Bren MKI Transit case layout - some pictures of mine, let's see yours!

[pitfighter]

Hi Guys,

 

I picked up a Bren Transit case on Gunboards, which I had been sort of looking for for some time.

North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization 

Mutual Aid

To THE BELGIAN ARMY

From THE CANADIAN ARMY

I own a MKI and a MKII Semi-auto Bren, the work was done by Jim Kelly at Ice Works in NY.

I am very happy with the mechanism, you can see a little of how slick and machined it is here.

The MKI is a work of art and really a lot of fun to look at and run.

These are pics of the MKII (it was too dark by the time I got to stripping the MKI) - the MKII was a lot rougher kit and is dirty here from a heavy day defending myself from bloodthirsty steel plates targets. It runs great, but isn't as polished and machined clean inside. Basically, looking at these pictures I realize have failed miserably to show his skill and will need to do another shoot with the MKI.

Anyway, the MKI fits in the transit chest perfectly, with a nifty area for a spare magazine and another for a barrel beneath the LMG.

The MKII is too long, because of the little attachment on the butt, it required a slightly longer chest.

Unfortunately with barrel, mag and LMG, the box is really awkward for one man to carry, so good for display, but otherwise the guns stay in the safe.

Anyway, just thought I'd share this new accessory.

 

*The fore-grip on the MKII is anachronistic I know, but, is better handling than the barrel handle. I have a little IPSC course at our range that is fun to run with ridiculously heavy old weapons.

** The canvas barrel cases are dated from right to left: 1943 (sand) 1945 (Olive) 1953 (green) 

***All spare barrels are MKI barrels - they are not fitted to either gun, and head-spacing is key to cycling the semi-Brens, so they are just for display. Shooting semi-auto I don't need to switch out barrels. Apparently, the non-matching barrels issue was also the case with the FA Brens.

 

Edited November 10, 2024 by pitfighter

[tricky9914]

Very nice transit chest and nice set of Brens! I have a transit chest for my Bren as well, but not in as nice of condition. Thanks for sharing!

[pitfighter]

22 minutes ago, tricky9914 said:

Very nice transit chest and nice set of Brens! I have a transit chest for my Bren as well, but not in as nice of condition. Thanks for sharing!

Post a pic, I would love to see it.

I am always interested in seeing how others display their Brens.

"I posted under someone's thread at the USMilitaria forum (I had a similar knife to his OP), and the dude almost had an online heartattack, getting his knickers truly in a twist, threatening me with banning, for reasons lost on me, but I guess as my knife was a cleaner example than his, he felt it constituted "showing off."

Anyway I encourage as many bren owners as possible to bomb this thread, lol. Preferably with much nicer Brens than my two cheapo rebuilt welded semi-autos.

Let's see them!

Edited November 10, 2024 by pitfighter

[johnsonlmg41]

edited

 

Edited June 10, 2025 by johnsonlmg41

[APEXgunparts]

I remember shipping out a BREN case that was marked like that to one of our customers.
It was very distinctive lettering.

 

Here is my BREN case.

Richard

[pitfighter]

Love those pictures! -

JohnsonLMG,

Do the ZB26 loaders work with Bren mags, that's really cool, I see those around, presumed they wouldn't would be very useful!

The drum mags are of course really cool too!

Is that an AA sight?

I see some variations with the padding and box design, really interesting.

Richard, 

Yes, mine could have come from you, the seller didn't specify where it had originated. Just that he had no further use for it.

I like your set up, very clean Bren.

I see I have to get some of those wooden dowel gas tube cleaners.

[johnsonlmg41]

edited

Edited June 10, 2025 by johnsonlmg41

[APEXgunparts]

The Portuguese MG34 transit chest does have a good amount of fittings for items, but not as many as the combo Vickers / LEWIS chest.
It is hard to find detailed guidance on what goes where in these boxes.

Richard

 

 

At least the ST-61 chests had instructions on the inside of the lid!

[pitfighter]

JohnsonLMG, I will be looking for one of those Bren loaders, that could actually be useful, I must say I do not know how to tell the difference. Interested to see how it governs the .303 rims, I have to make sure the lower cartridge always overlaps the one above when I load. 

The fixed line sight is very interesting. I'd love to try mine with a telescopic sight.

I agree the transferable Brens are quite rich now. Yours is a fantastic example. 

Yes, I do need the proper cleaning rods (wood and steel), will find them. I have the Bren Gun Saga, it just adds fuel to the addiction.

Apex, yes, old machine guns offer endless ways to spend money and waste time hunting for tools and accessories you'll never use, lol!

I was a little disappointed the interior of my case wasn't that lovely bright orange color, looks so neat.

Although, saying that I really found the "Bren tool" very useful for stripping my two, though, for all other cleaning duties I used a modern Brownells cleaning kit.

 

 

[johnsonlmg41]

edited

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2025 by johnsonlmg41

[APEXgunparts]

An interesting run down of the ZB and BREN loaders.
I own both of the BREN loaders.
The hopper type loader on the lower left of the picture.
Where exactly does that stow in the BREN gun wood transit chest?
 

Richard

[johnsonlmg41]

edited

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2025 by johnsonlmg41

[pitfighter]

That is an awesome break down on mag-loaders, thank you, really helpful, thank you, Johnson1941, and for taking the time to photograph and detail the idiosyncracies so carefully.

I apologize for my tardy response, have been "buried" working on this last project.

I do have the Bren book and I also bought a Canadian and Brit manual on-line, but they don't really deal with the lay-out of the transit crate.

I'll buy a .303 loader when I see one (I'll be sure to make sure there is a mfr. mark), but, honestly these are some really "gentle" mags to load (as you mention) and as I shoot semi-auto I don't run out as quickly as you chaps.

I quite like the look of the natty AA canvas spent-case catchers that are around, too.