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Posted: 11/27/2021 11:27:30 PM EDT
Rescuing a war veteran made a couple decades before I was born.
Background~ (source IMA-USA.com) The British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk in late May and early June 1940 under severe pressure from the German Wehrmacht. They left most of their equipment, including the new Bren Gun, behind on the beaches; so that virtually all Brens in existence now are of post-Dunkirk manufacture. Not only that, but at the beginning of July, a directive was executed indicating that a number of time-saving changes were to be made in the design, and these resulted in the Mark I Modified (Mk I/M) on August 21 and the Mark II right after on September 4. In other words, the Mk I essentially ceased to exist right after Dunkirk, and much of what had been manufactured before Dunkirk was lost, making the Mk I receiver a genuine rarity. IMA has obtained a very small number of original Mk I receivers dated 1940 and has made them into parts sets. The Mk I is distinguished in several ways from all later receivers: the left side of the receiver has TWO vertical dovetail slots. The rear slot is for the drum sight, while the front slot is for an indirect-fire dial sight. The right side features a prominent reinforcing rib at the rear of the magazine well; the top front of the well normally has two oval lightening dimples. The top rear of the receiver was beveled to remove additional weight. These features were abandoned to simplify and speed manufacture. Lastly, the gas cylinder section of the receiver has complex lightening cuts, and the gas shield has a concave groove on the front to control exhaust gas direction. However, it would appear that the changes were not all done immediately. We have found an Enfield (E in D) logo marked receiver that has characteristics of both the true Mark I, and the Mark I* (modified). This receiver has the second sight dovetail, as well as the reinforcement on the other side of the magazine well. The gas tube is deeply fluted in the typical early MkI Style. However, the "dimples" at the front of the magazine well are absent, as is the beveling on the rear of the receiver. In all likelihood, this is a receiver that was in production as the changes were being made after Dunkirk, and the last lightening cuts were omitted. A fantastic bit of history for any Bren collector. In conversation with a British Bren aficionado, he told me there were approximately 2000 of this type of Bren made. Finally getting some play time and work done on my Bren double dovetail MK1. I opted to grab a BRP center section which cuts down the built time ( for me) quite a bit. Cut the gas cylinder section to length and milled both the center section and cylinder and welded them together. Rear receiver heel was cut a little wide and thru the take down hole. Its welded and needs cosmetic clean up but I focused on the internal section. The bolt and carrier do the "tilt test" and travel freely by its own weight. I built my DPM and RPD the same and they run super smooth. I am envious at how fast some guys can knock projects out and I am just happy so see some cool builds and squeeze one in when I can. The Slick Bren MKI restoration. |
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[Last Edit: JKH62]
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[#5]
My MKI Ben wood is a new manufactured set I purchased from the UK ( D&B Militaria)
Not sure if they still stock them but this is another source if someone is looking for correct MKI wood. https://formriflestocks.co.uk/product/bren-mk1-set/ Wood is walnut and looks to be manufactured to correct specs. All the cuts are clean and sharp. Everything lines up and is on center. The walnut has a nice grain and will look awesome after some oil is applied to it. |
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[#7]
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[#10]
Amazing work so far. Very nice.
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[#11]
Do mine next!
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[#12]
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[Last Edit: JKH62]
[#13]
I am claiming victory after battling with minor issues that makes the difference between a working gun and a paperweight.
I have learned a LOT about Bren's and the MKI during my build which will help me moving forward. The fit , alignment and everything on my MKI go together smooth as silk yet I was having problems getting more than 5 shots out of it consistently. That started with it being a single shot that when I made changes and thinking I solved the problem/s only to discover something was still not right. My MKI has the original gas cylinder , piston and carrier that measure and fit as new. I know about the gas loss with the MKI and the change to the MKII gas cylinder but that was not any of my problem/s. My biggest issue was getting the disconnector to reset consistently and not making a huge drag on my striker movement forward or aft. I put a relief radius on the disconnector with reduced surface contact / drag that helped but still did not fix my problem. What I learned from looking at the stock Bren carrier and lower frame is the original designed gun used a flat pad on the piston post bottom to trip / reset the disconnector for semi auto fire. When a striker block is added behind the carrier you are now eliminating that piston post resetting the disconnector and that role is now done by the striker block. On my gun it took a fair amount or force to reset the disconnector which put drag on the striker / not good. I isolated that function and extended the bottom of the piston post by the length of the striker block. I also slotted the bottom of the striker block to clear the disconnector. This removed drag and any returned the reset function to the recoil cycle of the carrier and piston post , like the original gun. BIG difference on my gun and function. I used key 3/16" key stock and made the height the same as the stock piston post reset area~ Stock Bren disconnector reset function~ Stock with striker block added~ Extended reset area on piston post bottom~ Slotted Striker Bottom to clear disconnector~ NOT working~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxC6XRRweEs After Mods....it.....is .....alive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOCYDKyJWWI |
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[#14]
Curious where you found the prints for the striker
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RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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[#15]
Posted on Weaponsguild in the Bren build section.
"Mighty-Lime" striker and has some other conversion part prints and spring part numbers posted. |
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[#16]
Awesome thread. Thank you for taking the time to post and explain!
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[#17]
You have mad skilz sir. Thank you for resurrecting the old girl. Any leads on sights to fill both dovetails?
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Let's go Brandon!
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[#18]
Originally Posted By backbencher: You have mad skilz sir. Thank you for resurrecting the old girl. Any leads on sights to fill both dovetails? View Quote I have the correct rear sight. The front slot was actually intended for an optical "line sight". Not many floating around but they are out there. Very Rare and Mostly Pointless: the Bren Fixed Line Sight |
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[#19]
Amazing skills
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[#20]
Wow !
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Have another hit of sweet California sunshine
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