Bren Vest

[Flying10uk]

I recently purchased this Bren magazine vest which I believe to be an original example. I first became aware of these vests in the late 1970's when a collector friend of the family produced a similar one. When in contact with the vendor of this example it would seem that this one came onto the collector's market in the late 1970's too. I wonder if this was the time period that any remaining Bren vests held in UK military storage were sold/disposed of?

Please feel free to comment on this example although I don't really know much about them other than they were a vest intended to hold Bren mags.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I don't see a size marked...the one I know of here is exactly the same. It's a size of very small stature.

They wouldn't be of much use only holding two though...the #2 had a chest of ten and the men all had one or two. I'll bet they were a flash idea that sat in crates until disposal.

[Flying10uk]

It's a size of very small stature.

My example would seem to be designed to fit a slim person.

I wonder if most of the left over examples held in storage after the war were the small sized ones?

[harry mac]

My example would seem to be designed to fit a slim person.

No good for me, then?

[browningautorifle]

Hard to say, there don't seem to be many or not many here have seen them.

[Brit plumber]

Does it have a small broad arrow stamp and 2 numbers like ‘29’?

[Flying10uk]

Does it have a small broad arrow stamp and 2 numbers like ‘29’?

Not that I can see, only what is stamped on the label, last pic, post 1.

There are several chalk markings that I can't really make out.

[Brit plumber]

Did you get it from eBay recently?

For what it’s worth, I think it is genuine as quite a few of this variation have turned up with provenance and in experienced collectors articles. It has been suggested that these are the left over unpopular sizes that sat in stores for years. You would have to be a midget to where it over your blouse and everything else and lets face it, even in the 40’s, men always wanted to be taller/bigger. I still tend to go one size bigger for my uniform, gives me lots of erm....wiggle room.

[Flying10uk]

It would fit me, if I went on a strict diet or I wore it without the straps done up.

I had to use my judgement on whether or not it was genuine and as far as I could tell it looked like an original before parting with my cash.

[browningautorifle]

I'm quite sure it's original...the one I know of has been in collection here since the '70s.