

Regards,
Rick Gibbs

EAA Witness Elite by Tangfoglio 10mm Compact double stack.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I watched Miami Vice when I was in High School. Yes, 2 cool dudes driving cool cars while cool music played. Very 80's.

But that's 37's years ago. I got a 469 from 1984 and I'm quite happy with that.

Plus, I can shoot it without fear of it breaking.

So, that's a no vote for this Class of 85 alum.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

No, because….

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

The Bren 10 was a legend in somebody's mind, but it certainly wasn't mine. There are enough successful and reliable 10 mm designs out there now that a Bren 10 relaunch is not required.

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Release the Kraken

The Bren Ten was like the Auto Mag. Introduced with a big splash, lots of publicity, then buyers found them next to impossible to get, interest faded rapidly.

"I recall a certificate came with it for a free magazine when they became available - which never happened."

Not having been personally involved with the Bren Ten in days of yore, I have never understood the magazine availability problem. I gather that it was a large part of the BT's failure to thrive. Seems to me that magazine availability should have been no worse than a minimal problem, but such was evidently not the case. So what was the BT magazine difficulty all about?

Clearly that big eyeball of an avatar has missed seeing the rugged beauty in this gun.

Dornaus & Dixon had either an import problem that they could not clear up (possibly) or they had, more likely, a DEBT that they could not cover and the magazine supplier was smart enough to withhold the product without funds. All the history says that the magazines were coming from Italy, the easy guess is that Mec-Gar was the supplier.

I find the entire ridiculous history of this pistol to be interesting but the money they command today to be whatever comes exponentially beyond totally ridiculous.

Missing in all of these comments is the advancements in technology. I am not talking about issue prone remakes, but a modern Bren with obtainable magazines.

Yes I am aware of the Witness line, I even mentioned that in my initial post. That was not the intention of the post. I know they are a close substitute, but they are not a Bren.

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Plastic has no soul

Just get a Tanfoglio Witness. It's a better pistol that that overrated piece of junk ever was, and it died for a reason. Never become enamored with anything based entirely on its name, history, or scarcity.

I guarantee you that if the Bren Ten were ever to be reproduced, then everyone would fall out of love with it really quickly once they actually had it in their possession. It was a terrible prototype pistol with poor ergonomics, unattractive aesthetics, and based on the ever-flawed, always disastrous concept of heavily modifying an existing design far beyond its original design specifications.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

There seems to be a lot of pent up ill feelings about this pistol. In that there was such a limited amount of pistols actually produced and sold how many of you that posted something negative about the concept have even owned one?

Show us on the doll where the Bren Ten touched you...

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Plastic has no soul

Youngster…

These guys stole money and screwed over many dozens if not many hundreds of people. Some of these guns erupted and sent slides flying.

Have you ever heard of the Kimball .30 Carbine? If not, that’s certainly no surprise, most folks have never heard of it and it doesn’t generate angst because nobody got screwed over them —AND— the Kimball didn’t appear in the biggest prime time TV show hit of the decade.

It seems like you got your answer. Amongst this crowd, ONE person wants to see it return. You.

Bah, just get one from Gunbroker. The last two went over $11,000 each.

I would be “IN” if it looked just like the original. To me the Witness is the ugly duckling. I think the Bren 10 is one of the coolest semi autos of all time. Lusted for one before the Miami Vice affect. Some don’t know but the actual gun in the show was a .45, and the slide was nickel so it would show up better in the night time scenes.

When the S&W 645 came out I grabbed one. Closest gun I could obtain that looked kinda like the Bren. Of course then the Crockett character changed to the 645. Guess Sonny wanted to be just like me.

Dan

Youngster Huh? Bless your heart.

None of what you just posted has any bearing on a modern made Bren Ten but thank you for your input. I have you down as a no to my initial question.

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Plastic has no soul

Allright, I apologize for the condescending "Youngster" that opened my post. I blame the "show us on the doll" part of your post.

