Bren Mk II mgfr '42, unfired until 2013??

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Originally Posted by Kev G

Tom,hope the pics below help to point out the difference between Monotype and Inglis ?
ATB KG

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Kev,
Thanks! That is exactly what I am looking for...... ;-)

So....that at least gives me a mission now.....find Brit parts to match. Or not. Since this is primarily a shooter for me over here, it probably doesn't matter.

I am more inclined to keep the mis-match parts as they are, but at least now I am educated to know what to look for on the lower housing. For barrels, probably be straight luck as over here, you take what you find......as I am finding......having gone looking for parts, barrels, etc. , the last few days. I cleaned out IMA the other day of the last of their nice condition spare Mk II barrels, so its time to beat the bushes.

Just to stir the pot.....and create abject horror on the part of traditionalists......I spent most of today working up a magazine conversion for my intended 7,64x54R conversion. Barrel and bolt work seems to be easy, but the mag issue keeps raising its ugly head. So, I spent the day thinking outside the box.....and decided to go with a modified DP-28 pan mag! Best of both worlds it seems, and won't block the iron sights as it is not too tall. I have so many extra pans for my DP's that I found a donor and milled off the receiver adapter portion and set the CMM machine and digitized the needed areas, then spent about 3 hours lengthening it in the CAD drawing to fit the BREn magwell, measured from a cut parts kit section I have here. Tomorrow I am going to draw up a biasing plate to hold the front end of the DP pan securely and figure out where it needs to be tied down. Once I get the CAD done, I am going to print out a plastic 3D model and try to hand fit into the parts kit section mag well area and see where we are......really, it should work.....just machine the new block and TIG it back to the bottom of the DP pan. I have a great loader for the DP pans so it would very nice if I could make this work. There's just some thing about a DP..... ;-)

-TomH

Polish DP-28 @ July 4th celebration - YouTube

As Peter will tell you, at FTR or repair at a workshop parts were replaced without regard to manufacturer of the parts. They'd grab whatever part was next in the bin.

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Originally Posted by gsimmons

As Peter will tell you, at FTR or repair at a workshop parts were replaced without regard to manufacturer of the parts. They'd grab whatever part was next in the bin.

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Correct!

When Small Arms went through for overhaul. They were generally don 50 at a time of the same type of Weapon. So, EVERYTHING was stripped down to the last pin, spring Etc. ONLY the vital matching numbered components on a Bren.
IE: Barrel, Barrel Nut (Barrel locking Lever to you!) Breech Block, Receiver & Butt slide would be kept together. As they were matched & serial numbered. Also, if it was an LMG 7.62mm Variant. The Piston extention was ALSO kept with these parts.
As it too, was serial numbered. Peter as mentioned in a previous Post. Serial numbering the Butt slide was superfluous really. As TBH, the only 'Fitting' of it, really involved. 'Does it slide onto the receiver without binding'?......

If it didn't (Unusual) it was generally a Burr, or warped/ bent slightly.

Even during the Out Inspection phase. It WAS at times, the case. That the Barrel was slightly loose, with it's Matched & serial numbered Barrel nut (Locking Lever) due to in service wear.
in which case, the normal procedure. was to select the next barrel nut size up. Check for Headspacing & easy barrel removal & replacement. If it was Ok, then it was ENGRAVED (They were TOO hard to stamp. Without ruining/ damaging number stamps!) with that particular weapons serial Number. Rephosphated again, Suncorite spary painted. Oiled & fitted to the Gun.

Racks & racks of LMG's /Brens were churned out during My Time at Command Workshops. & Peter will also attest. That was a weekly occurance there at Warminster!

When repainted, Oiled up & New/ Refurbished Wooden furniture fitted. a Bren/ LMG Really DID look magnificent!...............:thup:

Okay......I just found out the serial number to this incoming Mk II.

Serial number is: T3129

From the above pictures showing a 1942 date and 'D' Daimler/Mono body marking......now with this added bit of info, who can tell me anything about it from that and this serial number.....??? ;-)

-TomH

T3129 will be late 1942, say September/October. Others may be more precise.

I look upon Bren Guns as akin to magnificent old ladies, likje your mum or grandma. Ladies that deserve all of the dignity and respect that you can bestow on them. When I see of Brens being messed about with in a way that is unbecoming, I think of lions in a zoo or performing in a circus.

After having been in action with a Bren (OK, albeit back in the middle ground where you'd expect the REME to be) you form an attachment to these magnificent beasts

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

When I see of Brens being messed about with in a way that is unbecoming, I think of lions in a zoo or performing in a circus.

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Respectfully noted, Sir.

I sense I may have touched a nerve with my recent discussions of caliber conversions......rest assured that I have no intentions of carving up either a Bren in the flesh, nor any of its hallowed history or honorable memories.

In fact, we're probably closer than you might imagine in our desire to honor and maintain that heritage of these great pieces. Where we diverge is only in the practice of our mutual religion, in this regard. I am reminded:

Oscar Wilde claimed that "(the) Americans and the British are identical in all respects except, of course, their language".......in this case, I'd alter that to the way we practice our preservation and honor of military relics. To me, the very best way I can honor this Bren Mk II that I have coming here soon, is to take it and do exactly what it was designed to do with it......shoot it. Being able to still shoot such a bit of history here is way more than just an accident of my living here, it is holding onto the actual value of these historical memories, sampling them, drinking them in in all their intoxicating form as you see, feel, hear and smell all the virtues these living history articles can communicate.

So, please make no mistake, trying to find ways to keep these fine relics running as they were intended is no dishonor on their heritage, nor on the people that made them, nor on the circumstances and dark times that forced their making and use.

-TomH

Update- Transfer has been approved, I should have the Mk II here in my mitts around August 7th!!

Pictures and videos to follow, appropriately.

-TomH