7.91

[ActionYobbo]

if its greek why did they mark it 7.91 but at the same time remove all the other markings
this CRD barrel I have still has the british proof marks and a serial number

From what you have said, CRD is Climax Rock Drill from Redruth in Cornwall who made .303" Mk2 Bren barrels and T-3884 is a Daimler Mk2 Bren of 1942/43

now that information fits the barrel I have

so what happened to it?
the whole gun then went to war was lost by the brits and then who ever found it made it into 8mm? I say this because of the lack of stampings on the barrel. every 303 barrel I have is numbered renumbered reproofed with numberes lined out but this one is basicaly clean but its not scrubbed beacuse the original proofs are still perfect

what do I need to do to my 303 MK2 bren to make it work with this barrel?
whats the barrel worth?
thanks

[WallyG.]

All of my 7.91 barrels retain the historical accumulation of proofs and serial numbers... and all of the demilled Brens I have encountered have retained their original serial numbers and markings... One 7.91 barrel example (A MkII) has the interesting addition of " NFA 26" and what looks like "FD" hand struck markings to the original proofs and lined out serials on the barrel root. The "F" is the questionable strike as the top horizontal is weakly struck and I'm relying on archive photos as I traded it off at the time. Certainly, two characters make up the mark. The one 7.91 modified receiver I have encountered is marked Daimler "D" SN T5113 1943 It also came with a non regulation mag catch... a rectangular lever shape rather than the standard Bren paddle shape.

---------- Post added at 11:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:59 AM ----------

The magazine well will need to be adjusted a bit to widen it to accept the 8mm box mags. You may need to tweek the mag catch engagement in this process. A 7.62 extractor must be used to remove the fired cases. Otherwise a standard .303 bolt set up should work... as Peter indicated... there may be some issues with ejection. Naturally, the gas settings will need to be tuned for the new cartridge. As far as worth... I'd pay $200-$300 for one here in the US... as having new ones made can be almost twice that amount... I've gone this route as well.

Interesting... you report a T serial number on your barrel... two of mine have been marked with "T" prefixed serials.

[ActionYobbo]

I have encountered is marked Daimler "D" SN T5113 1943 It also came with a non regulation mag catch... a rectangular lever shape rather than the standard Bren paddle shape

thats interesting because I also got a mag catch thats rectangular with the differnt ejector . it came out of the same lot of parts. so I went and cleaned off the bolt and its enfield ED marked and its 7.92 the 8mm rim fits into the bolt face and the extractor. there is no way a 303 rim will fit
so the mystery deepens

[WallyG.]

From my experience... Not necessarily (deaper mystery)... if you bought a lot of parts... and you have a 7.91 marked .303 pattern converted to 8mm barrel... you may have also purchased a true 8mm or 7.62 bolt in the lot... but the two should not have been used together. Certainly sounds like some of your parts originated in the same conversion program. There are material dimensional differences between a true 8mm bolt + barrel set-up and a converted .303 bolt and converted barrel set-up. One quick observation can be made... As I understand it, the Canadian/UK 8mm barrel design has a flat breech face like the 7.62 barels... both do not have "ears" like the .303. From what I have been told, a true 8mm bolt & barrel set-up makes up for the approximately 1/8 inch dimensional difference caused by the .303 design's ears. This subject is best approached with pictures that I do not have... illustrating the specific design differences between a converted 8mm barrel and one purpose built to the actual 8mm design - one that would require a true 8mm or 7.62 bolt for proper headspace. If your 8mm barrel has a flat breech face and UK makers marks then I'll have to defer to Captain Laidler's expertise on the matter (out of my league).

[Peter Laidler]

Mix and match is out of my league too

[Claven2]

FWIW, the only country I can think of that still used 8mm after WW2 AND would have had access to some Bren guns is Turkey. Additionally, Turkey still produced the 1905 Patronnen in 154gn and 7.91 (not 7.92) diameter up until the 1980's. This is because they had a lot of WW1 surplus Gew88 and Gew98 rifles that were still rifled 7.91 and not the later 194gn 7.92 version of the 8x57JS round.

Food for thought.

[Brit plumber]

HMMM, could the Greeks have captured them from the Turks in a border skirmish or perhaps Cyprus?? I've not heard of any Brens coming out of Turkey.

[tankhunter]

I have recently repaired one of these shaped mag catches that was snapped off & missing the top half.
For a UK collector, The ejector block has the Hold Open device installed as well.
Similar to the L4A1 LMG.

It was off a South African 7.62mm Conversion of a MKII Bren. There are a few of these converted guns floating about on the UK collector market.Being passed off as Brit Army 7.62mm Conversions! Easily spotted as NOT a UK Service issue. But convinceble as such to a novice!
Not as many about now, as when they were first released. & like ALL Brens here now, the prices are RISING!......

[LesterH]

Agree with Tankhunter. According to a well known disliked D/A gun dealer. These snide L4 S/A Brens all went to the Falklands! (Not possible or true). Steer well clear of these South African 7.62mm Brenguns. On another site I contribute to. Someone is filing down an L4 British mag to fit an S/A Bren and has ruined a lot of rare and good parts whilst finding out you can't do it! In spite of my advise to stop. I am told you need R1 mags? Often two are welded together.

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know much about the SA 7.62mm Brens but if they take FN mags, then bog standard 30 round L4A2-4 magazines should be a doddle to fit by filing the large front knib down to a small FN size knib. Or am I missing something?

We have a couple of L4A1 Brens and we use bog standard 30 round FN magazines before we found some genuine UK early L4A1 Bren mags to use. Although I have to say, I wouldn't use an A1 when we've got some A4's

Talking of which, we are going to use a Vickers and a couple of Brens or L4's at Bisley in early July