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Post by Kev on Jan 3, 2006 12:27:19 GMT 1
I would like to hear from anyone with a 7.92mm Bren whether or not it has been modified to 7.62x39.
Especially any with the inscription on the RHS of the body '7.92 BREN MKI' (even though it's a MK2) and no Inglis makers name and date.
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Post by privatefjordy on Mar 5, 2006 15:23:18 GMT 1
Kev.
Just picked one up this morning. ;D
R/hand of the action is marked; BREN 7.92 MkI
No makers markings.
The fire select markings are; 20 0 1
Serial on top rear of action, matches barrel nut, and barrel; I - 5161
Top of barrel faintly stamped 7.92
Left of barrel has full Birmingham proof marks. (Proof marks not deact marks, this is a London deact with London Scimitar markings, so it has both earlier proof, and a later deact markings) There is also a BNP proof mark on the left front of the action.
I will be happy to answer any specifics when I get chance.
Overall very nice, except the bipod housing has been cut and welded back together, so it looks untidy. And the magazine is a normal .303, so I need the correct magazine or something that looks better than the .303 banana. I will post separately about this under wanted.
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Post by Kev on Mar 5, 2006 15:35:58 GMT 1
very interesting......I need to speak to you in more detail about this ! You can either stick a ZB 26/30 mag in it or an expensive but correct JI marked mag which apart from minor detail look the same. Well done  |
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Post by Kev on Mar 5, 2006 15:42:06 GMT 1
Are you saying a 303 mag fits the gun ? .....a 303 should be way to big  ......or has the mag been modified to fit ? |
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Post by privatefjordy on Mar 5, 2006 16:44:21 GMT 1
Kev.
The only obvious modification to the 303 mag that came with the 7.92 Bren is a slight amount of grinding to the rear lug. The follower is very stiff, so the walls might have been 'pinched' a bit but not visibly so.
I have just tried three other 303 magazines for fit:
One MA marked magazine, will not fit at all.
Two JI marked magazines, both very tight fit in the mag well, and neither one latches.
I've seen your post saying you have what I need, and I look forward to hearing from you. (Payment has been made for the other bits)
George.
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Post by mattgibbs on Mar 5, 2006 17:32:11 GMT 1
Nice one George!
Interesting as to where it may have come from and where it was during the war, do you know any of its history?
Matt
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Post by privatefjordy on Mar 5, 2006 17:55:59 GMT 1
Early history is unknown.
It has been through the Birmingham Proof House and proofed for 7.92mm
The action is very sluggish and is full of old grease. It appears that the automatic mode may have been altered, and that it is now semi-auto only. It might just be dried grease preventing the sear release, I won't know properly until I get chance to clean it.
My gut feeling is that it has been converted to semi-auto and proofed for civilian sale in the UK back in the 1970's-80's. If this is the case, what happened to the proper magazine?
It was deact in 1989 by Hills, then sold by Regimentals. I believe the man I bought if from has had it ever since.
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Post by Kev on Mar 5, 2006 17:58:50 GMT 1
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Post by Kev on Mar 5, 2006 18:00:39 GMT 1
Has the barrel or reciever near the barrel been stamped 'smooth' in small letters ?
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Post by privatefjordy on Mar 5, 2006 18:16:52 GMT 1
Kev.
I will try to photograph some details tomorrow.
None of the magazine wells look the same as mine.
The rear sight is stamped 7.92 and METRES
The barrel is NOT stamped 'smooth', and shining a torch down the muzzle reveals that the barrel was still rifled before being deactivated.
I cannot see any markings on the bolt. Maybe when I get chance to clean it I'll find something.
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Post by Kev on Mar 5, 2006 18:34:22 GMT 1
George, never usually like Mondays but tommorow will be an exception ;D Look forward to hearing from you |
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Post by britplumber on Mar 6, 2006 10:40:10 GMT 1
Kev. The fire select markings are; 20 0 1Serial on top rear of action, matches barrel nut, and barrel; I - 5161Top of barrel faintly stamped 7.92Any chance of a photo of the serial number? I've never heard of a 'I' serial number, could it be a '1T' serial but badly struck and then carried over to the barrell nut at a later stage? Does it look like the number has been stamped over a previously removed number? Cheers, Chris. |
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Post by Kev on Mar 6, 2006 15:42:37 GMT 1
Brit,these no letter prefix serial numbered Bren's aren't mentioned in any literature to my knowledge.
Since I got mine serial number - 2-3475 I have been trying to find out more about them hence this thread.
Aswell as the odd serial number there are NO makers,factory proof,acceptance,inspectors.....well no marks at all on them not even small parts.
It intrigued me enough to contact the Canadian War Museum who have been helpfull.They have 1-0001 and 2-3429,also with no marks. The highest serial number I have for this type is 3-2890.
Although they are MK2 guns the body is marked
7.92 BREN MkI ,as per the photo in the revised BGS page 246 bottom LH corner.
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Post by Kev on Mar 6, 2006 16:16:45 GMT 1
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Post by britplumber on Mar 6, 2006 19:56:19 GMT 1
Does this mean you've got 2 x 7.92 brens now Kev? Where on earth do you dig these up from!! Its very intresting, perhaps these are sterile Brens for clandestine operations!! I've heard of Brens (Like the one I have) that have had all markings removed for special ops. Perhaps these are factory sterile Brens. It would seem from the numbers that there is either 33,000 or so or the numbers are completely random.
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......or has the mag been modified to fit ?
