canadian carrier mk1 gun rest

[Sam Tremblay]

hi im starting to reuild a canadian bren carrier mk1 i was just wondering if somebody have the measurment for the gunrest also the type of steel and wood thank
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[rob love]

Your carrier, being very early, would have had rubber firing rests. The wood ones came into being when rubber got scarce after the fall of Burma.

Personally, I have always used a wood like ash for longevity. Brian Asbury has (or had) the long one from the division plate. Although a bit worn after this many years, they are great for getting dimensions and hole patterns from .

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Sam Tremblay

hi im starting to reuild a canadian bren carrier mk1 i was just wondering if somebody have the measurment for the gunrest also the type of steel and wood . . .

Greetings Sam!
The eight (8) firing rests on your early MK-I* carrier were topped with rubber, the rubber being cast into a shallow metal base, then mounted on angle iron supports. The length of each firing rest is indicated in the Canadian Illustrated Parts Manual, FUC-03.

The metal angle iron supports and their fastener placements will be a challenge for you, that I do not believe have been previously covered in MLU. Perhaps someone can fresh my memory if Nigel Watson in his UC Volumes I-III provided any details?

[Lynn Eades]

I think I have all the rubber rests but not the angle iron for all of them. They are made from 2 x 1/8 (50 x 3mm is the available size,here)
Are they all mounted on the outside or inside of the hull or is it a mix?
As a note, i think all the U.C.s that came here were early and had rubber rests. never seen a wooden one here.
The other thing I have trouble with is the high and low ones.Were the high ones from British carriers and the low ones for Canadian carriers. Michael R. has told me there are both in Canada. I wondered if the high ones might have been made for British contract carriers? Any thoughts or answers?

[Lynn Eades]

Ok. Working on answering my own question:
There are two on the rear plate. Two on the right side. Two on the div plate, One in the gunners slot, and one on the engine deck.
The right side ones have the angle iron riveted to the inside. (there are rivets still in the angle iron and the holes in the upper hull side plate are countersunk on the outside (rivet head fits here)) It makes sense that the rear ones are the same. Am I on track?

Sam I can probably answer your questions.

[Kirk Armitage]

Nice to see another early example, 6 1941 does the serial number start with T L ? F
Regards K Armitage

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Kirk Armitage

Nice to see another early example, 6 1941 does the serial number start with T L ? F . . . . (edited)

Certainly an example of an early data plate attached to its original fender. Now to verify the fender and data plate belong to the hull, using the identifiers particular to those carriers. There are a few visual indicators that point to an early production carrier, such as the correct track adjuster wheel arms, mounting bracket for the early track adjuster ‘crook’, and the lack of a modification to install the sighting vane.

The data plate does not appear to hold the TL XXXX F one may anticipate seeing. Perhaps the 1790 serial number, in addition to the month/year window.

I agree with you, Kirk: it is nice to see these early examples. I am jealous, and Samuel already knows that from our discussions on his FB UC group.

[Sam Tremblay]

the serial number 1s only 1790

[maple_leaf_eh]

Sorry Sam, you are going to have to go back to the internet to buy a bigger riveter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBwmbX3R3sk

[Sam Tremblay]

terry i think i will try with mine first but thank for the idea