if i read the lists correctly by tying up serial 777 to its ct number (CT 42895) it was made by Ford Canada, now with that in mind did Canada ever produce the earlier Bren ? According to the Book Canada were asked to produce Carriers from June 1939 however thanks to British Beurocracy (sorry guys) the first carriers were not made until circa 19th June 1940 and these initial ones were made with British componentry fitted with the lucas lamps etc etc. So
potentially this carrier could have been from the first batches of Mk1* made by canada ? on page 110 there is a photo of a carrier CT43054 (from same batch as CT42895) used by 7th Recce Bat and the hull has all the same features as serial 777, photo is taken on tour in france
on Page 114 and 115 of Carrier book Vol 1 there are some production pictures of early Canadian Mk1s I am still reading through for references to the rubber gun rests rather than the wooden ones.
i totally agree with regards to the numbering on casts my thoughts being that unless the gear lever housing was changed the date could potentially point out that the hull was made no earlier than that on the housing, but like everything with these beasts that I have learnt, nothing is final or foolproof
