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Post by woodsy on Jun 10, 2006 6:26:56 GMT 1
Hi Guys I have a spare 100 rd Bren drum available for trade only. I am looking for a Gurttrommel (belt drum) for the Maxim MG 08/15. I will do a straight swap for a complete example in reasonable condition.  |
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Post by woodsy on Jun 21, 2006 1:45:38 GMT 1
Please ignore my previous post regarding the 100 rd drum!  I just got it in the post, very heavily greased and after cleaning have discovered that it is a Mk 1 and makes a nice mate for my existing Mk 2. ;D I had bought it by a postal bid as "a Bren drum mag" and assumed it was a Mk 2 and would be a handy trader. It is unissued, and has a blued bottom plate (my Mk 2 has a tinned one). The only makings I have found are as follows: Top plate; A in a circle Bottom plate; a five-pointed star and A in a circle, a G and an illegible stamp (it looks a bit like a shortened Highland Terrier!) Could this drum be by Austin? I have seen similar marks on standard mags. Any thoughts would be welcome. I am quite happy to pay coin of the Realm for a belt drum for my MG 08/15 if there is one spare! |
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Post by missingsomething on Jun 21, 2006 3:05:34 GMT 1
Nice find.... If I could just find one as well...... As for the MG08 drum.... an original is hard to find. I know of a replica one and I think its $400+ US. I can go looking again if your interested. Or if you find another bren drum as a trade??? I lucked out and paid through the nose and found an original....  |
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Post by woodsy on Jun 22, 2006 2:04:40 GMT 1
I forgot to mention, the follower dummies are headstamped B (arrow) E 1942 (ROF Blackpole). This pretty much limits the production to UK and not earlier than 1942. Any thoughts Kev?
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Post by Kev on Jun 23, 2006 0:18:01 GMT 1
Nice aquisition Rod Some of this may be wrong as I'm doing it from photos I took of items while stripping them down when I first had them , so bear with me till the wekend when I can get hands on ! Have a couple of these mags with 41 & 42 dated head stamps   As you said BE = ROF Blackpole Royal Ordnance Factory, Blackpole, Worcester, UK. This factory was part of the 1939 - 1945 war emergency expansion plan and was situated at Blackpole on the site of the earlier Government Cartridge Factory No 3 of 1916. Initially ICI Ltd were to have operated this plant but they were advised in 1940 of the change in plans and the factory was run as a Royal Ordnance Factory by the Ministry of Supply. This factory made and marked cases but filling was carried out at the Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton, Staffs. cartridges produced with the BE cases from 1941 to 1945 were... BCMK7, CRGBHMK1Z, DUMK5, IBMK6Z, IBMK7Z, TRGMK2, TRGMK3, TRGMK4. info from - www.dave-cushman.net/shot/303headstamps.htmlSome of the same markings as yours ? (Also have the same A in a circle above a 5 pointed star as yours on a bottom plate)    One drum is also marked (top and bottom) R113   Nothing thats looks like a shortened Highland Terrier though ! (lack of imagination ? ) .........more in a bit |
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Post by Kev on Jun 23, 2006 2:14:18 GMT 1
Interesting point about Austin (M13) . The only source of reference I have regarding drum mag component manufacturers is the BGS, but it doesn't mention Austin ? Simililarities exist as you mention between markings (A in a circle) on the drum mag and M13 (Austin) box magazines.Only seen this on top plates though and not on the magazine body itself.Also with a W in a circle. M13 also used a 5 pointed star as a modified marking on box mags as opposed to an asterix * type star marking used by most other makers. The inspectors mark on this box mag is also L2  as this mark on various components on a drum mag ......coincidence ? As I have mentioned I'm refering to pics I have taken rather than actually viewing items,will have to get back to you with better / more realiable info over the weekend.Hope someone can chip in or correct info in the mean time As a secondary point could someone look at a Vickers GO mag and see what makers or other markings are on it ? I pressumed they made their own drum mags for the GO as they also made drum mags for the Bren at Crayford. I dont know sod all about Vickers GO guns but curious as to why Vickers had to be lent a GO drum mag from RA Woolwich when they were asked to convert one to fit the Bren  .......strange ! |
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Post by privatefjordy on Jun 23, 2006 21:29:31 GMT 1
Kev,
I'll try to make time and inspect my K mags early next week. I did have the markings of eight of them written down, but I can't find my notes, so I'll have to get my paws dirty.
George
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Post by Kev on Jun 23, 2006 21:41:18 GMT 1
Cheers, doesn't seem to be any shortage of GO mags as I know someone else that has at least 14 of them, but unfortunatly not contactable for a week or so.
It will be interesting to see if they are marked up VAC or if there are any other manufactures.
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Post by privatefjordy on Jun 27, 2006 21:39:17 GMT 1
Two of my 'K' mags are marked with the A in circle mark, and have a star not an asterix after II in the mark designation.
Both these magazines have a direction arrow and the word WIND stamped into the plate that covers the spring.
My other 'K' mags are all Vickers manufactured, and have plain spring cover plates. Three of these do have a direction arrow and the word WIND, but these are stencilled not stamped.
I've had around 20 'K' mags over the past couple of years, and only the above mentioned two had the stamping in the spring cover.
All the above are the 100 round Mk I*.
(Oops, spotted a typo that I've now corrected. MkI* not MkII*)
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Post by Kev on Jun 27, 2006 23:08:04 GMT 1
This is a pic showing the A in a circle above a 5 pointed star from one of my Bren drums, Rod and George is it similar to how yours is stamped ?  |
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Post by woodsy on Jun 28, 2006 2:01:53 GMT 1
My Mk I drum is just like that but the stamps are a wee bit further apart.
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Post by privatefjordy on Jun 28, 2006 12:58:32 GMT 1
 Here is the marking on one of the 'A' manufactured Vickers 'K' gun magazines. The handle of the magazine also has an 'A in circle' marking on the underside, adjacent to one of the rivets that attach the webbing handle. (My first time using the photo host, suprisingly easy to do ) |
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Post by Kev on Jun 29, 2006 21:27:21 GMT 1
George,any idea what the headstamps for the dummy rounds on your 'A' manufactured GO mag read ?
When were 100 round drum mags for the GO introduced ?
Can anyone throw some more light on the 'A' manufacturer ?
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Post by privatefjordy on Jun 30, 2006 18:18:12 GMT 1
Kev, GO mags do not have dummy rounds, they have a single round in the form of a turned steel follower.
My understanding is that the 100 Round mags are the combat ones, and the smaller mags were for training purposes only. Maybe Richard can shed more light on dates, and whether this was always the case.
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Post by Kev on Jun 30, 2006 22:50:01 GMT 1
I told you I didn't know anything about GO mags ! ;D  I had pressumed (wrongly) the 2 rounds shown after the follower in the GO magazine above were dummy rounds as per the Bren......thanks for the clarrification. All due to different lengths in the magazine throat no doubt |
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I just got it in the post, very heavily greased and after cleaning have discovered that it is a Mk 1 and makes a nice mate for my existing Mk 2. ;D I had bought it by a postal bid as "a Bren drum mag" and assumed it was a Mk 2 and would be a handy trader. It is unissued, and has a blued bottom plate (my Mk 2 has a tinned one). The only makings I have found are as follows:
.......strange !