Questions about New (to me) Deactivated MK II

[RedRobsTam]

Just purchased a deactivated MK II Bren. The butt appears to have suffered the damage Mr Laidler described in an earlier post about the Mk II Butt - it has a long crack along the top of the butt, and the screws are very loose - one had separated completely and I was lucky to find it among the packing material before I knew it had "gone missing". In any case I think I need to replace the butt. My problem is that I can't seem to find detailed pictures of how the butt is attached. From what I have found here and on other sites and from Skennerton's book I THINK the butt is attached by the "return spring tube" - somewhat like the way the butt of an SMLE is attached? I like the Doctors old adige : "First Do No Harm" so I'd like to understand as much as possible about the mechanism before I take this to a gunsmith to do the work (one thing I do know is that I'm pretty "ham-fisted"!) HOW difficult is it to unscrew (?) that tube? AND HOW do you undo it? WHAT tool do you use? We're going to be setting up a D-Day Anniversary display and I've tried to acquire the various accouterments to go with the Bren: extra barrel bag, cleaning items, oil cans tool wallet, etc. I realize I don't know HOW items like the gas key and defouling tool are USED - in case someone asks me - any help would be greatly appreciated!
The weapon is a 1943 Inglis with an 8Txxx serial, but I think it's somewhat of a "mix-master" as the barrel appears to have a Monotype Serial #. There is also another four digit number stamped on the barrel "1225" and also another number: "8122" and "CRD". Again any help is deeply appreciated - Thanks!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Red Rob, you have asked an absolute encyclopedias worth of questions. Might I suggest that you read all the back-posts, read again and digest and then come back with specific questions.

To start with the Mk2 butt is attached to the return spring tube by a tubed nut at the rear of the butt - with a screwdriver slot across it.

[Flying10uk]

[RedRobsTam]

Thanks! The video is very helpful!

[AmEngRifles]

RedRobTam, the video is a great guide, but it does leave out a few points that you will discover on your own along the way. It is a good parts identifier, of sorts. It does not show little nuances like the fact there should be a washer inside the butt. It goes under the return spring tube cap. Many times, that washer is stuck inside the butt, and does not need to be removed. But sometimes they just fall out and you wonder "where did that thing come from!?" :-)

Or the fact you have to turn the bipod about 90 degrees to have it slide off the front of the receiver.

Small stuff.

[42rocker]

Very Nice Video. Thanks for sharing it.

Later 42rocker