Bren Ten Rises from the Grave!

Okay, I don't know how I missed this at the SHOT Show, except for the fact that I was always running around like a crazy person, but Sonny Crockett's MIAMI VICE uber-gun, the Bren Ten, appears to be rising from the grave in the form of the Fortis, from Vltor Weapons Systems.

Here's the early March press release info:

Due to the overwhelming and positive response to the Fortis Pistol Project, we would like to address some of the questions, comments and concerns that we received from the 2008 Shot Show.

First and foremost, the Fortis Pistol is neither a concept nor a "market study"; we are moving forward with the Fortis. As many people saw at the show, we have finished a great deal of the design work and are evaluating prototype design models now. We are taking every possible step to ensure that the Fortis will incorporate the absolute best materials and manufacture technique available.

As part of a leading aerospace manufacturer, Vltor is able to use state of the art computer simulations for design testing, stress analysis, and geometric dimension and tolerance testing; furthermore, the Fortis will undergo extensive range testing and evaluation, to ensure that the final release product is worthy of the place it will take in the handgun world.

We are not yet ready to commit to a release date for the Fortis. We have learned from others in the industry that announcing a release date this early most often leads to one of two things: The release date is missed, causing discouragement and anxiety in buyers, or the product becomes a "rush job" to meet the release date. We will avoid the old axiom that there is never time to do it right, but always time to do it over and take the time to ensure that the Fortis is done right the first time. With that said, we expect that the first release of the Fortis will be around the end of the year.

As for the estimated price of the Fortis, this can set the same type of trap as guessing a release date - or goal is to bring the base level Fortis to the market, at a price that is competitive with a mid-level 1911 style pistol.

The First release of the Fortis is being developed in both 10mm Auto and .45ACP, there will be other calibers available in the future. Also, while identical in appearance and feel, the first release will not be a 100% reproduction of the original Bren-Ten pistol; there are design modifications to improve the strength, safety and reliability of the pistol. It is too early to say what parts will be interchangeable between the Fortis and the original Bren-Ten.

There's a Fortis blog that hasn't been updated since the March 8 release. I talked to David Crane over at DefenseReview.com, who has all the original skivvy, and he says the project is percolating along (with some other cool stuff from Vltor as well) for what David expcts will be a post-SHOT 2009 release to the public.

As you all know, I'm one of the few...the proud...the stoopid...who lost a $250 deposit on the Bren Ten of My Dreams when Dornaus and Dixon tanked back in the 1980s. I'd shot a Brent-Ten a friend (with a lot of money and connections, and even he only had one magazine) ended up with and was just crazy for the gun, since I'd bootlegged a CZ-75 9mm out of Canada.

I've since shot Col. Cooper's personal Bren-Ten, and with the hot Norma 10mm it was snappy, snappy, snappy...that bore axis sits way up there! Still, give me a reason and I'm 'way good to go with a new one. C'mon, admit it...plastic pistols don't necessarily do it for you, do they? You want heft, 10mm firepower and a compete set of pastel t-shirts!