Yep… that is just one of the milestones that we have reached and passed in the last couple of months. Before I get into some of the details, I want to say that we took a deliberate setback on our schedule over the last few weeks; if you read that last entry, you saw that we were able to secure all of the original blue prints, engineering notes, designs and data from the original Dornhaus & Dixon pistols – including never released designs.
We chose to use that opportunity to audit all of our designs and ensure that the external appearance and ergonomics of our designs matched the original drawings as closely as possible… they do, the Fortis is a carbon copy of the original Bren.
So, where are we at with building it?
The good news is that we are cutting steel… we have many of the internal parts done, we have developed special tooling and fixtures, have finalized selection of outside suppliers and hard parts for the Fortis pistol are on the bench!
The designs have underwent literally days of Finite Element Analysis, and the results show that the Fortis is strong… the Fortis is more than up to the challenge of handling the full power 10MM Auto cartridge. The slides are undergoing the pre-machining heat treatment and will be on the machine shop floor soon; the Fortis slide is machined from solid bar stock, no casting.
Actually, we have eliminated several cast parts from the original Bren design… with today’s Live Tool and high speed machines, advanced 5th Axis techniques, EDM cutting and other modern manufacturing techniques… it is actually just as fast and cost efficient to make a lot of the originally cast parts from solid stock. Add to this the fact that we are able to select from state-of-the-art materials that were unavailable only a few years ago; and once again, we are quite comfortable saying that the Fortis is the finest pistol made.
Oh, one big question we get… Yes, we have magazines; the .45ACP is a 10 round magazine and the 10MM is a 15 round magazine, the price is no more than you would pay for any current production mag, and availability is not a problem. The only down side is that they will not retrofit the original Bren Ten.
Stay tuned folks… things are starting to move quickly.
all this sounds good. i am ready to get one. watch your six dah
Thx for the update, especially considering that it’s on the 4th and you’re ‘liberating’ a great pistol design. Very glad to hear that bar solid stock and no casting will be used in the manufacture of the Fortis. Keep up the good work!
Great news guys! Hopefully you will have the finished pistol ready by the 2009 shot show at the latest…The wait is killing me!
I am working overtime for this already. Hopefully I will have enough saved up to get one when it comes out.
It seems everything is moving faster than anyone imagined so I”ll ask some of the questions everyone wants to know. 1. How soon untill we see the Fortis for sale on the market. 2. Will you be accepting pre orders. 3. What is the general price range going to be so we can be ready (money wise) when the guns are. Thanks V.R.
At first I was under the impression the grip would remain unchanged. Even the current announcement seems to say that, but with 15 rounds of 10MM I don’t see how that will be possible without major redesign of the internal parts in the frame or a longer grip and/or magazine. I hope you don’t change the grip. I don’t mean to be negative.
Please submit one (when available) to the Maryland handgun board ASAP so the folks in the Peoples Republic of Maryland may have a chance to possess such a fine arm.
Thanks for the update, we all wait in anticipation on what perhaps may be the best 10MM handgun ever built and it’s American made. Thanks for the removal of the MIM parts, it sounds like a gun built without compromise and probably a worthy contender for the gun of the year award if it becomes available to the 10MM masses.
Maybe early to ask but who are your major distributors in the Phoenix AZ area? I want to be lined up when you are ready to release them.
Hope the change to a 15 rd doesn’t make it too big !
I’ve got small hands & the big Glocks are a stretch, but I shoot them a lot.
I missed a chance at an original Bren-Ten that had the .45 ACP conversion, with 2 mags for each calibre.(STUPID !!)
It will not happen again.
Is there a suggested retail price point in mind yet, or is it too early in the R & D to set ?
And THANKS for the updates !
Sigh……I have been waiting for months. I am in the US Army, stationed in Korea, and was HOPING to pick one up while on leave. I just returned to Korea today, and now I read this…..Sheesh!!! It had BETTER be good, and it had BETTER come out before we potentially see 1993-94 all over again.
BTW, I own an original Bren Ten…..but it will not be for another year to two years before I could even possibly get ahold of this one as duty calls!!!
Ditto Kevin’s, “Hopefully I’ll have enough saved up”….unfortunately I’m not getting any OT opportunities – -
as Gary notes, “I hope you don’t change the grip”–at least as I remember it feeling from the time I got to hold one —
and to spur the answer to S.H.’s question — “Maybe early to ask but who are your major distributors in the Phoenix AZ area?” — but heck, if I will have the money available when availability is announced, a 4 hr drive to Tucson & back seems like time very well spent.
I’ve put Fusion and DW thoughts on hold awaiting the Fortis announcement.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
Getting very antsy here… waiting in line…
Great news!!!!!!
Definitely need pics!
