Sourcing Mk1 parts

[cpu77]

Thats why I bought the kit! Even though its a mismatched mess (pricey for what it is)! The receiver is gonna be much easier to fix. I even thought of getting some Bren chunks to use as filler. My other build had a cut barrel lug. It took alot of filing to make right!


Anyone rent weld Jigs? I bought my other gun badly put together. Did not fired was a butchered mess. I replaced Bolt, Post, made it semi compliant. I did everything but weld it. I am worried about shrinkage with the welding. Getting the right length and no warping!

Anyone know anything about the receiver from the pics? Where its been and used? How it should have came?

Thanks for the links I will check them out!

[Brit plumber]

Body is a 1943 Enfield
Piston is Mk2
Lower slide and butt are Inglis Mk2
Bipod is Inglis Mk2
Barrel looks like a Lithgow Mk2 (Fitted to their Mk1s from 1942)
Barrel nut looks to be the early barrel nut as fitted to the Mk1 DD guns (Nice find).

If you can get some scrap receiver parts to use as fillers I'd get them because some of the gaps are very large. The videos I've seen of Bren rebuilds tend to be done a jig to set the correct dimensions and to help prevent the receiver twisting and deforming. They also only do a little bit at a time and alternate between sides which must work quite well as they appear to work fine afterwards.

Oh, I should add that, as Peter will say, all the bits will work fine with each other even though they are differing marks and manufacturers.

[bentwrench]

Keep in mind that your parts kit may have looked just like it is before it was cut up. If you look at pictures of Brens in combat you will see just about every combination of parts imaginable. As Peter said, the only thing that designates what Mk the gun is, are the makings on the reciver. Butt, slide, barrels, etc. didn't have to match. Brens were built with a mix of parts, it was war no time to be picky...


Having said that my kit looked very similar to yours. I left the wood as it was, but it did find some nice mk1* barrels. I also picked up the adjustable style bipod, its nice to have when shooting on a bench.

some pictures and discussion here,

Did my civic duty, saved a Bren from the scrap pile.

BRP and Sarco ar good sources of parts.

[Joe H]

Is your Mk1 a runner Joe?

Yes fully operation in semi-auto only.

Joe

[Vincent]

BTW does anyone know of a good weld service. I know project guns did them and Wiselite does or used to?

I think Stan at Project Guns still does them. He sells a jig also.

Anyone rent weld Jigs?

I think there's a loaner in the Weapons Guild tool crib.

[cpu77]

I am going to call project guns today. See if he has any jigs for sale or rent. I am also curious if he has any Bren receiver chunks. Does anyone know if MK1 receivers are the same as MK2 in the gas tube area and mag well? It seems the MK2's are more common and tend to be scrap. Good for me if I can use MK2 pieces to fix mine. On another note my gun appears to be 4 different guns! Which seems more common then I thought.

[Peter Laidler]

Externally there are many differences but internally, they are all basically the same. I say basically - in that all of the internal parts will interchange.

[Brit plumber]

If the chunks are from 4 different guns it would have been nice if they were overlapping but I guess you can't have your cake and eat it.

All the parts look correct for an Enfield gun, if you pass me the serial number I'll tell you if it's correct for the year on the side of the centre section. They all look pretty well matched (Excluding the cuts) so it's a good start. Do you have a milling machine?

[cpu77]

Brit plumber
Can you tell me anything about my....
Mk2
SN:T6922
Side Rcvr:M/67 1943


I believe my MK1 is the same year. Its at my friend house as he files the slag off he is a machinist and dear friend. I will get that info tomorrow. We do have access to a old bridge port mill its just 30 miles away.

Any idea where to buy chunks?

[Joe H]

Any idea where to buy chunks?

cpu77,

I'd give MGS a call. They sold a lot of the later de-mills which were very difficult to re-weld and were cut in different locations than the early de-mills. I bought some receiver sections from them as fillers for my MK I. You will have to call as they no longer have the full sets.

Parts : Military Gun Supply, SSAR-15, Parts Kits, Surplus Guns, And More!

Also try Weapons Guild. Somebody over there may have some pieces.

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Joe