Hopefully though, long on content.
We realize it has been a while, but this really is a case of “No News is Good News” — Things are moving along just fine. We did want to reassure folks that the Fortis Project is doing well, and share with you an idea of where we are.
We are making a pretty good size run of pistols, all of these are still prototype, but things are working out great! All of the internal parts are done and we are busy cutting others… we have suppliers for the grips, magazines and every part that we are not making — and as all along, this stuff is as good as it gets.
But heck, talk is cheap… everyone likes pictures; so here are a few, we’ll be putting more up and sharing some more details of the Fortis release soon. Thanks for hanging in there…
Fortis Barrel Bushings... these are great, probably no part captures the look of the original Bren Ten like these "castle" bushings. These are great looking parts!
Here are some of the smaller parts... hammers, struts, sears and more.
Not quite as shiney as the other parts... these are the heat treated pieces of bar stock that are used to make the slides. The pieces of bar stock are rough machined before heat treating, this is what they look like ready to go back into machining.
Again… thanks for hanging in there, and thanks for all of the great comments; we are working to make sure that the Fortis is everything you hope it will be. The Vltor Team.
Thanks for the update. Now! Back to work! Work, work work!
Getting really excited now!
Is the price still appearing to be in line at this point of proto-types?
I had funds saved and set aside burning a hole in my pocket, had to pull some for some car repairs,then bought up some ammo in bulk for shooting in some other guns, got back on the saving side yet ran into a motherboard going out so took the time to make some upgrades,then bought up some ammo in bulk for shooting in some other guns, got back into setting aside some income but the holiday season is approaching.
Exciting indeed, but I hope on I’m on the high side of my trying to save up rather than being on the low given the economy, the upcoming elections, and dealing with the tides of life.
However, I’d rather be late to the dance because you are taking the time to get it right. THANK-YOU.
Congratulations to Eric Kincel and Vltor for making this long awaited dream a reality. May the Fortis finally fulfill Jeff Cooper’s, as well as Dornaus and Dixon’s vision for the “ultimate combat handgun.” Incidentaly, everyone can now learn the whole story behind the vision and genius that went into the original design in the new book BREN TEN: The Heir Apparent. Check it out on bren-ten.com. Again, congrats to Eric Kincel and Vltor for a job well done—The Legend Lives On!!!
Thank you very much for the update and the pics look great! I know if anybody can make one correctly it is Vltor. I anxiously await (drooling) the next update!!
Thanks for the update!! Everything sounds and looks great! I wish I was one of the lucky ones that got to test one of the prototypes out, but I can happily wait for the full production model. For what it’s worth, I appreciate the fact you ARE taking the time to get it right the first time–you’re only new once.
Cool, thanks for the update!
It’s about time someone started from “scratch” with premium material for the major components.
Take your time. I can wait. Keep up with the pictures as production starts and we will all be very, very happy.
Thank you Eric and Vltor!
Great to hear and great to see the pic’s!
The small part’s certainly look beautifully done. I know this will be a quality product and I am sure desearving of it’s final price.
So I will start planning my move to AZ, since I am sure no matter how diligently you try to comply, the ever changing requiremnts the state of CA will not allow me to purchase one.
Good!!! Nice to see new-production crown-bushings again….!!!
I hope you get it right and in a timely manner in case the looming threat of one Barry Hussein Obaminatin and Joe “I am one of the original authors of the AWB-1994″ Biden reach 1600 PA AVE. If they get in, you can forget 15-round 10mm mags.
Please, HURRY!!!!!
As the owner of an original Bren Ten Standard Model I am definitely excited about being able to buy the new Vltor Fortis pistols as soon as they become available. I hope that Vltor does take the time necessary to make sure that everything is done correctly the first time, especially magazines being available & the gun being able to handle the FULL POWER 10mm auto as originally designed by Norma for the Bren 10.
This is an exciting project without doubt.
The possibility of the original “Bren Ten” Combat Auto Pistol, being constructed with the tightest possible tolerances, to the highest possible level of performance, in a package that can really handle the repeated wear and tear of a carry gun, using full power 10mm Auto loads is a twenty year aspiration.
Dornaus and Dixon were forced by many factors into compromises on design, R&D, and quality of production. This did not stop my Bren Ten SM model being without doubt the most accurate pistol I have ever fired, let alone owned for well over 16 years!
Seeing the new parts is a very fantastic moment in Handgun history. It brings back immediately all of the original excitement of the Bren Ten project.