In any case, if a new pistol is going to trade on the historic name of the former face-down-in-the-gutter debacle of the original, then there is no way to disassociate the failure of the original.

Matter of fact, Vltor went down this wormhole and led folks around by the nose for at least a small handful of years before they failed/gave up on a Bren Ten revival and to be honest, it seems appropriate that they did fail, given the subject and it's massive failure.

About the only cosmetic appearance difference between the BT and the Witness is the sight hump on the rear of the BT slide. Necessary to house the firing pin safety which the Witness does not have. Or need.

Some of the responses have almost risen to the level of being touched inappropriately by either a Bren, or the original manufacture, hence my doll comment.


*%tor, I refuse to speak of them, did in fact lead everybody on, me included. I signed up for one back then. Again, non of that has any bearing on my question I originally asked. I do thank you for your input and have you down as not interested.

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Plastic has no soul

That “hump” is one of the things I like. I’m definitely not up on each of the EAA guns but the 10’s I’ve seen have shorter barrels. The 5” 45’s I have seen have full length dust cover frames which I don’t like. I also like the two tone on the Bren.

All personal preference I am sure. The Sig 220 looks attractive to me also.

Dan

On retrospect, after looking at that pic again, yes I’m in.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

There were several BT variations made, one having a short barrel. How rare any of those are, I have no idea. My Witness uses 4.5" barrels (.45, .38 Super, and 9mm). Very simple to change calibers.

I was referring to the 4.5” as “short barrels”

I prefer 5” semi autos.

Dan

While the ten is a fine cartridge, the 9 today is very excellent and with worldwide availability and so many fine guns made for it I think it is not necessary to redo the Bren.

The appearance is what I love about the Bren. It is what makes it what it is. Different strokes for different folks is fine, some don't feel the same way.
That is what makes this hobby so much fun.

I have heard there is even some out there that don't like the 1911 and think plastic 9mm's are enough...

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Plastic has no soul

If it was good enough for Col.Cooper its good enough for me.

I think that one looks pretty good, like a cross between a BHP and a S&W 1006. I am a big fan of .40S&W and 10mm Auto. I think the true appeal for the Bren Ten is that it was the first pistol chambered for 10mm, and that Sonny Crocket had one stuffed under his armpit with an Armani jacket for a cover garment. I doubt I'd buy one if offered today; there are too many other pistols offered in the cartridge that are just as good, and more reliable and sturdy. I've got an SR1911 in 10mm, I see nothing the Bren has over it. If the frame would hold up to it, I'd love to see a BHP in 10mm. I have a .40 BHP and love it.


9x19 is a good cartridge, but I see it against the 10mm like you'd compare a .38 Spl. to a .357 Magnum.

Heh...it's not even that close...the 38 Spl is very close in power to the 357 Mag when handloaded, especially in guns with short cylinders.

The 9x19 has way less power potential than the 10.

That said, I never really liked the Bren Ten and wouldn't be interested in a modern one. If I wanted a 10mm (it's not that high on my list), I'd opt for a Delta Elite.

I had two Bren Tens - a standard model and a Special Forces Light. I have also owned three Marksman Specials which came chambered for .45. I enjoyed shooting them all and sadly don't have any of them anymore. I, for one, would buy a copy in a second!

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Miami Vice didn't hurt, but it was Jeff Cooper who led the charge. He was instrumental in the gun's design and promoted it as the one and only handgun that could hold a candle to the 1911 as a defensive weapon. Just think, people bought the gun from a company that could only promise they would deliver the magazine later on. Jeff Cooper had quite a following.

[/QUOTE]

And people say Glock's are ugly?

Someone should have just told Jeff Cooper...."embraa-aaaace the Glock......"

I had a Bren, sold it when someone wanted to give me a wad of cash for it. later, sent in money for a deposit on a "Peregrine", that never happened, and I lost that money (along with pre payment on a "Specter" shotgun),,,,I guess what they say about a fool and my money is true!.
So, I ended up buying this, it will do the exact same thing as a "real" Bren 10, sit around and gather dust, but at least I can shoot it without killing the value (or getting a "catastrophic failure")

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“Cogito, ergo sum armatus

What is it?