10 in .45 and 15 in 10mm mimics the Tangfolio “Witness” (and variants) and many folk acknowledge the great feel those pistols have. I’m not worried because I know the profile will not change.
I’m willing to bet the made the walls of the magwell a tad thinner to accommodate the wider magazine. Exterior dimensions should remain as per the original.
The Fortis WILL be the pistol I carry the most once I get my hands on one!
I’m also hoping that down the road I’ll be able to get a 9×23 Dillon barrel down the road to compliment the 10.
9×25 that is…
Will you be making a 6 inch barrel version? The EAA Witness Hunter is a good looking and ergonomic pistol, but too soft for a 10mm. I need a 6 inch barrel to go slay feral hogs. If not, I’ll make do with what you build :>)
I plan on buying every model they come out with! Too bad CZ and the others weren’t lisening maybe they will after the fact. But by that time I will be broke and divorced…..
I can’t wait, he, he!!!!
When can I order one!
I can’t wait.
Hoping for an all stainless model – to avoid 3rd party “hard chroming” issue.
The gun looks amazing. What is the cost going to be? I’m going to have to save up for one.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing more about the new pistol. Has anyone considered provisions for mounting a UTL?
I hope the new pistol is not an exact reproduction. For instance, please drop the lanyard loop and don’t drill any unneeded holes on the right side of the frame like on the original Bren. Additionally, an overall higher quality finshing of the metel would be nice.
this bren-ten coming out is the first time i have been happy about something sens my loved mother passed away
I picked up an EAA Witness Match in 10mm over the weekend. This will keep me on ice until the Fortis hits the shelves.
Another month has passed how about some pics and maybe a gun writer review. We are all standing in line together and would like another nibble
at the bait. We know your busy but have a heart and throw us a bone.
Thank You for doing this to begin with.
JD
Aw. c’mon, keep the lanyard loop! I wish my CZ had one.
I can’t wait ! I have a Detonics Combat Master waiting for its big brother, so I can re-live my South Florida LEO days.
If one isn’t submitted to the Maryland Handgun Roster Board (or not approved, for some unknown reason), I’ll just move.
It has been a month, how about a lil update?
Like everybody else I am very anxious for this pistol to come to market. I would suggest, and I am not alone in this I am sure, that you offer either a stainless slide or a hard chromed slide for all of us Sonny Crockett wanna bees!
Please tell us all, who you are looking at for doing your holsters?
“JohnE. Says:
August 11, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Please tell us all, who you are looking at for doing your holsters?”
Milt Sparks VersaMaxII would be nice!
Just toughing base. Seems like things are moving along.
Finish? Black stainless.
I know everyone is (OBVIOUSLY) getting VERY antsy about this, but like I said in a previous post, DO IT RIGHT! (sounds like you already are)… We’ll all be here when the time comes. Thanks for the updates…
Will my wife be getting me one for Christmas? Or maybe as soon as Veteran’s Day? If it’s Veteran’s Day, don’t say anything. That will be the signal.
I concur with the suggestion of a version with a hard chromed slide.
This is great news, I couldn’t afford it when the Bren Ten came out, but I am looking forward to being able to purchase one of these.
I am looking forward to purchasing two full sized for myself (one for carry, one in the safe), one for both my sons and a compact for my wife.
Any hint on how long to purchase?
Today I bought 1000 rounds of 10mm Winchester silvertip.
Still excited and waiting!
Will the frame of the 10mm and 45ACP be the same?
Would be great if you could purchase alternate caliber top end and have both.
Will mag’s set at 10 rounds be avail for the 10mm?
Here in the Peoples Rebuplic of California 15 rounds is way to many. 1911’s are all the deal. No Way…even my original Bren shoots well.
Later,
G.K.
How about an update on Labor Day? Throw us a bone!
As to sights, it would be my hope that a dovetail front sight (so that different types of sights could be installed) is being contemplated and the rear sight is a white outline. This setup would allow combat shooters to go with a gold bead front with white outline rear, police officers to install night sights, target shooters to use a plain blade up front, etc.
I’m with Ivanko, can you “throw use a bone” on your progress. I’d love to get one by Xmas.
60 days ago I asked for an update. Please give us a little something.
If its not out by now, I’m sure it will be at the 2009 Shot Show.
I own an original Bren SM with an extra SFL slide. I Can’t wait to get my hands on the Fortis. Two things: 1) Get Hogue to re-issue those elusive White Grips for it, and 2) get Norma to bring back the original 170 grain JHP ammo. It’s 1984 all over again.
Has anyone heard how much will be the price??!
You’re killing me! How about an update?
Or prehaps some sort of regularly scheduled update. Even if you don’t have anything new to say I am sure everyone would understand but it’s well over 2 months now.