I saw that Vltor was looking serious at making another go at it (it's revival been tried before).
I am actually rather excited about it. I'd like to see a well-made version of the Bren Ten.
I had one, sort of. Mine was not a 10mm. It was a slightly different model they made in .45ACP called the Marksman Special Match. They were a special run for a suburban Chicago gunshop.
I thought it was a neat design...
...but poorly executed.
It had a lot of features that were ahead of it's time.
The grip felt wonderful.
It had some clever little details about it.
What I remember best was the trigger pull. It was really good SA, and had the best DA auto trigger I've ever felt. The DA was like a really well-tuned DA revolver. I've never seen a DA auto that had either a SA or DA trigger that was anywhere close, and it had both.
But it was a little rough around the edges. It used a lot of investment castings, and while my frame looked good, the slide's interior looked a little porous.
Since they had been gone for about six years when I got mine, and I was afraid of breaking the slide and never being able to replace it. I only shot a handful of rounds through it.
Too bad.
I always wondered what they would be like if someone made them well.
There is a book about the Bren Ten that came out about a year ago, called "Bren Ten: The Heir Apparent" by Ronald A. Carillo. With all the Bren resurrection talk, I broke down and ordered a copy. It came a couple of days ago, and I'm about half through it.
You would think there wouldn't be much of a story to tell, but there is.
This is one detailed book.
He talks to everyone involved, from Jeff Cooper to Tom Dornaus and Mike Dixon, gun writers who tested them, sub contractors, etc. It's close to 290 pages with not many pictures. Quite a story. Anyone who thinks they can start a gun company and build a gun should read this.
I don't know how they got any guns made.
I never really knew what the problem was with the company- if they were just trying to beat people out of money, or just got some really bad breaks, or were complete idiots, or what. After reading what I have, I believe Dornhaus & Dixon really did want to make what they called "Jeff Cooper's gun" and they may have had the design and toolmaking know-how, but really had no clue how to run a manufacturing company or any business for that matter.
Besides the Bren Ten, it goes into the stories of attempts at making the gun later by Voit (Peregrine Falcon) and Triton Cartridge.
Even if you don't give a crap about the Bren Ten, it's worth reading.
The book is available from the author for $22.95 plus $3.50 S&H.
Circle Ten Publishing, LLC
PO Box 277
Grand Junction, CO 81502
http://www.bren-ten.com/website/id85.html
Here is a good Bren Ten forum
http://nordicg3kscommunity.yuku.com/