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

Yup I remember that like is was yesterday.

I walked into a local gun store one day, the 10mm was at its lowest point of interest by gun enthusiasts,,

Another customer was discussing a gun he had on consignment, from across the store, I noticed it was a Gold Cup,, and looked nice, from a distance.

Well, when the guy walked out, I followed him, and asked if there was anything wrong with the gun,, he said "No",,

I asked what he was trying to get for the Gold Cup, he said $300.
(The gun had a price tag was marked $350)

I told him, go in, get the gun, I would give him the $300 for it right now..

When he came out, he was carrying a BOX full of stuff.
I had my car trunk open, he set the box in the trunk.
Besides the gun and original case, there was a holster, two full boxes of factory ammo, 200 or 300 unfired brass, primers, powder, 300 jacketed bullets, 200 lead bullets, and the reloading dies!!

I gave him the money, then he said that the gun had been on consignment so long, that he thought the gun would NEVER sell.

This is the Gold Cup that I bought that day,,



The only thing odd about it is the fact that when factory ammo is fired, the brass will fly 30 feet to the side,,.
I always told people that the gun must have been designed to shoot in two directions at the same time!!

For over two years, the Delta Gold Cup was my favorite 1911. I have a 1911 in .45,, but, it sat and was never fired during that time.
I bought more brass, and I even have a Dillon "Border Shift" ammo bag, just for 10mm ammo. That ammo is "down-loaded" but, the down-loaded 10mm is more exciting than regular 45 ammo.

I really like shooting my S&W 629 (No brass hunting!!) so now, the Delta Gold Cup only gets shot occasionally.

I remember when I read that the Delta Gold Cup was selling used for $500,, and I thought "That was a pretty good purchase!!"

[QUOTE And people say Glock's are ugly? [/QUOTE]


Say wha-a-a-a-t??? No! You must be mistaken. Why the blocky, flat-topped shape and the warm, squishy feel of gen-you-wine plastic in the hand just makes every grocery store stock-boy feel right at home, longing for some barcodes to scan.

There is a reason Crockett was carrying this under those expensive Armani linen blazers. Miami Vice was all about expensive style and cutting edge eye candy. This was the perfect gun for the main character.But what does Hollywood know say some.

Sorry, I am out of popcorn.

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S&WHF 366

There used to be a shop in Denver, The Gun Room, run by a great couple that I was fortunate to become good friends with starting in 1984 (they eventually moved to a suburb then sold it a few years later). They had a Bren Ten in their private collection that was on display in the store along with their S&Ws, Colts and Winchesters. They were broken in to one night, many guns were stolen including the BT. Amazingly it was one of a handful that were recovered not too long after.

I too was enamored of the pistol, but Bill-the store owner-complained about the mag issue, he had 2 and only put 7 rounds through the pistol.

Miami Vice came out of a meeting between Michael Mann and Brandon Tartikoff with the words "MTV Cops" written on a napkin. Michael Mann certainly knows his way around the action genre. No earthtones were allowed for the clothes/accessories, everything was pastels. Streets/buildings in South Beach got a serious makeover by the craft departments for location shoots.

I was there when D&D presented Jeff Cooper with his very Own Bren Ten.
At the time I was in a heated debate with a Cooper acolyte by the name of Mark Moritz. He insisted that the Bren Ten was the very Best Pistol ever made, and I simply refused to be taken in by his fanaticism.
Seeing that this was a never ending argument, I told him, Okay go a head and buy your Bren Ten, and I will go down and buy one of Randall's new left handed 1911's. In five years we will both have collector items.
I was correct in that both Pistols were shortly discontinued, and that both are quite valuable today.
I never did buy that Randall Left handed 1911. I wish I had.

As a side note, D&D took the Bren Ten that they had presented to Jeff Cooper right after the ceremony. It didn't have a magazine either.