Dornaus & Dixon Bren Ten Military/Police 10mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1983 C&R
SOLD FOR: $8,525
LSB#: 230929MK059
Make: Dornaus & Dixon
Model: Bren Ten, Military/Police Model
Serial Number: 83MP00137
Year of Manufacture: 1983, ATF Classified C&R
Caliber: 10mm
Action Type: Traditional Double Action Semi-Automatic (DA/SA) with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ramped blade with a white dot. The front sight is vertically pinned to the slide and the barrel bushing. The rear sight is a square notch with two yellow dots. The rear sight is screw-adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are Hogue combat grips made of fiberglass reinforced nylon. They have a pebbled texture and a Bren Ten “X” medallion. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue Slide, Matte Black Oxide Stainless Steel Frame
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is intact. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
“The Bren Ten employs “power seal” rifling as developed by Barret Boots Oberineyer. Unlike conventional rifling which is cut at a ninety degree angle to the bore, the Power Seal rifling is cut at a shallower angle. This sloped surface increases the area available to guide the bullet and is reported to have a number of beneficial effects. First the bullet is less deformed so accuracy is improved. As the bullet seals the bore more completely very little gas escapes hence higher velocity.” (Paraphrased from the article “Peregrine Falcon” by Nigel Milner in the Jan/Feb 1991 issue of “Guns & Weapons” magazine.)
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. Most of the balance is in light operational wear. There are a few scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. The controls show handling wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun is in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The firing pin block and the safety lever work smoothly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single magazine, not original to the gun. It appears to be a 10mm 1911 magazine which has had metal spacers installed on each side of the body, the right spacer having a cutout for the magazine catch. During our function check, we were able to load eight rounds into the magazine, but the follower became stuck after the 6th. This magazine should not be considered reliable for use in this pistol.
Our Assessment: There is a lot of mystique surrounding the Bren Ten semi-automatic 10mm pistol. Col. Jeff Cooper is listed as “the conceptual designer and technical adviser on the Bren Ten Program” (per the 1983 catalog.) Based on the CZ-75, it can be double action on the first shot with second strike capability as well. It is also capable of being carried “cocked and locked” as a single action pistol in the manner of a 1911. Although it shares features in common with the 9mm CZ-75 and the .45 ACP 1911, the Bren Ten was chambered in the more powerful 10mm cartridge. “The Bren Ten was conceived by Jeff Cooper as the ultimate combat pistol and engineered and developed by Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises” (again, per the 1983 catalog.) Its arrival was eagerly anticipated, but was never the commercial success it designer and manufacturer had hoped. The Bren Ten was used by Don Johnson’s character Sonny Crockett during the first two seasons of the TV show “Miami Vice” which helped increase its visibility and desirability, however the business would eventually file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The example in this auction has “83MP00137” serial number, which is consistent with its features. This pistol was made after the introduction of some various design changes to the model, with an additional frame safety marking and screw-adjustable rear sight, but still has a flat-top slide. It is the Military/Police Model, having a black oxide finish on its stainless steel frame, giving the pistol a more traditional appearance to hopefully help secure military or police contracts. The pistol is in Fine condition, appearing to have seen light, responsible use. The included magazine appears to be a modified 1911 magazine, so you may want to hunt around for a genuine or reproduction Bren Ten magazine if you wish to fire the pistol. We were not able to find any information about the comparative rarity of the different models, but we have seen about half a dozen Standard Models, this is the first Military/Police that has come through for auction. It is likely that they are less common than the Standard Model. A dedicated Bren collector who doesn’t have the MP yet will find this one hard to resist. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
