fifthmdec Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 We have an 1944 manufacture Enfield Bren MkIII LMG. Just wondering a source for return or recoil springs? Has anyone had to replace them on their Bren MK1,2 or 3? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlmg Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I've seen then from many gun parts outfits like:SARCOe-Gun PartsNumrichAPEXRecoil springs are not that hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APEXgunparts Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 There are 2 types of recoil drive springs used in BREN's.The early one was just a single long coil spring.The later type was two coil springs, one inside the other.I have seen the later type offered still new in the wrap.Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 What makes you think the springs require replacing? They rarely need replacing unless the guns been left cocked (original open bolt design rather than semi auto closed bolt). A 44 Mk3 is quite early, is it marked MkIII or Mk3? Does it have a LB prefix or a 7xxx style number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Not certain that the recoil spring needs replacing. This is our first Bren. Just getting to know the weapon. Been a BAR guy for a long time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 So what you have is an early MkIII, one of the first 8000 made. The serial number is an Indian serial number found on their DP guns. Have you checked for DP markings? They marked nearly every part with DP! I have 7092 DP in the collection and I know of the following in private hands 7038DP7046DP7047DP7055DP7068DP7069DP7084DP7092DP7115DP7120DP7283DP7363DP7366DP7380DP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Oh and I should say the 7xxx number isnt the same as the LB number. The LB number is the factory number removed by the Indians so your gun could be anywhere from LB1 to LB8000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Sorry, just seen it is a DP, have you fired it? Also the rear sight is an Inglis 7.92mm so the point of impact will be off with that sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Yes, I have fired it. Used some of that surplus ammo from Germany. Still getting use to the offset sights because of the magazine placement. Next time that I am at the shop, Ill look for other notable markings and take some photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 MEN 303 caliber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 A few more photos that I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Is it a semi built from a kit? Just be wary that it was once Drill Purpose. The barrel is actually a gauge barrel so likely never fired or even proof fired as it was used for purely gauging. Quite a scarce item to find, I know of only 3! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) Not a Kit. Its a select fire LMG. Imported from England, point of entry was NY.. I have another barrel. Were the DP Brens sent to the Indian armed forces? What does it stand for? I understand that the D on the receiver denotes it as an Enfield. Am I to understand that as correct? Edited May 7, 2020 by fifthmdec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 PS Arms was a 08/01 Importer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 If you have another barrel Id keep the Gauge barrel as a non firing barrel. Its a gauge barrel because of its exact dimensions, selected as a gauge because of how dimensionally accurate it is. The Indian DP guns are ex Indian service guns. They were very early Enfield guns that they used for decades along side their own production guns. But as the Enfield guns were the oldest, they were converted to DP as they wore out. Unfortunately DP (Drill Purpose) guns shouldnt normally be fired as they are worn beyond limits. No one can tell after this long why a gun was DP which is why its a minefield subject. For example, there was a warehouse fire decades ago in which many British service arms were stored. These arms although complete and passed gauging, were deemed Drill Purpose because the temperature of the fire had effected the heat treatment of the steel. When theyd been shot blasted, phosphated and repainted with DP markings, no one would ever know why it was a DP, it just was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Oh and the large D on the left of the body near the year is the Logo for Enfield, its an E, F and D over each other but obviously you dont really see the F and only see the centre of the E. Any other Large Ds are likely to be the Drill Purpose markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 (edited) Good information. I do have one more barrel, maybe two. A couple of photo of one of them. Kind of looks like the spare might be a MkII. Edited May 10, 2020 by fifthmdec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 This weapon was used in an episode of Gun Stories, The Bren Gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 The spare you show is a Lithgow Mk2 barrel but they were made for their Mk1 guns (they didn’t make Mk2 guns). It is also likely new so won’t have a gun serial number marked on the left side of the section between breech and carry handle. It will have a unique 5 digit barrel serial number and a manufacture date in the format 5’54 or similar. I’d guess that this is a 50s dated barrel from the FTR programme that was put into war reserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Will the spare barrel work in the MkIII? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Yes but you need to make sure the barrel latch closes and it head spaces correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Copy... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifthmdec Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Another note. I do not see any MkIII barrels out there. I assume that they pop up for sale once on a blue moon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3bobby Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 I think that the issue in the States is you can no longer import barrels. They are common as muck here due to the sale of the Irish stock. You could even buy new in the wrap consecutively serial numbered guns! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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