Bren transit chest plans?

[Peter Laidler]

I have a funny feeling that these were originally VB gun boxes and it was a case of utilising these for all as opposed to making them especially. They had VB's long before they had Brens. On the other hand, maybe we continued using the original long box because we didn't see any point in having a mixed fleet. Or, maybe common sense prevailed and someone high up the food chain in the Ordnmance world thought about making short ones until someone whispered in his ear '............ if it ain't broke, then don't fix it....!

[LesterH]

Peter, Brens have been in short supply for about a year on the UK D/A market and prices have gone up. Inglis and Lithgow brens are the most common on sale at the moment. Four years ago I paid £215.00 for my 1943 Inglis MKII bren and two years ago I paid £325.00 for a 1942 Inglis MKIm ( and it is a very good one). Average bren worth about £400 retail at the moment. MkI brens are the most sought after, especially if they are Dovetail. In my opinion the Inglis brens are the best made. However both of mine may have been in long term storage and never seen much use. Only tend to see an Enfield bren when someone sells one from their private collection. The trade are buying in Dovetail brens for £400. Hardly any L4 7.62mm brens about other than rough South African Army versions,£650 to £850, but you really have to be despirate if you want one of those!
Thank you for the info in the above posts. Lester

[Brit plumber]

dont under estimate the Lithgow guns, I really like them, they may be common over here due to the 90s imports but they are actually quite scarce, you only need to ask in the USA and Australia to find that they didn't get to many sent over. The price of the SA 7.62mm Brens is absoloutly mad, they couldn't shift them a few years back and now theres a few dealers (UK based) who insist on selling them as L4s at almost L4 prices.

[Kev G]

I have a funny feeling that these were originally VB gun boxes and it was a case of utilising these for all as opposed to making them especially. They had VB's long before they had Brens. On the other hand, maybe we continued using the original long box because we didn't see any point in having a mixed fleet. Or, maybe common sense prevailed and someone high up the food chain in the Ordnmance world thought about making short ones until someone whispered in his ear '............ if it ain't broke, then don't fix it....!

The UK transit chest DDE's for the period India recieved VB's shows the 'normal' length transit chest as do commercial Vickers booklets which I would imagine they would have been exported in.As the UK drawings also refer to the conversion of Lewis and Vickers chests I think it is more of a case of 'make do and mend' rather than 'if it ain't broke....'
I would have thought the original boxes would have lasted until the Bren came into service there ? Is there any mention of this in 'The MGO in India' ?
With the 'concessions in war material and construction of wood boxes in service use' in early 1940 giving alternative timber types and reccomendations for reducing timber thicknesses , making a smaller chest would have helped a gread deal in ecconomising timber usage I would have though regardless of mixed fleets ?
Anyway from cost,materials and logistics a smaller chest with less fresh air as per the smaller Indian version seems a good idea , but then again I have had no dealings the govermental procurement !

[LesterH]

Brit Plumber. I have no problem with Lithgow Brenguns. They only made the Mk1 and then up graded to MKII barrels. Easy to get awy with mis matched parts on a Lithgow. I just seem to prefer Inglis's. D&B militaria charge huge amounts of money for Brens and Bars. They have sold more 7.62mm Brens that served in the Falklands Islands that the ones actually sent there. An empoyee told my friend Sandbags this particular 7.62mm Brengun had been with the Paras in the Falklands Islands. My mate who was in 3 Para, in the Falkland Islands later made a point of showing D&B the photographs two Bren guns they had.
I missed a bargin about four years ago at the War and Peace show. I was buying a L1A1 with wood furniture and a Type 56 AK47 from the Dynce Hill stall. Thay had proper British 7.62mm Brenguns in their transit chests. wood work on these Brens was new and they had extending leg bipods. They were selling them for "only" £650. A year later they were being resold for £1000 to £1200 with no transit chest. Missed my chance to own one! Best regards, Lester

[Brit plumber]

I was only ribbing you Lester, I like the Inglis Brens too. Did the Dince Hill guns look like my L4A3,



Mine is a Interarms refurb/production but I believe all the left over parts from that FTR contract were sold to Dince Hill who carry out there own conversions and are marked as DHH and have markings on the right rather than left (I think anyways). Kev G has one and I'm sure he posted a pic of one a while back. Hopefully he will be along soon to comment further.

Going back to the Lithgow Brens, I reckon I've managed to get most versions now, I'll type a short list up and if anyone can think of any others then let me know (Excuding Trials/experimental)

Mk1 DD
Mk1 A
Mk1 B with dished gas shield
Mk1 B with flat gas shield
Mk1 A upgraded
Mk1 B upgraded
Mk1 FTR with SLAZ Mk2 Butt

[LesterH]

Brit Plumber, Yes, from memory almost identical. Dynce Hill are an armerments procurement company. Obviously making money from "live" arms. D/A guns are a side line. My Type 56 folding stock, AK47 was as new and never used.£120.00. The SLR he sold me was an obvious refurb. However I wanted a 1960 gun. This one was a BSA retro rebuilt to 1960 spec, with wood furniture. Cooling holes instead of slots. This was the only wood SLR on sale at the War and Peace Show that year, for £300. The late Tony Budge of Ryton arms was selling Plastic SLRs fir £375. Tony sold me an SLR bayonet for £7.50. ( He was always a gentleman) Dynce Hill had the scabbards for £10!

[Kev G]

Yes DH recieved MK2 converted bodies to L4A3 spec Enfield marked and also converted MK2 bodies themselves to L4A3.

Brit can you elaborate on what changes you have to differenciate between -
Mk1 A upgraded
Mk1 B upgraded

The very early MKI DD's were also different in that they had the Enfield type machining around the trigger pin. (another variation)
The last variation with the MK2 butt and MA metalwork are also found with the MK2 carry handle (MA marked)

ATB KG