What Vltor are attempting to do goes beyond mere commercial firearms interest. IF (and its a big if) they can hone the creation of this modern day version of the Bren Ten, harnessing all of the original features, pointability, accuracy and reliability (yes reliability for the Bren when set up right will run and run and run all day long without flaw) while taking away the flaws of poor quality control and low tolerance, etc etc which have been inherent in the design despit D&D’s best efforts – then I truly believe that the step forward in Handgun design will be with us. A century later then promised. But worth the wait!
This will be an all metal pistol, heralding an un dreamed of 15 round 10mm capacity if promises are kept to!
Vltor are to be congratulated and supported in this effort. They need to know that there are people out there that will spend $$’s in buying this gun if its brought out to the quality they are promising.
I would like to see D&D involved in the project if they wish to be. There dream is hopefully obtainable now! And in they end – they are the men that know this gun and its awesome potential the best.
For now – another review of the shots of some of the sundry parts of the pistol must be made once again. With 16 years of Bren Ten ownership and shooting under my belt – I’m more then keen to support this endeavour. Heck I will fly out to the factory and be happy to test drive a few.
And if Vltor produce these – yes they will be bought!
Keep up the great and inspiring work Vltor!!
TBC
THANKS for the info and update,keep it coming.
Looking good looking good!
To the Fortis team…I am so excited that you are bring back the Bren Ten. I own one and it is the queen of the gun safe. I have shot it but with all the stories of broken slides, slide stop pins, and cracked frames only my light handloads run through it and not very often. That is a shame because I have fired other big bore semi autos and the Bren with its CZ 75 derived grip really fits my average sized hand and is extremely accurate. I also have an EAA witness full size in 10mm which is my regular shooter. Similar to the Bren but since it is built on the .45 frame the grips are much wider than the Bren so while more comfortable to shoot than a 1911 (for me) it is still not as good as my Bren. When the Fortis is released for sale I am going to buy one and if you offer a conversion kit for .40 S&W one of those too. Keep moving. It is very exciting to see photos of the parts being manufactured for the prototypes.
Good Luck
I just found out about this and can hardly wait to get one. I’d send a deposit check now if you’d take it. This pistol will definetly put the 10mm back on the map and will take handguns to the next level. I’m a huge 10mm fan and missed out on getting a Bren the first time around but looks like that is going to change. The 10mm has been forced to live with pistols that really weren’t designed to handle it but the 10mm and the Bren were mated for each other. Get this pistol design right and I’ll bet you’ll have military and LE SWAT teams eyeballing it in a hurry. It would make a great military sidearm in this day and age. GOOD LUCK and more pictures please!
This is excellent news! I’m hanging on anxiously waiting for this pistol to come online for production. I sure hope to be able to get in on the ground floor. If you have a waiting list and start accepting deposits, I’m in!
I remember the scuttlebutt about the original Bren Ten. The firearm itself was a ghost … here, but not, … available, but not. Too bad. Sounds like you’ll have the first. Excellent. Can’t wait. Please keep me informed by e-mail, if possible. Thanks and good luck.
Please, please make a “Vice” model possibly packaged with a miami classic shoulder rig.
I have already started pinching my pennies in anticipation of this release, finally I will have a BREN FREAKING TEN BABY!
I was recently looking at my original Bren Ten SM wishing that I could bring it to the range to put a few rounds thru it. They were such great handguns. I am very patiently waiting to see if Vltor Weapons can actually make the Fortis pistol a dream come true for the many original Bren 10 owners like myself. I hope that in addition to making the Fortis a world class, greatest combat handgun to fulfill D&D’s & Jeff Coopers dream of a 10mm pistol, that they will also become a source of spare parts for the vintage guns so I can bring it to the range occasionally & not have to worry about any parts breaking & not being able to replace them. I also hope that Vltor will make magazines for the original Bren 10’s. Please keep the Fortis design a 15 round magazine & capable of shooting the full power,10mm 170gr. bullets at about 1200fps as originally loaded by Norma for the Bren 10. I am planning to buy at least 1 Fortis 10mm full size & would like to see a Miami Vice special edition with the hard chromed slide. As soon as they become available I am going to have my local FFL dealer order me one or two. Thank you & please take your time to make the gun 100% perfectly reliable & shootable the 1st time.
Thanks for the great communication on the project. I am looking forward to being able to check one out.
If your looking for individuals to take the initial run of the 10mm Fortis semi-auto’s out for range testing, please consider some of us.
Also if you are going to build a charter list of 1st run buyers, please let me know.
Current events prove to be pretty eerie relative to the Fortis project. I still remember what happened to the Peregrine Falcon and the savings & loan scandal. With, assume, working models already in testing, I would hate for this to go on the back burner.
