Brens - 42rocker collection, parts kits at this time

Well while I was working on taking a few Bren Tripod pics I thought I would take a quick pic of the reason for the tripods. Brens of course. They are all parts kits at this time. They are on the building list but it will be 2019 before I start in on building I'm sure. Over half the parts kits are mgs (bad style cuts) but the rest are IO (good building style) cuts. Also have 2 double dovetail kits that were cut real real bad, might end up as display models. But it's what I have and planning to work on.

Brit plumber
Planning on getting the kits out and taking pics and serial numbers and will send you a few numbers.

Later 42rocker

Attachment 96715

Nine parts kits is it? Nice...

yep land of the free.....unlike this crap country

9 more or less. I have not done a count and there might be a few more around someplace. In the US we have to rebuild to spec's to make it into a semi auto or have legal issues unless we have a class 7 and sot. Then you can restore them to their Full glory. After I finish a couple of projects then I'll be working on these.

Later 42rocker

42, do you have a favorite operating system, from all the previous builders of semi auto Brens? They all seem similar to me, as they require a striker system. But I am not a builder, so I am sure to have offended someone with my over simplification of individual builds.

Interesting variation on the extreme right.

I've got 4 Brens now. Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, and last week a L4A3. I would say MY Bren collection was complete if I had a 2 more. Would like a DD Mk1 and although not a Bren a ZB26 or 30. I would be willing to help you save some time and take the DD off your hands.;) I love the Bren and I think it is one of the best bag for the buck kits to build. Nice collection, looking forward to seeing them built.

Well I stated that it might be in 2019 before I really started working on getting things straight, or somewhat straight. So here we are a little over a year later.
I've worked on cleaning the torched area and cleaning the lower slot so I could get all of the pieces to slide on to a lower slide. That done I'm now taking notes and trying to get things ready to start welding up. Have broken the lists down to mk1 and mk2 with one mk3 to boot. I have added a couple of parts kits since and one more cut receiver. Today I just received 2 cut pieces from Brian at BRP. Both are the front areas for mk1 DDT with the Kings Crown.
Now I'm trying to find which lowers are needed to match to all of the different receivers. To that end anyone that can help with the following thread
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=21856
it would be Great. Or information where I can check things out. How many different types of lower slides were there and which types were made by which company and on.
Sorry to say that I've received many piles of mixed parts and very few single full complete parts kits. In one deal I bought I received 3 cut up receivers in one box and a pile of lower slides, over 5 slides in another box and lots and lots of parts in another. But that's the way I do things. So looking for info on what goes to what.
I almost have the list on my mk1's together and working on the mk2's, with only 1 mk3 that part was easy.
Next lists are of the lower slides.
More Later

Later 42rocker

I remember seeing that gunpile. Remember, humble beginnings start with the single blow of a hammer...

hammer? Been using a grinder a lot. LOL

Last hour I've been checking in a box full of Bren parts that I received from BRP.
Parts from Vickers to Bren to MG34. Fun sort.

Later 42rocker

I am sure a certain person who has worked on one or 2 will try and help you with them.

There are no flies on HM here she is having a crack firing an automatic weapon and an earlier pic of her majesty on the range very early on she is the only monarch to have served in WWII and reign as queen she also drove trucks in WWII and is a mechanic so quite the talented person she is, good on her I reckon:thup:

It may be easier to post photos of what lowers you want identifying.

Off the top of my head there are at least these lowers:-

2 Types of Mk1 from Lithgow
2 Types of Mk2 from the Monotype scheme
2 Types of Mk1 from Enfield
2 Types of Mk3 from Enfield
2 Types of Mk1 from Inglis
1 Type of Mk2 from Inglis

And then there’s some Mk2 officially/un-officially converted to Mk3 style. There’s probably more like the Indian lowers and ZB types that could have got mixed in your boxes too.

Thanks for the HM pics. One of the Very Few Folks that I Honor. She did her Part.

