MkII Inglis Bren Barrel Handles

[toolman846]

John Sukey - I recently found this forum while searching for info on Brens, to enable a semi-auto build on a kit I purchased. This kit came without a barrel, and the barrel I found has bad wood. The wood seems to be what I understand is referred to as "female" shape.

I have been a toolmaker and machine builder for several decades, and have experience with .50BMG rifles, as well as machining of .50BMG components for semi-auto conversions. I also have an extensive collection of special tools to facilitate work on my semi-auto pistols, such as delrin devices for securely holding slides without wounding them, for disassembly/assembly, driving pins in or out, etc. I would be happy to lend any tools I have (like a special jig for decompressing/recompressing the mainspring on a Remington Model 51, for cleaning/oiling/replacement) to anyone who thought they could make good use of them, or perhaps make one for someone who wanted to own their own. I work for free, because to me, workiing on guns isn't working at all - it's having fun.

If my email is not in my profile, let me know in this thread, and I will send it along, as well as my cell number for anyone who feels a personal conversation is a better way to explain what they need. Thanks for your time.

Jim

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[Peter Laidler]

Just a thought toolman, but you could make yourself a whole lot of money for free by making parts that were made from unobtanium up until now. No7 rifle parts for example...............

[toolman846]

I'm open to suggestions and reasonable requests. I work in a very gun-friendly environment, to put it mildly. We do have a couple of smaller (24x36 and 36x48) CNC machines, as well as a CNC lathe and a CMM. If anyone is interested I could try and put together a short list of my special tools available for loan, including such items as form-fit Luger barrel fixtures and auto pistol slide fixtures. Also have made unique tools to work on such things as 1917 Savage pistols (disassembly and reassembly of the bolt head), and a lot of High Standards (one of my passions). Also have items for working on Hi-Powers. I made myself a set of slim grips for one of my combat Hi-Powers, because, while I have large fingers, they're rather short, and with a normal grasp, I could touch the clip release, but not depress it (with the factory fat wood grips). Using my new micarta grips - which don't look too bad - which are flush with the frame sides, and secured with flathead socket head screws, I can now press the release as well, from a normal shooting grip. The clip safety has been removed on this one, to facilitate quick mag changes on the fly.

I have spent most of my life solving problems by dreaming up machines to take care of them, usually high-volume auto production pieces, and now in my old age (64) am having fun doing more of what I like to do and less of what I have to do.

Jim