I bought a Bren kit

[Peter Laidler]

CRD= Climax Rock Drill barrel. S= second barrel (NOT spare.....). R 7893 = barrel number matched to a UK made gun. The xxT, Inglis and other engraved numbers are all pretty well self explanatory.

I'd clean it up, bead blast it, phosphate and paint it (just barbecue paint will do as it's a non runner), assemble it but click the magazine in properly next time!. Then mount it on a piece of English oak. Leave the weld lines for all to see with a brass platre engraved

BREN GUN 12T4185 1943 - 2011
the finest machine gun ever to grace the battlefield

[peregrinvs]

What part is the 'C.R.D' stamped on? It probably means its a British made item made by the company Climax Rock Drill & Engineering Works Ltd. They made barrels and barrel locking nuts.

[Brit plumber]

The barrel on the gun is a early daimler monotype barrel with out keyway, confirmed by the number R7893 and the C.R.D. on the regulator housing and is from 1942.

7T5457 on the barrel nut indicates its from 1943

Now the intresting bit. the 12T serial number of the gun puts it at 1944, not 1943 as the markings indicate. Is the gas gut in that section matching to that of the part infront of it? I've got records of other guns with earlier serial numbers than yours confirmed as 1944. It is possible that this guns body was reworked or was at the back of the pile untill it was serial numbered in 1944.

[GUTS]

Thanks for the information guys, I appreciate it. Here is the rest of the numbers. I found an overstamped number on the barrel that's on the gun and some more marks on the extra barrel. The torch cuts on the reciever seem to match up, I think the four pieces I have are from the same reciever.


This is the stamped out number on the installed barrel.


Here is another 43 stamp








Here is the extra barrels markings.

My machinist friend said he'd do all of the machine work on the reciever for me for no charge, but it may take a while cause he's real busy. It should be worth the wait, I'm really starting to like this gun.

[Peter Laidler]

I agree with BP. A 12T gun should be from earlish 1944. The 1944 series starts from approx 11T 9xxxx to 15T 25xx. Maybe the '43 dated gas cylinder is from another parts kit. Not something you need to worry about unless you're going to havew it made into a single shotter. But rest in the knowledge that you have in your hands the finest....................... We've all said it a zillion times before so just enjoy it

Right...., listen in. DOWN, TEST AND ADJUST.................... With a magazine of 30 rounds........ wait for itttttt..... LOAD! READY (cock the gun and set the sights.....) The twin figure 11 targets will make 4 x 5 second appearances at irregular intervals over a period of 90 seconds. Fire short bursts at each target. You will be penalised for any rounds left at the end of the detail. Does anyone NOT understand the fire orders? WATCH AND SHOOT........ WATCH AND SHOOT.

I wish I had a penny for every range order I'd given for those magnificent Brens

[Brit plumber]

Please sir, can I have some more ammo?

[WallyG.]

I've seen a good many of these cut up guns here in the US (I hand sorted 30-40 parts kits) and based on these prior observations... the front end of this Bren gives all indications that it is the one that it left Inglis with... I am basing this opinion on the cuts pictured in the first image.... so I support the position that the missmatch of serials must be explained by something other than receiver parts swaping... which does happen but in my experience is rarely found when the rest of the receiver matches like this one does... the general demil process was that the torch cutter would do his three cuts and then wire together or box the bits as a unit... in some cases related parts were separated later in the parts kit's journeys but not as a general step in the demil process. But I could be wrong

[Brit plumber]

On seeing the closeups I agree, it looks like this gun was either at the back of the stack for a while or it was sent back for rework prior to being completed and serial numbred.

[GUTS]

When I opened up the box the four reciever pieces were wired together with a very stout piece of wire, you couldn't untwist it by hand.

---------- Post added at 12:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

I agree with BP. A 12T gun should be from earlish 1944. The 1944 series starts from approx 11T 9xxxx to 15T 25xx. Maybe the '43 dated gas cylinder is from another parts kit. Not something you need to worry about unless you're going to havew it made into a single shotter. But rest in the knowledge that you have in your hands the finest....................... We've all said it a zillion times before so just enjoy it

Right...., listen in. DOWN, TEST AND ADJUST.................... With a magazine of 30 rounds........ wait for itttttt..... LOAD! READY (cock the gun and set the sights.....) The twin figure 11 targets will make 4 x 5 second appearances at irregular intervals over a period of 90 seconds. Fire short bursts at each target. You will be penalised for any rounds left at the end of the detail. Does anyone NOT understand the fire orders? WATCH AND SHOOT........ WATCH AND SHOOT.

I wish I had a penny for every range order I'd given for those magnificent Brens

It's a pleasure and an honor to recieve information on this great weapon from a fine Soldier like yourself, Thank you Sir!

[tankhunter]

And may I add: An Absolute pleasure to actually KNOW Peter & belong to that Exclusive Club as a fellow Member of 'The Armourers Association'!.........Pete, may I publically Thank your Mum for Bringing you into this World!