Heard an ugly rumor. Vltor was contemplating using hexagonal rifling for the barrels! Say it ain’t so Eric. Had that in mt Springfield Omega. That gun could be made to shoot accurately but was REALLY persnickety about what you fed it. Didn’t like cast bullets either. Here hoping you stick with either traditional or the Power Seal rifling, especially with the pains taken to try & keep every thing elsa as close to original as possible.
B.
Myself and a friend are anxiously awaiting furthur news on the progress of this project. We both intend to purchase one when they become available. Please keep the updates coming as frequent if not more so than they are.
I see from previous comments that quite a few folks have expressed their willingness to purchase two pistols in different calibers. Be sure to add another such customer to your list (and remember that for every one who writes in that there are approximately ten who feel the same way and do not express themselves). Unlike many of your previous posters I never had the chance to own, shoot or so much as see in the metal an honest Bren 10, but always lusted after one. Now I feel free to lust after two (and here I thought I’d never have the opportunity to to participate in a menage a trois).
Just please, keep it clean. No decockers or ambidextrous anythings. And whatever you do, NO LIGHTRAILS! Those things are an abomination to all that is holy within the handgun universe! We all know how many clean designs have been corrupted with that ME TOO gimmick that never gets used. Please, please, please don’t fall into the same trap into which everyone else has been seduced.
But like everyone else who has posted on your site (even the few I disagree with), I am ecstatic about the eventuality of the Fortis Project and will be standing in line, check in hand when it is finally announced that it is indeed a reality and orders are being taken.
Hey
Today is a good day for an update. I am hoping for an McCain win. But I am from Chicago the best
of rotten politics. Thats why I moved to Florida Welcome to the GunShine state. How about selling
high cap mags now. So if there is a rush some of us would be ahead. Just keep up the good work
but an update would be nice
Thanks JD
Please start selling full capacity magazines! We will wait for the pistols. This is mandated by politics. Thanks.
Sure feels like time for another tease! How about it? Sink the hook a little bit more, please!
Eric, so you saw me on Halloween, Ray-Bans and all – So I mean business! Help me fill that Galco!!!
Looking forward to seeing what we talked about soon! Don’t forget to consider calling me for the doing the big photo shoot(s)!
Add another customer to your growing list of enthusiastic Bren Ten devotees. If the Vltor Team does indeed put together a charter list of 1st run buyers for the Fortis, please include me on your list. As my web name implies, the Bren Ten SFL is one of my favorite pistols. I applaud your endeavor and looking forward to your finished product. The Vltor Team has generated much excitement with recent announcements and I too share in the respondees anticipation. I especially enjoyed the fact that you are not rushing this product to market before undergoing extensive quality analysis. Where did you come up with the name FORTIS?
Semper FI!
Joe
Hi Eric… I still want #’s 171 and 172 to match my Brens. I keep looking for 111. Add some more updates! All my empty 10’s are loaded and waiting for a new Fortis!
i could care less if it looks like the bren ten
hell make it unique, make it YOUR pistol
all that i ask is you do it right, the first time
Hey with all the NObama bad news how about a good news update.
Thanks JD
Thank you for all that you are doing to make this pistol a reality. I’ve been around for other attempts to bring to market a high capacity 10mm handgun and you guys seem to be truly in it for the long haul. I’m anxiously waiting and committed to buy whenever you have it ready to sell.
With the recent election, I foresee a potential future problem with High Capicity Magazine availability for your pistol. Please consider this possibility as a problem. I am concerned that it could be a hurdle standing in the way of the success of this pistol. Either making high capacity mags by the thousands now, or making the pistol able to accept the high capaicity mag of another pistol, would seem to be the only real solutions to this problem. Tanfoglio 10mm and .40S&W hi-caps come to mind as the only true 10mm hi-cap magazines available in quantity. Perhaps there are others. I only want the release of this pistol to be as groundshaking as possible and hopefully be the cause of some new 10mm converts and hi-cap magazines are one of the major advantages that a full size 10mm pistol has to offer.
Thanks, AW
Get it out quick. Get it out right. The left is moving faster than we are. The next ban WILL include hi-capacity mags. They may cap it at ten or even eight rounds – but there will be NO sunset to the bill. It will be permanent and only an additional act of congress could ever bring our rights back. I know of which I speak. Trust me on this.
And that will not happen by a weakened Republican party. They would be branded by the media as the ones who brought back cop killing assault weapons. So make lots of mags. Get someone with deep pockets to finance the making of lots of mags. They will all be bought. You will make a fortune and provide all of us happy shooting experiences for years to come.
The 10mm is a great round. And it along with a handful of other powerful rounds may be tha last hi-powered cartridges to ever be developed. They could even ban the manufacture of new calibers but I do not think that is on heir radar for now.