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Hi! I have this demiled Bren MKII. He has one torch cut on the receiver. Is this hard to repair? Also barrel has torch cut but I know it's probably not possible to reweld barrel. I should buy new barrel. Here is picture of receiver.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_0475-1.jpg
Do you wish to repair/restore it for display purposes as a curio or do you want to restore it to working condition, if living somewhere where it is legal to own it in working condition?
Welcome to the forum... Yes, you can fill that with weld. The barrel as you say would be better replaced. Anyone that knows welding will know how to fill that and what to block it with from the back...then clean it up and refinish. You'll get a discoloration there...
You need someone who knows what they are doing to fix it right and not warp the receiver. Preferably put it in a Bren welding jig and make the filler sections from a cut Bren receiver. A skilled person might be able to do it without fillers and not warp the receiver. The good news is the cut is in a good location.
The cut is different from any I have seen. It doesn’t meet any standard for de-milling a receiver that I know of. Is there something welded inside the receiver to block a bolt from going in? The cut doesn’t look like it would keep the gun from operating.
Vincent....actually, I see cuts like that all the time on all kinds of MIL equipment up for auction/disposal. It matches the directives issued pretty much all over for a "destructive action" when disposal is ordered. Typically it is meant to convey the notion of the item not being warrant-able for serviceability.........ONLY.
You'll see this all the time here in USA with surplussed power sections....engines, gensets, gas generator sections, etc. Usually a cut in the flywheel or bellhousing.......typically totally repairable, but not in original condition.....they couldn't make any money if these items weren't usable again, but such a cut gives them a way out for any liability. The non-verbal way of saying "sold as-is, where-is".
No clue here on where this Bren is though.......
-TomH
Presumably there isn't another torch cut to the other side of the receiver??? Some more pictures would be useful if possible, please.
Hi everyone! This is the only torch cut on the receiver and it's clean so inside parts could operates without stoppage. They runs smooth in their rails. But it missing some parts inside; return springs and return spring rod. I have this Bren only like souvenir of WWII heroic times and like one of the best LMG's. Here is picture of torch cut from inside:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1_132138-1.jpg
Tom,
We are talking about machinegun receivers. I know what you are talking about, but that could be misleading to others. There are rules that cover how a machinegun receiver has to be destroyed or "demilled." As I said before the receiver in the pictures doesn’t meet any standard for de-milling a receiver that I know of.
Here’s a link to a BATFE page, Machinegun Destruction
Quote:
“The purpose of this procedure is to destroy the receiver or frame in a manner that will prevent its function and future use as a firearm. A proper method of destroying this firearm is to cut the receiver into separate pieces as follows. All cutting must be done with a cutting torch having a tip of sufficient size to displace at least ¼ inch of material at each location.
• Each cut must completely sever the receiver in the area indicated by the diagonal lines.
• The receiver must be completely severed in each area indicated with a diagonal torch cut.
• Cutting by means of a band saw or cut-off wheel does not ensure destruction.
•
Note: Alternate methods of destruction defining the proposed procedure must be submitted in writing to the ATF Firearms Technology Branch for review and approval prior to implementation.”
Another picture from inside the receiver. Bren is in Europe because I'm from there. I thought it's properly demiled, but when I decided to search Google I saw this is different from others demiled Bren's. Another pictures:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6_144226-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6_144949-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6_145014-1.jpg
If its not for close up museum standard and you "don't " intend to reactivate it, you can fill and sand that cut with nearly anything and with the right mix of colours paint it to near perfection.
Don't know which country you are in, in Europe but thats what is, what could be very loosely called an attempt at deactivation
I wouldn't imagine that the deactivation rules as we know them apply in your part of Southern Europe. So Vince and Tom, no need to worry about what the BATF would have to say. I'd say just fix it. There are probably hundreds down there from which to get your odd spare parts from
MK II, thanks for posting the additional pictures. Do you wish to repair your Bren gun just for display purposes or do you wan't to restore it to working condition? If it's only for display then the cut barrel could, no doubt, be made good but not for shooting purposes.
He's in Yugo so I have a feeling things are vastly different there. It can be filled with wire feed or rod, if the welder knows what he'd doing it will work fine for operation only...then dremmel the slag off the inside and blue it. He just can't do it all at one go.
Ah. When your location said “VA” I thought you and your Bren were in the State of Virginia. Now your location says Europe… where you are from. I am from Europe too, England. What part of Europe are you from?Quote:
Originally Posted by MK_II
Just click on the blue button showing info sniper, shows he's from Yugoslavia- Bosnia and Herzegovina ...Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
No rules there to cover gun legislation then!
Yes I'm from ex Yugoslavia, VA is codename for one little place where I'm born, I put it like my location then I changed because I saw everyone think I'm from VA, US state. Thank for all informations about Bren, I will keep it just for display purposes and like gift from one good man who was high ranked spanish UN officer. He said gun is demiled but I saw this mine is something different from others. But which kind of gun demilitarization is this, that's known only to person who did it :) Sorry if I made some mistakes beacause my english is not excellent. For the end I will post photos of whole gun
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_0162-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_0161-1.jpg
Sounds like a good place to collect old military surplus weapons. Is it possible to restore the Bren to working condition there?Quote:
Originally Posted by MK_II
Thanks BAR.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I noticed a Canadian Acceptance mark electro penciled on the breach block in the picture, post 7, and so is the gun manufactured By John Inglis of Canada? Is anyone able to tell from the pictures available, please?
I wondered if MK II was from one of the Greek islands where I believe that they have gun legislation but, on some of the islands, possibly a very relaxed and laid-back approach as to how it's interpreted.
I wondered what that blue dot was for at the bottom of the posts- learn something new every day.
This Bren has this marks on receiver: BREN MK II - Inglis 1944. Serial number is I(or 1)2T2589. This one is probably one of those which was sent like support for Yugo partisans or royal forces.
Yes, possibly partisan aid...
12T2589 is an earlyish 1944 gun.
To be honest, and thinking the maths and physics on my feet - you would only need a new barrel because the recoil load on firing would be transferred to the bolt, through the bolt, bypassing the bodyside and thence to the locking shoulder (which is well to the rear of the weakened body part). From there it'd travel through the body onto the buffer plate in the butt slide, be buffered slightly and the remainder of the loading would be transmitted onto your shoulder.
There....., find yourself a reasonably good barrel, clean out the buffer mech which is bound to be totally gummed/jammed up and you've got yourself a Bren!
There is some good information about how to weld a Bren receiver in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZotnLSaZfoI
Oh what it must be like to live in an understanding legislative State in the U.S. who appreciate great weapons, used by those who wish only history to be brought back to the range. Great video:)
That is well thought out and explained, Peter. It’s exactly why some older Bren parts kits here will fire a single shot despite the body being cut into three parts per BATFE specs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
For someone who grew up in England, it is beyond my wildest dreams. To have this freedom is a wonderful thing. To keep from getting into politics I will leave it there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd