Inglis 7.92mm Bren

[MGMike]

Whatever they were, they were not lunchbox guns. Over the years I have seen perhaps 8-10 of these 7.92mm examples, all in near-new condition, pantograph engraved "BREN Mk I", though clearly they are Mark II. Save that and the machine-stamped s/n, there are no ID marks anywhere, not even on the spares and accessories that came with them, or on the original packaging. I have information showing that at least 26 of these guns came into the US in the period 1963-65, with s/ns ranging from a low of 1-5343 to a high of 2-8045, notably including 2-0000 but not 1-7813.

M

[Peter Laidler]

Re the Mk1 or 2 designation MGMike. The Mk1 tag on a supposedly Mk2 gun is because it might LOOK like a .303" Mk2 gun, it is in fact a Mk1 gun when it's in its 7.92mm configuration. This is noted in a small part of the very early instructions for the UK L4A1 guns, where the papers refer to the fact that the '....some breech blocks and extractors will bear the calibre 7.92mm as these have been remover from Canadian made Guns M/c BREN, 7.92mm Mk1'. But apart from that and a list the 7.92mm gun part numbers that differ from the standard gun, there is very little in our archives here.

They're clearly not lunchbox guns as they bear serial numbers!

[MGMike]

Well, that solves the "Mark" mystery, at least. Thank you for that bit of intel. I always wondered why it appeared to be mis-designated.

M

[Brit plumber]

It would appear there were thousands of 7.92mm guns made, at least 8000+ with a 0T serial number, 23,000 with a x-xxxx type serial number and 16,000 CH Chinese contract guns (These numbers are from serial numbers not production figures) So where are the 47,000 7.92mm Mk1s? Cos I want one!

[Kev G]

Thanks for the info MGMike on these MK2 guns pantographed MKI 7.92 and lack of markings on these guns.



The only other identifying feature on them is a seperate 'serial number' on top of the body just forward of the barrel nut housing.
A few examples -






These numbers are not the same as the serial number of the gun,but appear to increase in numerical value the higher the serial number.

The serial numbers of these guns goes into the high 3-2xx range (from a US owned example)
Mine are 1-5161 and 2-3475

Can anyone else give any serial numbers ?

I am also very interested in contacting anyone with another complete example (as opposed to just the body) as the examples I have seen so far have an internal design/manufacturing difference to 'normal' 303 or CH/0T 7.92 Brens.

ATB Kevin

[MGMike]

Kevin. Neither of yours shows up on my list.

I don't own one, though I could have bought three of them in 1968 and foolishly did not. I don't recall seeing the secondary numbers you have pictured, but that doesn't mean they weren't there. I do recall seeing what appeared to be a selective-fit number on the barrel latch (presumably 0-3 or 4), like the bolt heads on No. 4 rifles.

M

[Peter Laidler]

MGM. The Bren barrel nuts have a uumber on them according to their size, in order that the barrel nut actually tightens up the barrel. It originallt went from 0 to 5 (6 sizes) but later, during the L4 era, a few more were added. The barrel nuts were a VERY hard material. Because they were easily removed from the gun body, the gun serial number was engraved or etched onto the lever part. You could try stamping the number with the number stamps but the hard barrel nut would just blunt the hard number stamps

I will have some firm comments on these oddball serial numbers soon. I cannot comment yet because the Bren book disc is away being publishd as we speak and it's also on my old computer during a changeover of computer and systems

[Kev G]

MGMike, re - "...at least 26 of these guns came into the US in the period 1963-65,..."
can you say where these guns were imported from ?

Peter,on the question of the MKI designation would 0T and CH prefix serial numbered 7.92 Brens also come under this ?

As I mentioned in an earlier post these 7.92 x Brens (x because I'm not sure how to designate them to differentiate them from 0T/CH 7.92's) have a couple of manufacturing differences from standard.As the sample is small and gleaned from info on tracked down guns I can only say this has been noted on all feedback so far.
If anyone reading this has one of these 7.92's could they inspect the piston extension for a manufacturing repositioning of the piston location pin and give some feedback ?



The big question is WHY ?

ATB Kevin

[Brit plumber]

Kev, How do you do it? Finding 3 7.92s? I havn't even seen 1 in the UK yet! You lucky so and so!!

Did you see this one, what a pitty.

Bren , 7.92 , 8M/M, MK1 cut receiver #1 : Parts Kits at GunBroker.com


ATB, Chris.

[Warren]

Inglis 7.92 Bren: CH32XX has NO number ahead of the nut housing however does have three letters on the right side INSIDE the barrel nut housing and 5 numbers on the left.
AJN
54692

Piston pin as per photo. This is a mint,Inglis 7.92 Mk. 2 "undicked with" gun and ALL parts are factory original. It was unfired when I acquired it MANY years ago.
Attachment 15853
Attachment 15852

Will check the others later but not wanting to start an avalanche right now.