What desk photos do you have?

[Peter Laidler]

Most people have a photo frame of the wife and kids on their work desk or office, but being a Bren owner takes one OUT of the mundane world, into a special world. And this is what a Bren owner keeps on his work desk.

A Mk1 L54A1 DP Bren gun. These dewat Bren guns are down graded to fully functional but totally unfireable Bren guns for training. This particular gun has been semi-converted to almost full Mk3 lightweight specification with the exception of the original 1942 Mk1 body.

The serial number has been re-numbered in 1963 with a number from what we call the 'lost or indistinct number batch' These numbers used to be the preserve of a batch commencing ZZ---- but from the arly 60's were numbered SA (small arms) 63 (year) A serial number prefix) 0001 (sequential number)

The change of designation meant re-engraving the body with the new L54 designation. These genuine L54 Brens are deemed to be the rarest of the rare.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lance]

Damn it......another item I would love to have but never will............. She is a beauty!

[Peter Laidler]

Someone asked in passing about the little red X on the magazine. This was a Miscellaneous Instruction requirement for certain magazines used on DP guns. Many of these magazines unofficially had the rear of the platform chamfered off to override the holding open device during training. While this was really an unofficial modification and not strictly allowed, it became by default, the norm and an 'acceptable' unauthorised modification! But in order that these 'training' magazines were imediately identifiable, it was decreed that '....be so marked with a suitable sized and distinct red letter 'X' on both sides'.

Now you know if you ever see such a beast

Just as a matter of interest, what's the lawful status of a dewat/deactivated Bren in the US and Canada. And just how lawful would a UK spec deact be? I often wondered.................

All have a merry Christmas

[neal455]

Happy Christmas peter & Family !!!

ATB

Neal

[Beerhunter]

Someone asked in passing about the little red X on the magazine. This was a Miscellaneous Instruction requirement for certain magazines used on DP guns. Many of these magazines unofficially had the rear of the platform chamfered off to override the holding open device during training.

When short of drill rounds, we used to wedge the platform with a coin. A half-penny in fact. (Not a half-Pee but a proper 240 pennies to the pound half-penny.)

[Peter Laidler]

I remember it well. The DP guns were p[articularly hard.... and harsh on drill rounds - particulatly .303 drill rounds. I remember going into the ammo compound and seeing thousands of still new in wrap rounds, still tied up in that pink paper. I asked the ammo storeman why they were there and not out in the training wing and he told me that if they had them, they'd just ruin them within a year............................

Words failed me. It's as though he was paying for them himself! He didn't have them for long as within 5 minutes I'd put in a demand from me the 2i/c, via the Training Major for every last one! And don't tell him, but I think I've still got 3 sealed packets in my drawer, all dated RG 25/10/50

[limpetmine]

The type of de-milled rifles and machine guns I saw in Normandy in 2004 are quite illegal in the US of A. I was speaking to a British reenactor about his kit, and he was quite willing to break it down for me (I've got pics somewhere). He was a policeman, former military. The extent of the demil on the rifle was a cut on the inside of the barrel, and a plug in the chamber. On this side of the pond, a Bren or Vickers would need the guts removed, and denial plates welded in place, with no means to change the barrel or chamber a round. Others may chime in, but this is what I've seen around, and sold from IMA. Some Stens are sold with solid aluminum receivers. Merely cutting a chunk out of a receiver does not render it "not a machine gun" in the eyes of the ATF, if it is "readily restorable" what ever that means. Bren receivers here must be cut into three pieces with 1/4" flame cuts.
Happy New Year to you and yours as well,
/limpetmine

Someone asked in passing about the little red X on the magazine. This was a Miscellaneous Instruction requirement for certain magazines used on DP guns. Many of these magazines unofficially had the rear of the platform chamfered off to override the holding open device during training. While this was really an unofficial modification and not strictly allowed, it became by default, the norm and an 'acceptable' unauthorised modification! But in order that these 'training' magazines were imediately identifiable, it was decreed that '....be so marked with a suitable sized and distinct red letter 'X' on both sides'.

Now you know if you ever see such a beast

Just as a matter of interest, what's the lawful status of a dewat/deactivated Bren in the US and Canada. And just how lawful would a UK spec deact be? I often wondered.................

All have a merry Christmas

[limpetmine]

Here is my demilled Bren Mk II, an Inglis. Loaned for a display and stolen.

[Peter Laidler]

Jeeeees, Limpetmine....., just HOW do you sneak out with a Bren? Is such a beast easily replaced in the US? Sad loss

[limpetmine]

It was the finest de-milled kit I've seen, and was to have been the basis of my semi-kit. It cleaned up very well, and the wood was great. The gas cylinder wasn't chopped, and the action cycled and hammer dropped. I'm still sick.....What kits that can be had today have been burned and cut through every mounting pin and just made a mess of. With parts missing that are near to impossible to find (the bolt handle, especially) No, the good ones have dried up. I have a replacement, but is missing a few odds and ends. (see above).
PL, were there ever any left handed shooters of the Bren? What with the offset sight, I would assume lefties would be a mortar man?
I guess the thief stuck the Bren in his waist band, 'sall I can figure...

Jeeeees, Limpetmine....., just HOW do you sneak out with a Bren? Is such a beast easily replaced in the US? Sad loss