| weaponinfo = The Bren Ten is a semi-automatic pistol chambered for 10mm Auto that was made by Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc. from 1983 to 1986. While the Bren Ten's design has an appearance similar to the 9×19mm Parabellum CZ-75, it was larger and stronger with several unique design elements that made it a distinctly separate firearm. The design was produced only in small numbers before the company went bankrupt. Subsequent attempts to bring the firearm back into production have been unsuccessful.
| weaponinfo = By the 1980s, many police forces in the United States continued to hold onto their venerable, reliable revolvers. For decades, semi-automatic pistol designs had suffered from a reputation for less reliability, possibly threatening to malfunction and leave an officer vulnerable. However by the late ‘70s, new designs came forth that began to shed this negative light on automatic pistols with their reliability and higher capacity. Dubbed “Wonder Nines” after their 9x19mm caliber, such handguns included the HK VP70, S&W Model 59, Beretta 92, and most notably the CZ-75.
The Bren Ten remains a weapon of some controversy. Many enthusiasts consider it to be one of the best pistols of its era, and the 10mm Auto is one of the most powerful semi-automatic pistol rounds. Issues reported with the gun when it was in its original production run included some of the units delivered with missing or inoperable magazines. Spare magazines were hard to find and were relatively expensive. The 10mm Auto caliber was at first unique to this pistol, and produced initially by FFV Norma AB of Åmotfors, Sweden<ref name="d&d"></ref>.
As police forces began to adopt these Wonder Nines across the United States, critics quickly came forth. If reliability was no longer an issue, then it was their smaller caliber. Without the stopping power of .45 ACP or .357, many proponents argued that the new handguns would be unable to stop criminals in their tracks. Seeing the monetary potential of combining the advantages of revolvers and automatics, Thomas Dornhaus and Michael Dixon came together with the legendary Jeff Cooper under Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc., culminating in their creation: The Bren Ten
The Bren Ten is a short recoil, locked breech, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 10x25mm Auto and was produced from 1983 to 1986. Based on the widely successful CZ-75, it featured several differences such as adjustable sights and the combat manual safety, allowing one to carry the Bren Ten on safety with the hammer cocked back (Known today as <i> Condition One</i>). Several variants were produced, with the gun marketed towards civilians, police, and special forces groups.
Despite rave reviews and combining the advantages of revolvers and automatic pistols, the Bren Ten was an utter failure on the market. Between the brand new company, untested gun, and virgin cartridge it sported, many were wary to hop onto the Bren Ten train. The handgun was generally accurate and reliable, though some specimens showed the spotty quality control at the Huntington Beach factory. Alongside rushed attempts to fill orders, the main problem many faced were a lack of magazines, which can cost more than the handgun itself today. With these factors and more, it was no surprise when the company declared bankruptcy, production halting to a stop.
Yet the handgun hasn’t fallen into complete obscurity. Fans and collectors continue to praise its aesthetics, reliability, and power. <i> Miami Vice’s </i> Sonny Crockett used it as his primary sidearm, forever immortalizing its place in entertainment history. Its relevance continues on, so much so Peregrine Industries and Vltor Weapon Systems attempted to reproduce the gun for the market in the 1990s and 2010s respectively. These attempts failed, but the legacy of the Bren Ten lives on, if not in the gun, then in the caliber it pioneered. The 10mm Auto cartridge continues to see use by a dedicated fanbase with firearms such as the Colt Delta Elite, Glock 20, and SIG P220, among others.
By the 1980s, many police forces in the United States continued to hold onto their venerable, reliable revolvers. For decades, semi-automatic pistol designs had suffered from a reputation for less reliability, possibly threatening to malfunction and leave an officer vulnerable. However by the late ‘70s, new designs came forth that began to shed this negative light on automatic pistols with their reliability and higher capacity. Dubbed “Wonder Nines” after their 9x19mm caliber, such handguns included the HK VP70, S&W Model 59, Beretta 92, and most notably the CZ-75.
As police forces began to adopt these Wonder Nines across the United States, critics quickly came forth. If reliability was no longer an issue, then it was their smaller caliber. Without the stopping power of .45 ACP or .357, many proponents argued that the new handguns would be unable to stop criminals in their tracks. Seeing the monetary potential of combining the advantages of revolvers and automatics, Thomas Dornhaus and Michael Dixon came together with the legendary Jeff Cooper under Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc., culminating in their creation: The Bren Ten
The Bren Ten is a short recoil, locked breech, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 10x25mm Auto and was produced from 1983 to 1986. Based on the widely successful CZ-75, it featured several differences such as adjustable sights and the combat manual safety, allowing one to carry the Bren Ten on safety with the hammer cocked back (Known today as Condition One). Several variants were produced, with the gun marketed towards civilians, police, and special forces groups.
Despite rave reviews and combining the advantages of revolvers and automatic pistols, the Bren Ten was an utter failure on the market. Between the brand new company, untested gun, and virgin cartridge it sported, many were wary to hop onto the Bren Ten train. The handgun was generally accurate and reliable, though some specimens showed the spotty quality control at the Huntington Beach factory. Alongside rushed attempts to fill orders, the main problem many faced were a lack of magazines, which can cost more than the handgun itself today. With these factors and more, it was no surprise when the company declared bankruptcy, production halting to a stop.
Yet the handgun hasn’t fallen into complete obscurity. Fans and collectors continue to praise its aesthetics, reliability, and power. Miami Vice’s Sonny Crockett used it as his primary sidearm, forever immortalizing its place in entertainment history. Its relevance continues on, so much so Peregrine Industries and Vltor Weapon Systems attempted to reproduce the gun for the market in the 1990s and 2010s respectively. These attempts failed, but the legacy of the Bren Ten lives on, if not in the gun, then in the caliber it pioneered. The 10mm Auto cartridge continues to see use by a dedicated fanbase with firearms such as the Colt Delta Elite, Glock 20, and SIG P220, among others.
Commander, in the end I can't hide it any longer. I'll talk about the truth, we went bankrupt, right? Eh? Eeeh? You mean it? Then, I... aaaah!! You are too kind!
