Chris Hall

Again, I have one of these too, I also have what was once a Semi Auto converted Bren Mk1. They have both since been deactivated. The Semi Bren was quite interesting as with changing out some trigger components and removing the pin welded to the frame (to stop the full auto position) it would have been easily retuned to Auto.

Well i I can tell you I have one of them, unfortunately it was deactivated when the law changed. I'm told the Boyd may be placed on the obsolete caliber list in the future.

You are correct but the MOD being a government body don't see it that way. Most of the pre 95 old spec stuff in messes had to be brought upto post 95 spec at the cost of the mess. Nothing to do with legalities but MOD policy.

The MOD will never sell small arms to the public, any Current British weapons on the market have been made from parts or unserviceable guns that have been repaired/rebuilt by a contractor. There's a lot more to it than that but that's the basics. most of these guns being scrapped is as a result of the new EU regs, lots of foreign guns being used as military training aids or displayed are having to be redeactivated and those that are on mess walls etc have to be done at non public expense. We had a Browning Mk2 .303 in the mess which was presented by HM the Queen. That's long gone now.

I think the nearest any of us could ever hope to get to it is if we end up shaving with the razor blades made from recycled steel! a real shame, think of the revenue these things could bring in. It's purely because it's a gun. I purchased (for a museum) a drill WE177 nuke, a sea eagle missile and a JP233 for £2500 from the MODs Disposal Services Agency so it's not really about if it's worth selling. It's all public perception.

Yes a big thanks to John, well worth the drive down. Who rescued that Vickers then?

You would have been better removing the cartridge spacers as mentioned. The British never had 7.62mm Browning 1919A4s, they instead converted them to L3 for armoured vehicles. The Aussies and Canadians tried NATO conversions and gave up on the idea.

I know of another for sale but it's more money at £135. What sort of Mk1 stuff are you looking for, I have an extensive collection of Bren stuff and know a number of dealers and friends who have enough stuff to equip a large army.

If it's marked MkI/1 then I think that is a post Oct '44 conversion of the MkI box to take the Mk2 Bren but as I've said its only a small piece of wood removed that 99% of people would never notice.

The Bren transit chest is the same for the Mk1,2 & 3, the chest for the Mk2 had an adjustment to the butt end to remove a piece of wood to allow the early Mk2 but plate to fit. I used to sell these chests for £20 and now they're over £100. Typical!

Yes it's different but repros are available I think.

This may sound stupid but if they uncovered 2, why not recover both and use the second for parts or a template? Sod's law dictates that you fill in the hole burying the second tank and then 12 months down the line you realise something on your recovered tank is missing or broken and you wish you'd kept that other one!

You can blame that on St Patrick of Ireland as its his flag that isn't symmetrical.

I'd like to attend if there is still space. A good friend of mine used to work there until a few years back so not been since.

OX24 is used for Light Weapons and is used on the SA80 series and the GPMG as Weapon Guard or Weapon Guard 24 and made by Rocol. OX36 is for heavy weapons and is known as Weapon Guard 36 although we actually use PX24 for canon as it's cheaper. We also have PX32 which is waxoil and has many uses if you know what I mean!

Is this an engine block?

No ones mentioned lacing cord. Used to loom wires together or to attach to an anchor point.

Still used on Martin Baker Ejection seats as fitted To Tornado, Typhoon and Lightning II.

Depends what you want. Look on the g503 forum, there are some good threads on tyres. There are new production NDTs which are the closest to original as you can get. Unfortunately I wanted ford script tyres for my VEP Gpw and they aren't exact copies but they are the only Ford script tyres on the market.

To be honest, we used anything and everything. We had jet packs, bergans, 58 webbing etc. Anything that was of use. We had phos grenades at the back door and it was the job of the last man out in a disabling attack to put 2 rounds through the ECM and then pull the pin on the phos to burn the vehicle out.

If the casting is a single item (as I suspect) and not 2 then I'd say it's a tank wheel to. The slot between the 2 rubber (tyres?) sections is for the track to run in.

If anyone has an early 42 block I'd be interested!

We use turner adapters for replenishing accumulators. Here's one on eBay but it's not cheap. An ex RAF one should be cheaper if you can find one. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/772B-MK2-Turner-Inflation-Adaptor-/222243453571?nav=SEARCH

We use similar torches for Aircraft and Magazine checks but they are right angled. The key end looks similar, if it is, we have dozens of them. I'll try for a photo.

Taking a girl to the Cinema in your most pimped out Tractor is a guaranteed winner where I come from.