Brit Plumber
THANK YOU for that info. I've been trying to start with the Receivers then add in the lowers. I'll be getting back with you with serial numbers as I "hope" to finish up making a complete list by this weekend. And lower pics also.

Thanks to All that Help out.

Later 42rocker

AmEngRifles
Any semi system that I like? Well one that another Fla person showed how to do on his old website. Pirate of Project Guns did a Bren Gun build tutorial and I like what he did. He also did 3 u-tubes on how to build a Bren. So until I know better I'm going to follow his lead. Have one jig that used to be one of the top jigs out there. Then I have another jig that I had made up. Last I have a starting jig that I made. Now to just get some welding up time. Right...
Daan Kemp
That interesting one on the far right. Yes, I like that one also. A walking cane with the HMS Victory one one side of it and Nelson on the other side. Had the pleasure of going on the HMS Victory one time. Have several books on the Victory and Nelson, both good subjects.
dlbard
Well you are going to need to do like I did, look around a lot then buy one. A place you can try buying something from is BRP and add that piece to a nice parts set that will fit the program. Good Luck.

Sorted out parts last night and this morning and was planning to finish tonight but did a house call and bought between 400 and 500 Military Books and spent the night away getting the books packed and into our cars. Tomorrow my Wife and I will take them to our book store and sort and review them. I hope that tomorrow night I'll get to work on the Bren's again. Take and post pics, or at least that is today's plan. I'll see what happens. Sorry to say no Bren books, but some sub books and lots of Great Military books.

Later 42rocker

If you are of a mind to part with some of the Vickers bits, let me know what you have. I am always on the look out for parts to keep mine going.

I'd be tickled to have a Bren of any flavor. I have a stock of hard primered Radway Green the Vickers does not like.

old tanker, my Dad was in Sherman Tanks WW2. Was just up at Knob Creek in Oct, 2019 a few weeks ago. I wish that I had a few Vickers parts to spare but need to build mine first. After that I might have a few spare parts. One of my go to guys is Brian at BRP on several different weapons. Good Luck in keeping her running. I just got another working leg on my Vickers Tripod that I got from apex, Thanks Brian/BRP for the parts I needed, also Thanks Dave at Sarco for the rear leg and Numrich for the parts needed to get that rear leg working on the tripod.
Well Wife left for Church Choir so going to dig out the camera and take a few pics of some Bren lower slides and try to get them posted up on this site to try to find out what type that they are.

Later 42rocker

42 Rocker, send us an update when you get some time. How has the welding been going? I suspect, since you spend time with BRP, you have seen the "new" ATF approved center sections they are selling. Very nice MkI variations. Some DD's and some not. But as they point out, almost ALL the critical sections have been retained, so much less work in fitment.

If you do follow Project Guns build guide, I would still getting in touch with Cini-Fortis here and asking for some recommendations on the recoil/striker assemblies. I updated my MkIII Project Guns Bren with his recommended recoil striker and spring set and the gun runs very well. I thought Project Guns striker left something to be desired.

Hope all is progressing smoothly.

AmEngRifles
Update a friend posted on 1919a4 website and some great info showed up in that thread on lowers. Have sorted a few things out ground a few things and was moving forward. BRP, well the last time I talked with Brian was a few hours ago. Getting a few parts for the Bren mk2 tripods that I'm rebuilding. On the Bren's I have been working on getting a mk2 ready for welding back together. Also working on getting the back end on a mk1 back together so I can then splice in a nice double dovetail piece that I got from BRP. Now of course CHRISTMAS and Family are in play so it will be a few days before I get to start working on the Brens again.
BRP does have some nice Bren receiver pieces. I do have some. Almost bought another one today but.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone.

Later 42rocker

Like 5 years later.

Update, due to cal50 and a few other things I bought a ZB30J to go on my ZB tripod.

More another day.

Later 42rocker