Bren guns, anyone?

[Keith Webb]

This is from a 1941 magazine. I wonder whether it was taken at the Lithgow Small Arms factory?

[Jon Skagfeld]

Wow! I lost count after two dozen!

Wonder how many bren gunners out there would give up certain portion(s) of their anatomy for one of those Bren Chests?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

It's gotta be Lithgow... note the fellow in the background with one of your fine SMLEs (I used to own one!).

Give my eye teeth for one of those brand new Mk.1 Brens with spare barrel and chest...

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

I notice each of the guns in the row on the floor has a spare barrel placed beside it.

When these guns were issued, was a spare included?

If so, was it always kept as a 'spare' or were the two barrels rotated ?

Steve

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
Hi there

I notice each of the guns in the row on the floor has a spare barrel placed beside it.

When these guns were issued, was a spare included?

If so, was it always kept as a 'spare' or were the two barrels rotated ?

Steve

Since the pic shows spare barrels with the guns, and the Chests in the background (each of which was designed to contain a spare barrel) I strongly suggest that the Chests, guns, spare barrels plus other accoutrements were assembled complete for consignment.

[rob love]

Originally posted by Jon Skagfeld
Wonder how many bren gunners out there would give up certain portion(s) of their anatomy for one of those Bren Chests?

I think the bren was heavy enough without having to carry around that big wooden box as well.
At the local scrap yard, there is a pile of hundreds of these chests, stencilled for all the different marks of Bren. They have sat there for so long, they are now rotting away, and a part of the pile has acually collapsed under it's own weight.

The part of that picture that makes the saliva run is all those mk1 buttstraps and handles.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
When these guns were issued, was a spare included?

If so, was it always kept as a 'spare' or were the two barrels rotated ?

I guess SOP with all armies were:

1. Two barrels issued with each gun
2. Barrels rotated after firing max 200 rounds
3. Chests only used when stored or transported

Myself I had as a L/Cpl a 6,5 mm m/21 (top picture) in 1960. This is a modified US Army M 1918. My gun was made by Colt Firearms Inc; Hartford, Conn 1918 (One of the 500 bought from USA together with the license rights). In 1963 my unit instead got m/37 (lower picture) but by then I was Quartermaster Sergeant and not a LMG gunner.

[rob love]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
I notice each of the guns in the row on the floor has a spare barrel placed beside it.

When these guns were issued, was a spare included?

If so, was it always kept as a 'spare' or were the two barrels rotated ?

The barrels were also serialised to match the Bren. The barrels were headspaced to the gun, and this prevented the barrels from being mixed up during "cleaning parties".
It is not uncommon to find 3 or 4 serial numbers on barrels, with the earlier ones barred or XXX'd out.
This procedure is still used today with may of the quick change barrel MGs in Cdn service, including the newest version of the .50 cal.

[Rod Diery]

Originally posted by Jon Skagfeld
Wonder how many bren gunners out there would give up certain portion(s) of their anatomy for one of those Bren Chests?

I was given this Bren gun chest a couple of years ago by a bloke who got it from a rubbish tip somewhere. I just wish i had the bren gun to go with it.

Rod

[Snowtractor]

Originally posted by Rod Diery
I was given this Bren gun chest a couple of years ago by a bloke who got it from a rubbish tip somewhere. I just wish i had the bren gun to go with it.

Rod

My Inglis bren will give it a nice home would you like to send that by mail or UPS?
Sean