Besa Accessories 13 Spares Tin

[tom]

The Box, small parts, M.G., No.4, Mk.I which had been introduced in LoC B 2380 of 1938 for use with the Bren was also utilised to hold the spare parts for the 7.92mm Besa.

Typical contents for a spares and tools kit for a vehicle mounting two guns are shown below.

1. Box, small parts, M.G., No.4, Mk.I BE 6063
2. Slides, feed BG 4198 (x2)
3. Pins, firing BG 4148 (x2)
4. Extractors BG 4124 (x2)
5. Stays, extractor BG 4248 (x2)
6. Springs, pawl, retaining BG 4226 (x2)
7. Springs, pin, firing BG 4228 (x2)
8. Springs, stay extractor BG 4244 (x2)
9. Springs, pawl feed BG 4225 (x2)
10. Washer, locking, flash eliminator BG 4251 (x2)

A tin for a three gun vehicle is also mentioned, although I cannot actually think of a vehicle that used three guns. Anyone have any ideas?

Firing pins have been been shortened by 3mm to comply with UK law, but profiles have been maintained.

ATB
Tom

[tom]

Here's a bit more on spares tins...

The original manufacturer of the Box, small parts, M.G., No. 4, Mk. I. was Barringer, Wallis and Manners Ltd of Mansfield. The Introductory LoC (B2380) refers to it as "of commercial design" and tins made by them have "UK PATENT 394672" neatly stamped on the bottom half under the hinge (well, in those I have seen so far)

The earliest tins have the company name stamped on in full while later ones, such as the one I possess, have

MB.6. /I\ Date ( 1942 in the case of mine)

as in 1939 the company joined Metal Box

The Patent is mainly concerned with the hinging of the lid and says, "The invention is particularly applicable but by no means restricted to sheet metal boxes primarily intended to contain confectionary, cigarettes, tobacco and similar goods." It was accepted in June 1933, having been applied for just over a year earlier.

The tin had a stores code of BE 6063 and the army's drawing of it, to be used by contractors for production purposes is D.D.(E) 1897 of May 1937.

Tinned plate versions are the most common type met although up to 1946 (according to a note on the drawing) lacquered steel was a allowed alternative. The drawing also notes that a alternative sort of hinge was allowed, if approved.

Post War tins were lithographed (?) and then later painted olive green, the latter from 1956 at the latest. I'm not exactly sure what lithograghing is, but it was olive anyway! The green tins I have are just marked MB 6


The Brens spares was originally going to be carried in a neat, if rather large (14.25 inches long) solid wooden box, with cut outs for parts, including a return spring, rather like the boxes found with some ZB LMGs. D.D.(E.) 1921 of 1936 illustrates this. Scrawled across it is the terse comment " "Not required".

Another manufacturer was TD & S.

If anyone has tins made by other manufacturers I would be grateful to hear from them.

There are black plastic versions of the tin which do not have any markings and which I have so far found no referance to. however since I have found them in issued L4 wallets and they have been found in assocciation with other Bren parts in stores I believe that they are proper to the Bren. Certainly they were used with them

ATB

Tom

edited by awkward bl**dy wife for spelling, punctuation, syntax and assonance... grrsnarflegitface...