Newbie... Bren Gun Finish.

[BarryPayne]

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Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for spending the time in viewing and more importantly, responding to me. You have certainly raised my fears about making the purchase!!

When I made the purchase, I did it over the phone asking for them to pick out a good quality sample that wasn't all beaten up. Wish I had known what to look and ask for! So, it cost me £250 whilst others were a lot more. When I collected it, they asked me to check it and again not really knowing what to look for, I thought that they were taking care of me.

Should I be looking at taking it back and asking for another replacement? Or do I go with this and treat it to a faithful restoration, which I am sure is likely to cause me upset, but in the long run I know that it's been done properly?

Someone has mentioned not original? What do you think has been messed with?

I have included a photo of where I think it has been welded, although I cannot see how the barrel was welded? The lever is firmly in place, and you are right.....it would be good to be able to get it undone in which to carry out any restoration.

Peter aka Mystic Meg..... You are correct. I am in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Thank you again for your continued advice.

[Vincent]

What do you think has been messed with?

The bits wot make it go bang.

[Peter Laidler]

I said that my new suggested paint job wouldn't be original. The gun is as right as rain. I've never brought one in my life so can't comment on what they're worth. But strip and clean it and it'll be OK. If you think that's bad, you should see some service guns. But once they've been through the system they come out like new..............

I only mentioned Bicester because the person before asked where you came from but hadn't noticed the Bicestershire in the box

There LOADS of good Bren stuff on this forum. It's the finest light machine gun ever to grace the battlefield. When you hear a Bren opening up there's a hidden voice inside inside that says '.....thank xxxx it's on our side'

[BarryPayne]

Thank you Peter.
I will endeavour to look into ways in which to start the restoration.

And just so you know. I will keep up to date on this site, and try and progress my knowledge whilst trying to help others. I'm not here for the quick fix and run. :-)

[scoobsean]

Welcome Barry,
I bought a fully functioning, semi-auto only, Bren. When I proudly showed it off here, I was informed that various parts were not correct and it was really a mash-up of numerous aged parts. I was able to buy and change the buttstock, carry handle, bipod and some other things and get it looking more like the real-deal. I would never have known without the help of the excellent chaps on this forum. Here is my most recent photo, I have subsequently also added an L4 'bipod attachment sleeve' (or whatever it is called) after a suggestion by Peter.

[tankhunter]

Or........Peter, AKA: 'Plastic-Peg'........... LOL

[Peter Laidler]

You've totally lost me tankie........

There are small steel finishers that dip steel components in an acid bath that only affects any surface material. It is neutralised and then bathed in a chemical that puts a deep black chemically induced finish onto the steel. Wouldn't stand too much rolling around in the back of your old Bedford or FV-432 but does look very good. Saw a No32 and 42 done like it and it looked good..........

[BarryPayne]

So I may have had some luck. A friend of mine has access to a glass bead blaster. If I can strip the lady back enough, I will get going with it. I will then look for somewhere that might agree to phosphate it!
Will keep you updated!

[Brit plumber]

If you glass bead blast it, make sure you really degrease it before hand getting the media out of the nooks and crannies when it's glued to cosmoline is an absolute sh1t job!

[Peter Laidler]

From the technical point of view I think that you ought to find someone to phosphate it BEFORE you bead blast it as it starts to corrode (that's rust.....) the moment that the clean white steel leaves the bead blasting cabinet. And make sure that you fill the blind holes with a bit of tight fitting wood and replace the screw into EVERY threaded screw hole too.

A lot of steel fabricating manufacturers have phosphating plants - or they used to!