Show off your Brens

As the topic states, people, show off your Bren Guns here. I cannot believe we have not done this yet. I have only 1 Bren MkI. It was pretty much a wreck when I got it, but thanks to a lot patence and an understanding wife (Ok, I kept her in the dark) I have almost got it finished the way I want.

As stated, it was pretty much a wreck when I got it. I refinished the metal, cleaned it up and reblued it. Thanks to Steve for parting with a complete MkI butt, this Bren has really undergone a transformation. Below are some photos I took this morning of it.

Jeff, when I finally get this all sorted out, if you like, you can borrow it again for any displays you may be doing.

That is beautiful! Wish I could get my hands on one

leprechaun wrote:That is beautiful! Wish I could get my hands on one

Thanks for the comment. I do like it. I am not so much into deact firearms, but since this is the only way I can own one, I have to take what I could get. My Uncle Harvey was a Bren Gunner with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment during WWII. That is the only reason I got one.

It took me quite awhile to find one affordable to me, but picked this one up through a for sale add in the now defunct Military Collectors Forum. It was in rough shape, although complete. It had the MkII butt and cocking handle on it when I got it. Not a huge deal to me as many MkI's had this configuration. It is only the collector purists who really care what the weapon looks like. My uncle could have cared less what it looked like, it just had to function very well.

Here is an image from the mid-1980s of me with my Bren.

Looking good Cliff! Thanks for sharing photos. The butt matches the overall condition very well. All you need is a MkI bipod but since the gun is deactivated you might not be able to switch it out.

Oh, and each time you cock the gun you need to get into the habit of folding the cocking handle... sorry, it's the infantry NCO thing in me that makes me anal about those types of things. ;-)

Infanteer wrote:Looking good Cliff! Thanks for sharing photos. The butt matches the overall condition very well. All you need is a MkI bipod but since the gun is deactivated you might not be able to switch it out.

Oh, and each time you cock the gun you need to get into the habit of folding the cocking handle... sorry, it's the infantry NCO thing in me that makes me anal about those types of things. ;-)

LOL not a problem. I only opened the cocking handle for the photo. I thought about switching out the bipod to a MkI it will not be too difficult to do it, even though it is a Deact.

Thank you again for the butt. It really does make it look better. I am very very happy with the results thus far.

I posted a couple of photos of my cock and click Inglis Mk1 a couple of years ago and can't seem to locate the photos so I'll just link to that thread.

All parts are early and the receiver has the dove tail for mounting the optic sight. This feature was done away with on the Mk1m.

https://www.cdnmilitarycollectors.com/t1094-edmonton-gun-show-finds

My bren.

I don't own a Bren yet, but I did get a nice mag box and 7 mags from a forum member.

Nice additions here guys, keep em coming.

Dale I picked up a mag box a couple years ago from a forum member here as well. I still love it. I am really stoked about my idea for the display, but it will have to wait until the spring now :(

Now I see why you were so anxious to get it back lol! Thanks for the loan and I will def. take you up on your offer again for future displays.

That pic looks great Jeff.

Yeah I was anxious to get it back so I could put that butt on it. I plan to make a few more restorations to it, and hopefully a few additions to the overall collection of associated Bren items. Once I do, we can arrange to get it back to you on loan. I really have no room for it here at home, and I hate leaving it in the closet like an illegitimate love child of the 60's.

a workhorse IMO classic and Iconic piece of equipment, I am able to settle on some photo's for certain reasons, though have got a nice big shed I could tuck one away from the wife lol bless her but if you guys would like a scan of either pictures without the marks on let me know via pm, most likely these are Canadian troops

Okay, I have to ask - what is the object laying next to the Bren in the first picture (and no I do not mean the length of rope!!!)

There looks to be a spare barrel behind it but...
I'm sort of thinking telescope but there's no tripod?

Any other ideas guys.

It is a Scout Telescope for spotting where the rounds are hitting.

Thanks Ed. I see it now. It's a lot bigger than I would have thought it would be.

37patt wrote:Thanks Ed. I see it now. It's a lot bigger than I would have thought it would be.

yeah its a large telescope, I wondered what type/pattern it was aslo

pylon1357 wrote:I plan to make a few more restorations to it, and hopefully a few additions to the overall collection of associated Bren items.

Are you looking for a cleaning/spare parts kit?

Infanteer wrote:

pylon1357 wrote:I plan to make a few more restorations to it, and hopefully a few additions to the overall collection of associated Bren items.

Are you looking for a cleaning/spare parts kit?

At this point, I am not sure what all I really need. I have a Bren wallet that is currently missing in action. I think it is pretty well complete but missing a couple of items. I have a MkI tool, pull through and other items but all I can think of being short at the moment is 1 war dated oil bottle. I have a plastic one I just found in the Barrel bag. I didn't see a date on it.

I do want to add a tripod with the AA arm of course, and the AA handle, but no rush on either due primarily to costs involved.

Lighting is not the best so everything is dark... I'll take it outside one day and get better photos in the sunlight.

Looks great to me Steve. The lighting actually has a cool effect with the slight shadowing.

Your example looks very nice. I note the MkI Bipod and carry handle. The carry handle is one of the items I have thought about replacing on mine.

Cliff, notice the shape of the flash hider on my barrel compared to yours. You already have the correct carrying handle for your later production barrel. I have a spare Mk1 bipod from a British Bren but it will need a bit of work to make it presentable.

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Bren MK 1 made by Inglis 1942.  Cheers Brian

Nice looking Mk 1M Brian. I especially like the early barrel. You need to flip your butt plate 180 degrees so that the attachment point for the butt strap is on the top. Then all you need is the butt strap and you'll be set. Nice to see the grip on the butt. I hope to find an original example for my gun one day. Is yours original or a repro?

So that's why the butt plate fell off. Had not taken the time to look up if any part was missing. The grip was on it when I acquired, assume its original but may be off a different bren as it is stamped 39. Cheers Brian