The restoration, (BDL FTR), of a Bren Mk.1

[Brian Dick]

jmoore, speaking of the other potential problem of too much friction. When I first demoed my 1945 Inglis Mk.2 post sample in the mountains of Virginia for a group of British folks and my close friends who owned the place, we ran about 450 or so rounds through it without a hitch. I changed a barrel and then the owner of the property and range sat down behind it as we had it on the tripod. Naturally, as soon as she squeezed the trigger, the bolt came forward stripping the round from the magazine and the gun didn't fire! Another British dealer with some experience on Brens scratched his head, (as I did too!), and we took it apart, inspected everything and found nothing at all wrong. Then dummy me went to my tool box as a last resort, gave the rails in the body a squirt of weapons oil and guess what? Off it went again for another 400 rounds or so. The girls were even hitting four ounce bottles of tannerite at 100 yards with it too, (big bangs!), making it a happy day for all. The moral of the story is that too much friction can definitely stop a Bren as Peter says. I learned from experience!

[jmoore]

Thanks for the info. As one of the first ones to get a closed bolt semi-auto BREN, I wasn't altogether suprised to have some dramas, but it turns out that its woes stem primarily from a gas cylinder thats washed out 0.020-0.030" around the exhaust ports. Its really more of a paper weight now that my cheap ammo supply has dried up; I'm not a big class three guy anyway. The thing that really turns me off on the semi is the extra effort required to charge the weapon, I used to "run about" w/ it at Ft. Benning and shoot it offhand (and mostly lefty to boot!! ). Unload and show clear was easiest by snatching off the mag and barrel...

I did run the Mk 1*(m) by the mfg's "mobile home" factory(really, really rural!) and he "tweaked" it a bit, but the underlying drama remains. From talking to him, he never really intended to do the series production himself, but he ended up getting saddled w/ the whole project. He's really more an Idea guy and an OK fellow, but its just him working more or less alone. I felt a bit guilty taking up so much of his time 'cuz I've been there myself! Oh,well... it looks nice anyways. Maybe one of these days it'll get back on the front burner.

[Brian Dick]

I'm not much on expensive "paper weights". I'd acquire the Mk.3 gas cylinder and replace the worn/pitted one. I know the manufacturer and still say that these things shouldn't be sold without proper testing. The firearms I sell don't go out the door if they're out of specification. Some of the crap people bring me to fix leaves me speechless. I had an Ishapore 2A here just last week that fit that description. One of those good deals from another seller. I won't go into it but the owner is much smarter than I so best of luck to him! ATB.

[Brit plumber]

Hey Brian, Good job, is there a serial number left on the receiver? If there is, can you let me know, I'm compiling a list of remaining Brens, it will fall between E3254 and F606.

Cheers, Chris.

[Brian Dick]

E8482

[Brit plumber]

Thanks Brian,

Here is my 3rd stage.



Cheers, Chris.

[Kev G]

J-M and others, there's only one reason for a Bren Gun not to function properly and that is broken down into two parts.
1)Not enough gas or
2)Too much friction.

A good dose of this should cure both problems !

ATB Kevin

[limpetmine]

You been hanging around with Ed?

A good dose of this should cure both problems !

ATB Kevin

[jmoore]

The Edward Horton School of Humor._____________________________!!