Armourers Sectioned /Cutaway/ Skeletonised Brengun

[Topfmine]

I have been trying to find out if sectioned/skeletonised Brenguns were sectioned to a standard from workshop spec drawings to show the workings of the mechanism or they were sectioned in different ways to how the armourer workshop felt was necessary. I have been looking at various cutaway Brenguns, some show simple cuts showing the workings, some show every movable part, in most cases only one side is cutaway. I want to be able to tell if there is a difference between civy and military cutaway Bren guns. Anyone have any info pictures or drawings.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

All (?) of the Army skeletonised Brens were done by List and Co at Dagenham on contract to the War Office via RSAF at Enfield and done to a set of drawings. The only difference between them was that the Mk1 specified that the drum backsight must be sectioned to show the action of the elevation cam.

Now....... a lot of others were done - or elaborated on - by apprentices such as us REME apprentices and the ROF/RSAF appprentices during our apprenticeships and these weren't done to an instruction that would be in order to highlight a specific part or operation. Such as to show the positive and absolute locking of a Bren gun breech block to illustrate the mechanical safety and in one particular case, that when the gun COMMENCES to unlock, that doesn't mean that it is ACTUALLY unlocked (look, this is getting nerdishly technical now..........) and a sequence of events could NOT have happened as had been suggested - (you can NEVER have two bullets in the barrel at the same time!!!!!). Anyway, you get my drift.

I have explained a lot of this stuff in several threads earlier. But the answer to your Q is that the Army spec skeletonised Brens were done to a sealed drawing. Others were done too but..... I'm not sure that there were any 'commercial' ones. But dealers being dealers with an eye on sales and propensity to tell the odd porkie pie occasionally (or often.....) might be inclined to tell you otherwise.

The Army spec guns have been deemed to fall well outside the legal definition of a firearm.

[tankhunter]

Army spec skeletonised Brens were done to a sealed drawing. Others were done too but..... I'm not sure that there were any 'commercial' ones. But dealers being dealers with an eye on sales and propensity to tell the odd porkie pie occasionally (or often.....) might be inclined to tell you otherwise.

The Army spec guns have been deemed to fall well outside the legal definition of a firearm.[/QUOTE]

If you have any 'Skeletonised' Bren's on a Deact Certificate submitted by Priest Firearms of Kent. They were done by Mike Priest himself. & were not official Military conversions. Mike is a very good friend of mine. & I have seen him do many other weapons in this way. Vickers Etc. & they do look very good indeed. But they are NOT Military Spec Conversions.

[Gil Boyd]

I sold one recently, which I learnt was made for the EMPIRE EXHIBITION in 1938 I believe. It was a Mk3 with a MK1 barrel and rear leaf sight. It had absolutely no numbers on it but it was a very well made cutaway.
Be interesting to know how many were made this way

[Topfmine]

Are there any picture's of these military spec Bren gun cutaways? And are they done on one side.

[Brit plumber]

These photos aren't of my SKN guns as these are better than the ones I have of mine on my computer. One of mine has an additional marking which I've seen on a few of the later SKN guns, it's marked NEW 7-56, quite why it would be marked new in July 1956 I have no idea.

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[Peter Laidler]

I have never seen a Skeletonised Bren completed with DP marked/coppered parts. I suppose that if it went into List with coppered DP parts then it might have come out with them. But as a general hard and fast rule, coppered parts were the preserve of DP weaponry. I could be wrong of course

[nzl1a1collector]

These photos aren't of my SKN guns as these are better than the ones I have of mine on my computer. One of mine has an additional marking which I've seen on a few of the later SKN guns, it's marked NEW 7-56, quite why it would be marked new in July 1956 I have no idea.

A wild *** Guess ...... in reference to NEW 7-56

NEW will stand for something like NE Workshops and the date of the conversion.

Who knows which workshop it might be? or its the Company that did the conversion ????????? NEWBREY, NEWMAN, NEWTS, NEWZEALAND etc, etc

[tankhunter]

I have never seen a Skeletonised Bren completed with DP marked/coppered parts. I suppose that if it went into List with coppered DP parts then it might have come out with them. But as a general hard and fast rule, coppered parts were the preserve of DP weaponry. I could be wrong of course

BP, That is VERY Nice indeed! You are a Lucky Chap! Like Peter, I also. Have never seen a DP gun converted to a SKN variant. It does make Me wonder, if this was a Civilian conversion?.....Not that I am stating this for a Fact. Just my own thoughts from In service expirence.

I would very much like to have one like that, sitting in my Front Living Room! Though I am 'Toying'. with the idea at the moment. Of having 2 x MG 42's on an AA mount in the corner. I think I am gonna' have trouble convincing the Missus.
That it is a standard Lamp!.....

[Brit plumber]

The photos above aren't of one of mine, I only have some poor photos of mine so I posted the better quality ones instead. The copper plated parts are quite common on the SKNs I've seen. It could be that they soon wore off? Or the copper was removed on purpose? Here are some more showing some copper plated parts. I own 3 and if I remember correctly, 2 have coppered parts and one doesn't.

I've no idea about the DP as none of mine are marked as such.

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