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Bought a Bren MKI from Mr. Ken Keilholz. Parts? Stock handle?


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I just bought a 1942 Inglis Bren machine gun for Ken Keilholz. It is in excellent shape!

 

It'll be a while before I get it, but I always like to go ahead and start early looking for parts, etc. What are some good spare parts for it that are needed? It already comes with spare barrels and plenty of magazines, but what are some parts that wear out and need replacing occasionally? Also, does anyone know where I can find and buy an original rear stock handle? Thanks for any help!

Edited by michaelkih
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Is it original or a reweld semi? That will make a difference to what spares you should keep handy.

 

As for the stock handle, do you mean the butt grip? A 1942 Mk1 wouldnt have had one, they were obsolete by 1941 and any remaining items were to be installed on the 2 Mortar. Originals are now like rocking horse poo but you can get very good CNC reproduced items in the U.K. you may also want to put a butt spoon on it to if you like the grip.

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Is it original or a reweld semi? That will make a difference to what spares you should keep handy.

 

As for the stock handle, do you mean the butt grip? A 1942 Mk1 wouldnt have had one, they were obsolete by 1941 and any remaining items were to be installed on the 2 Mortar. Originals are now like rocking horse poo but you can get very good CNC reproduced items in the U.K. you may also want to put a butt spoon on it to if you like the grip.

It's an original full auto.

 

The butt stock still has a spot on it for the grip, so I'd like to add it. Honestly, I just think it looks cool. I'll just snag a repro. Sounds like it'll work just fine. Thanks for the reply!

 

Any suggestion on spare parts. Barrels, bolt, a sears?

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If you post some markings I/we maybe able to give you some history of it. It probably has a N7xx to 4T3xx serial number.

 

I was lucky enough to pick up M94 a few years ago and I know a collector in Canada has M93. These are probably the oldest Inglis Mk1s left. Even the National Firearms Collection in Leeds U.K. doesnt have an example as old. It even retains a number of BSA parts supplied to Inglis at the beginning before they were in full production.

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If you post some markings I/we maybe able to give you some history of it. It probably has a N7xx to 4T3xx serial number.

 

I was lucky enough to pick up M94 a few years ago and I know a collector in Canada has M93. These are probably the oldest Inglis Mk1s left. Even the National Firearms Collection in Leeds U.K. doesnt have an example as old. It even retains a number of BSA parts supplied to Inglis at the beginning before they were in full production.

It has a 3T53xx serial number. 1942 dated.

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I estimate 3T53xx to be an October 1942 manufactured gun, I have 3T3689 which has been converted to a SKN gun by List Engineering in the 1950s under contract to the War Department.

Cool! Thanks! I want to buy the Collector Grade Bren book, but since it's out of production, it's like $400-$600. Killing me!

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Books. There is one on ebay for $360 that isn't selling. One on gunboards that took a month+ asking 350. One on another board at 250 that took a week to sell. I paid less than 200 on ebay and that one sat for a while. Compared with other CGB it's not that great IMO and I got the "expanded" later edition. Frankly I wouldn't even consider the first edition. The crazy algorithm prices on amazon rarely if ever materialize.

 

As for spares I'd just do all the stuff that's in the barrel bag which includes the gunners pouch (which has the tin in it) and a spare bolt and that should keep you. Course Ken had a 7.62x54r conversion set at the creek if that peaks your interest? I'm setting up for .308 currently with 2 custom barrels nearly done. Just have to modify a couple bolts.

 

HTH

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Books. There is one on ebay for $360 that isn't selling. One on gunboards that took a month+ asking 350. One on another board at 250 that took a week to sell. I paid less than 200 on ebay and that one sat for a while. Compared with other CGB it's not that great IMO and I got the "expanded" later edition. Frankly I wouldn't even consider the first edition. The crazy algorithm prices on amazon rarely if ever materialize.

 

As for spares I'd just do all the stuff that's in the barrel bag which includes the gunners pouch (which has the tin in it) and a spare bolt and that should keep you. Course Ken had a 7.62x54r conversion set at the creek if that peaks your interest? I'm setting up for .308 currently with 2 custom barrels nearly done. Just have to modify a couple bolts.

 

HTH

Thanks! Ken is a great guy! He did mention the conversion kit as well. Thanks!

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I just bought a 1942 Inglis Bren machine gun for Ken Keilholz. It is in excellent shape!

 

It'll be a while before I get it, but I always like to go ahead and start early looking for parts, etc. What are some good spare parts for it that are needed? It already comes with spare barrels and plenty of magazines, but what are some parts that wear out and need replacing occasionally? Also, does anyone know where I can find and buy an original rear stock handle? Thanks for any help!

 

Nice purchase!

BREN MK1 parts are not as common anymore as the MK2 parts.

Fortunately there isn't a lot that can go wrong with them.

Not sure if a 1942 Canadian gun would have the bi-pod with adjustable legs?

The wood pistol grips tend to get beat up and chipped, I bought a new made walnut one from SARCO, I haven't fit it to the gun yet, it looks really nice.

I haven't seen an early butt plate that still has the shoulder support in a long time.

I did know a gent that had to replace the gas cylinder in his BREN as it wore out.

The original slings look like Lee-Enfield rifle slings, just longer and have a hook at one end.

APEX should have BREN tripods to sell, they are still setting in our warehouse!

I will have to wait for good weather to really get a look at them.

The folding BREN Airborne tripod is photographed and pending now.

I just bought the book about "BREN gun carriers" as I thought a tracked carrier would be the ultimate accessory to wish for!

 

Richard

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Apex, could you let me know the serial of your folding tripod. I have one myself and only know of 2 others in private hands, they are very very rare.

 

The first Bren slings were standard rifle slings with 2 dog clips. Then they modified rifle slings by adding a section in the middle to make them longer. Post war the longer version was produced.

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Apex, could you let me know the serial of your folding tripod. I have one myself and only know of 2 others in private hands, they are very very rare.

 

The first Bren slings were standard rifle slings with 2 dog clips. Then they modified rifle slings by adding a section in the middle to make them longer. Post war the longer version was produced.

 

Thank you for the info about the tripods and BREN slings.

The data on the tripod was obscured by grud and paint.

However, I cleaned that away and we are adding that picture to the listing.

The BREN Airborne tripod, MK.2/1 is dated '44 and has a serial number starting with "L" followed by what appears to be 1982.

I have read these were ordered for the D-Day invasion because the issue MK.2 tripod would not fit in the drop canisters.

I also read that the first use was the drop at Arnhem.

 

Richard

 

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No, the Mk2s end around L4900, all the Mk2* or Mk2/1 depending on terminology (it all changed in 44) were in a batch it appears. Yours is L4982, I know of L5080 (1944), L5206 (1945) and L5668 (1945). A lot were never issued and remained in store. I joined the RAF in 1995 as an Armourer and during my training I noticed a Mk2* on a storage cabinet, I asked the instructors about it but they only knew it as the Enfield tripod and didnt know what gun it was for. They wouldnt let me have it though. Took me another 15 years to find one.

 

When I get home, Ill message you on the email address from youre website with some interesting information.

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