Just a snippet of Bren info for you Bren fiends............

[Peter Laidler]

I expect that you have all heard of the problems with the first Mk1 Bren guns. Basically, and without boring you to death, the gas deflected from the barrel and gas plug hit the head of the piston. In an effort to get rid of the crud and shi...... er, metallic fouling and carbon, there were two lots of 6 holes to allow it all to escape. Alas, one set of holes was under the rotating SLEEVE, Bipod which after 25 or so rounds, solidified on the outside of the gas cylinder. So, to free it off, you twisted it left and right a few times. The trouble was that in doing so, the hard carbon quickly wore away the outside diameter of the gas cylnder and the inside diameter of the bipod sleeve. Allowing so much gas to escape that the gun failed to work!

Maybe Kevn G the photo maestro could show us the offending gas cylinder again, close to a bipod sleeve and point out the offending gas escape holes

Anyway........., are you still with me? As a result, the Army issued this instruction. Dated 8th March 1940, even before the guns had been in any sort of fierce action. Annex A (4) states
'Rotation of th gun in the bipod sleeve to break down the fouling should be carried out only when the firer feels that the gun is tight in the bipod sleeve as it is essential that the inside and outside diameters of the gas cylinder and bipod sleeve and the outside diameter of the nose of the gas block (on the barrel) should be maintained. Otherwise loss of power will result. (You bet it will..........). For the same reason scraping with any steel impliment or abrasive substance is strictly prohibited. The bore of the (bipod) sleeve will only be cleaned similar to that laid down for the gas cylinder'.

There were many even more dire problems to face the Bren before they were finally ironed out but it got worse before it got better because later, instructions were issued that if the gun was functioning OK and the bipod sleeve was jammed onto the gas cylinder, then you weren;t to clean it at all!

This must be the first and only time in the world of firearms where a soldier has been told NOT to clean his gas parts!

These instructions were issued as Weapon Training Memos and gave the training instructors more detail. Appendix C, issued on the same date gives instructions for the SIGHT, fixed line, Bren MG Mk1 and the POST, aiming, Bren MG Mk3, and LAMP, aiming, Bren MG, Mk3. It was this fixed line sight that was to be fitted into the front dovetail housing on the left side of your early Mk1 Bren. It didn't last long because shortly afterwards, fixed line firing reverted back to the big boys with their Vickers.

Hope that was interesting......... or even a little bit interesting!

Information

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[c310pilot]

Attachment 14388Attachment 14389Attachment 14386Attachment 14387

Appendix C, issued on the same date gives instructions for the SIGHT, fixed line, Bren MG Mk1 and the POST, aiming, Bren MG Mk3, and LAMP, aiming, Bren MG, Mk3. It was this fixed line sight that was to be fitted into the front dovetail housing on the left side of your early Mk1 Bren. It didn't last long because shortly afterwards, fixed line firing reverted back to the big boys with their Vickers.

Hope that was interesting......... or even a little bit interesting!

All ways nice to have pics

[Peter Laidler]

That's the beast.......... What factory is that Mk1 from? Serial number? The lensatic sights are rare birds indeed but the aiming posts and lamp are the same as the Vickers. And nobody can tell me why that are identified in the VAOS lists asfor the Bren, as in: LAMP, aiming, Bren MG Mk3

[Brit plumber]

OK, Guess time, I think its a 1939 gun, with a B or C prefix serial. It looks a little better finished than the early D serial number guns.

[c310pilot]

I have two - the one pictured is D5802 Enfield 1940 (new marking - D with the "E" slash)
the other is C4339 Enfield 1940 (old marking Enfiled spelled out with a Crown below it)

The site is marked 1939 and I have the orginal wood box it came it. Believe it or not I paid $250 for it last year from Ohio Ordnance Works. I don't think they knew what they had

[Kev G]

Peter I hope this illustrates the forward vent holes OK ? The forward gas vent holes in this SKN have been sectionalised out where they were but the rear ones can be made out.



ATB Kevin

[Peter Laidler]

Thanks for that info C-130 and KG. I have a 1940-C C-3441.

The pics are just the job KG and show the set of holes under the bipod sleeve. What were they thinking about. Clearly no one had told them that the deposits formed by Mk7 cordite turned into glass hard carbon. You don't really need to be a chemist to understand that. And that within a few minutes, would turn itself into grinding paste...................... Thanks again

[c310pilot]

Peter I hope this illustrates the forward vent holes OK ? The forward gas vent holes in this SKN have been sectionalised out where they were but the rear ones can be made out.



ATB Kevin

I have the front portion of a ZB39 and it was unissued. They put a sleeve inside the end and brazzed it in place in two spots to block those.

[Peter Laidler]

I'm bound to ask the question............. Where did the piston fit then if there was a bush/collar welded into the gas cylinder? I think that we had it right...... eventually. By eliminating the front holes altogether. But dear oh dear........., what a palaver getting there.

[c310pilot]

I'm bound to ask the question............. Where did the piston fit then if there was a bush/collar welded into the gas cylinder?

The receiver looks like it was counter bored as the sleeve has the same id as the gas bore of the receiver. And I mean its a PERFECT transition between the sleeve and the receiver.