bren gun transit case questions

[newcastle]

Hi i have a couple of old bren gun cases to refubish. Couple of questions:
1. Is the wood Pine?
2. Does anyone have the specs in terms of thickness of the wood?
3. Any suggetsions what specifically I can best use to replace the canvas which acts as a seal behind the hinges.
Finally I am really trying to avoid replacing the lid which is badly cracked because it still has stickers and transfer records dated 1938 written in greek (literally) on the inside, so what should I use to glue it. I am considering gorilla glue, marine epoxy or standard wood glue. which is best?
actually REALLY finally, does anone have a set of hinges and clasps for one of these things kicking around for my second chest?

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Box lid. Clamp together across the top. Mount lid vertically/upright in a vice and drill through widthwise at 3 equidistant points then use wood glue to join AVOIDING GORILLA GLUE LIKE THE PLAGUE......... Now use the correct size wood dowels, glue the holes and dowels and knock dowels in. Allow to dry/cure and the lid will be as solid/stronger than the day it was made

The canvas was just heavy duty lorry canopy. To repair them the Equipment Repairers shop just used old khaki kitbags that were made from the same stuff. I think the wood was called 'pitch pine'. Maybe TBone can tell us what is the correct name but it had to be knot free. The top seal was horsehair matting.

BDL will have a source for the canvas

Next question.........................

[newcastle]

Is there any significance to the interior of the box being painted orange at all. Were they all like this or is this a greek thing? And do you have any suggestions about how to tighten up the dovetail joints at the corners. They are still holding tight but have dried out and spaced out a bit over the years.

[Kev G]

Chest material list -



1940 Alternative list (handwritten-not yet official)



Orange painted insides of chests are ussually signs they have been through Austrailian hands at some point.

Lid,sides,ends and bottom are given as 3/4inch

Will have a look for furniture when it stops raining.

ATB Kevin

[newcastle]

Attachment 28559Thank you sir. If you can come up with a set of hinges and clasps I will be very very appreciative. Interesting that the orange interior may mean Australian links. The paper pasted inside the lid has a double headed eagle which could be one of many places.

[Brit plumber]

The 1938 Greek paper work must be a date other than 1938. By the end of 1938 Enfield had produced approx 7000 Brens so I doubt they would have sold any to the Greeks, especially when they must have had an Idea that war was on the horizon, not only that, but as far as I'm aware Enfield could only make guns under licence for the dominions, the Greeks would have to purchase Brens from BRNO.

[newcastle]

Let me check when I get home tonight. Of course I can't actually read the greek stuff so it might say something like - "Date of manufacture" and then 1938 is written beside it.

[newcastle]

And anyone - tips for revitalizing Dovetails without taking them apart??? If there are none then I guess I might have to dismantle.....

[grant580]

And anyone - tips for revitalizing Dovetails without taking them apart??? If there are none then I guess I might have to dismantle.....

Hello Newcastle, regarding the loose dovetails, there is a company here in Canada called 'Lee Valley tools' and they sell a product called 'the Chair Doctor'. It is a very low viscosity, water based glue which apparently soaks into the smallest of cracks, swells and then freezes in the swollen state as it cures. I have not used it personally, but anything Lee Valley sells is top-notch and would not hesitate to use anything they sell. You might want to consider trying this before disassembling the chest because that is going to turn into a big job I would suspect without seeing your chest. The reason I say this is because once you have it apart, you will have to re-glue the corners with wood glue and the squeeze out of excess glue will have to be removed and that will ultimately require you to totally refinish the chest which you may not want to do. You may also risk cracking or breaking the pins and tails of the joint. You could first try the Chair Doctor on a scrap piece of wood and see how it works.

The rope handles are as Peter says, a sisel type of rope and I have some specs on that rope that have been measured from an original chest--- the rope is 5/8 in diameter and 22 inches long in total. This handle is woven in the middle where your hand would fit to make it bigger in diameter. I would also suspect the wood used to make these chests is 5/8 inch think, just like the No 15 mk 1 chests, but am not 100% sure as I don't have a chest here.

Lastly, I don't have any hardware for these chests, but I do have a complete set of plans on how to make them. If you are interested, PM me and I can send you a copy. Hope this helps.

RG

[Kev G]

Twin headed eagle of Zeus symbol is for Greek General staff (I think)
It can be seen on the Greek Armed forces website -
Hellenic Army General Staff - Home

ATB KG