Decked out in a white suit, pastel shirt, Rolex watch and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, Sonny Crockett, the main character in Miami Vice, didn’t need a Bren Ten to look cool. However, it sure didn’t hurt any either.
Despite only being made for three short years between 1983 and 1986, the Bren Ten pistol managed to solidify its place in firearms pop culture. It did this so well that more than 40 years later, people are still clamoring for these iconic pistols. With just 1,500 made, getting your hands on one can be easier said than done. That is, unless you take a look at the November Collector’s Elite Auctions.
In December 1979, Tom Dornaus and Mike Dixon formed Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc. They did this with the goal of developing a new semi-automatic pistol for law enforcement with a higher magazine capacity and a more powerful round.
To come up with the perfect design, they enlisted the help of Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper in 1980. Cooper was, and is, one of the foremost firearm training experts of all time. His Gunsite training facility in Arizona remains a gold standard in the industry.
The gun they came up with was originally called the Combat Service Pistol 80 chambered in .45 ACP. After further development, the gun eventually became known as the Bren Ten. It was named by Cooper because it fires the 10mm Auto cartridge. This cartridge started life as a wildcat cartridge of his own design that eventually made its way into the commercial market. Cooper’s involvement was so critical to the gun and cartridge that many bear his iconic raven logo.
It’s Popularity
The pistol bears some external visual similarity to the CZ-75. Internally it uses a linkless system like the one found in a Browning Hi-Power. Despite these commonalities, the Bren Ten was a gun like no other ever created. The firepower afforded by the 10mm Auto was unrivaled. However, it was also accompanied by significantly more recoil.
Sonny Crockett carried a Bren Ten in the first two seasons of Miami Vice. That prime time exposure led to a big demand from the public. Dornaus & Dixon took numerous pre-orders for the gun and had a hard time keeping up with the consumer desire for it. This led to quality control issues in an effort to get the guns into customers’ hands more quickly. Unfortunately, it caused the gun to get a bad rap and a large number of guns were returned and pre-orders were canceled.
In the end, it all proved too much and Dornaus & Dixon filed for bankruptcy in 1986. Over the years, other companies have tried to resurrect the design and bring it back to market. None of those ventures have ever managed to succeed. As a result, the gun’s production numbers are low. Due to the laws of supply and demand, the guns often command a premium among collectors when they come up for sale.
November’s Bren Ten
As Bren Tens go, the one in the November Collection is a special gun. Bearing serial number 83SM00150, it is the 150th gun ever made. That makes it one of the first 10 percent to be produced. No matter what the gun, early ones tend to be more sought after, and the Bren Ten is no different.
Made with a stainless-steel frame and a blued-carbon steel slide, this Bren Ten comes with two magazines — one blued and one chrome. The name “BREN TEN” is proudly emblazoned near the muzzle on both sides of the slide. Cooper’s raven logo is etched just above the trigger on the left side.
If you’ve been looking for the perfect accessory to go with your white suit and Ray-Bans, then this is the gun you need. It’s a great, early production example of an iconic gun in fantastic condition. You really can’t ask for much more than that. Well, I guess you could try to get NBC to reboot the TV show, but you’ll probably have better luck bidding on this gun.
