Post by tom on Jun 15, 2006 12:45:06 GMT 1
Hi folks
a while back on another forum I replied to a question on the use of the different bits on a Mk I combination tool. Since its gone a bit quiet I thought I'd redo it here.
Tool, Combination, Bren .303-in. M.G., Mk I Part No.C1/BE 9280
{pic to follow}
"U" shaped spanner beneath copper hammer:-
is to remove the return spring tube and also take apart the butt handle (there's a big nut at one end of the grip with two flat sides and 2 curved ones).
Square studs either side of compartment for screw driver blades at the pin end:-
for the pistol grip bolt.
"L" shaped steel block on opposite side to hammer and spanner:-fits the gas regulator and was used for turning that if it was sticking.
Tapered blades at opposite end to hammer etc:-
The three cutting edges are for cleaning out the flash hider/eliminator on Mk I barrels.
Two square cut outs on the end with the tapering blades:-
the two cut outs are used to remove the return spring tube cap on the Mk I Butt assembly (which has two correspnding studs, press down and twist, I forget which way)
Hammer, Copper C1/BE 9620:-
for general battering
Screwdriver, Forked, large C1/BE 9283:-
is to remove the carrying handle catch nut inside the carrying handle and also for stripping off the buffer plate. Once you hve removed the return spring tube if you look inside the threaded area it fitted into you will see a ring with two indentations to take the studs on the screwdriver blade, once you have unscrewd this the buffer plate will pull forward and off the butt slide and the nut, for want of a better word, will fall out of the back when given a shake. Unless of course its held in there by 2 pounds of cosmoline or rust...
Screwdriver, Forked, small C1/BE 9284:-
is for the carrying handle stem nut which is the nut you see if you look into the hollow end of the barrel carrying handles wooden grip. The other split nut mentioned above is underneath this one with a spring between them. It also fits MKI sight drum nut , butt plate shoulder strap nut for spring tension and I think the bipod sleeve screws nut as you get on Mk I bipods
Screwdriver, Large C1/BE 9285 and Screwdriver, Small C1/BE 9286:-
where used for the rest of the screws such as held the metal parts of the furniture on to the butt, the screw for the locking shoulder, Bipod bracket screw etc etc.
Pins Screwdrivers C1/BE 9282 held the above 4 on of course.
Spares of the pin and copper hammer came in boxes of 100, the blades in dozens.
In UK service the Mk I tool had become a piece of Armourers only kit by the end of the war while the (flattened at one end tube) MK II job became standard issue in wallets, for both Mk I and II guns (and all later marks for that matter).
The Aussies carried on with the Mk I tool until the got L4A4 7.62mm guns in the 1970s.
The bodies were cast then machined to various standards of finish, the blades were left with the blackening from heat treating.
Personally I have only seen UK made ones and that includes several from Canadian and Australian sources.
If any one else knows ofother sanctioned use of the various parts/blades could they please enlighten us? Thanks.
ATB
Tom
a while back on another forum I replied to a question on the use of the different bits on a Mk I combination tool. Since its gone a bit quiet I thought I'd redo it here.
Tool, Combination, Bren .303-in. M.G., Mk I Part No.C1/BE 9280
{pic to follow}
"U" shaped spanner beneath copper hammer:-
is to remove the return spring tube and also take apart the butt handle (there's a big nut at one end of the grip with two flat sides and 2 curved ones).
Square studs either side of compartment for screw driver blades at the pin end:-
for the pistol grip bolt.
"L" shaped steel block on opposite side to hammer and spanner:-fits the gas regulator and was used for turning that if it was sticking.
Tapered blades at opposite end to hammer etc:-
The three cutting edges are for cleaning out the flash hider/eliminator on Mk I barrels.
Two square cut outs on the end with the tapering blades:-
the two cut outs are used to remove the return spring tube cap on the Mk I Butt assembly (which has two correspnding studs, press down and twist, I forget which way)
Hammer, Copper C1/BE 9620:-
for general battering
Screwdriver, Forked, large C1/BE 9283:-
is to remove the carrying handle catch nut inside the carrying handle and also for stripping off the buffer plate. Once you hve removed the return spring tube if you look inside the threaded area it fitted into you will see a ring with two indentations to take the studs on the screwdriver blade, once you have unscrewd this the buffer plate will pull forward and off the butt slide and the nut, for want of a better word, will fall out of the back when given a shake. Unless of course its held in there by 2 pounds of cosmoline or rust...
Screwdriver, Forked, small C1/BE 9284:-
is for the carrying handle stem nut which is the nut you see if you look into the hollow end of the barrel carrying handles wooden grip. The other split nut mentioned above is underneath this one with a spring between them. It also fits MKI sight drum nut , butt plate shoulder strap nut for spring tension and I think the bipod sleeve screws nut as you get on Mk I bipods
Screwdriver, Large C1/BE 9285 and Screwdriver, Small C1/BE 9286:-
where used for the rest of the screws such as held the metal parts of the furniture on to the butt, the screw for the locking shoulder, Bipod bracket screw etc etc.
Pins Screwdrivers C1/BE 9282 held the above 4 on of course.
Spares of the pin and copper hammer came in boxes of 100, the blades in dozens.
In UK service the Mk I tool had become a piece of Armourers only kit by the end of the war while the (flattened at one end tube) MK II job became standard issue in wallets, for both Mk I and II guns (and all later marks for that matter).
The Aussies carried on with the Mk I tool until the got L4A4 7.62mm guns in the 1970s.
The bodies were cast then machined to various standards of finish, the blades were left with the blackening from heat treating.
Personally I have only seen UK made ones and that includes several from Canadian and Australian sources.
If any one else knows ofother sanctioned use of the various parts/blades could they please enlighten us? Thanks.
ATB
Tom
