Bren gun firing pin imprint identification

[Jean-Loup]

Hi guys

I found this grouping of casings in an area where a blast of Bren gun fire is known to have been fired.
Can the strange long shape of the firing pin confirm that these were fired by a Bren and not by another .303 weapon?

Thanks

JL

[nomadr]

Yes it is. Nice find!

Bob

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks for confirming.
These casings are a small part of a very small but extremely interesting battlefield site, that I am currently preparing an article about.

JL

[timg]

casings

Yup,

Classic Bren,

Required a very positive strike with the added bonus of ensuring the primer did not pop. Note also the ejector mark on the lip of the primer socket, the ejector is quite sharply angled at the tip. If you look opposite the ejector mark on the inside lip of the rim you may make out the marks of the extractor claw.

Tim.

[Jean-Loup]

"Note also the ejector mark on the lip of the primer socket"

Yes, I noticed that as well.

JL

[Jean-Loup]

What is the deal with this bolt, that is advertised as being for a Bren, but has a round firing pin?

[Jean-Loup]

This one looks more like it...
Can anyone post a good close up shot of a Bren's bolt, with firing pin and ejector visible?

[timg]

Hi Jean-Loup,

The ejector pin on the Bren is mounted to the top end of the receiver just under the magazine release catch but internal to the body.

Unless one of the guys has a live fire to pull the ejector, I cant as mine are UK deact and the ejector is chopped and welded. I will try to get pics of one of mine and get it posted.

If you look at your bolt photograph, the tip of the ejector runs in the centre groove to the top of the bolt. When the bolt moves to the rear under the ejector the tip contacts the rear of the case and the case pivots downwards and ejects under the gun (which I am sure you knew)

Regards

Tim

[timg]

What is the deal with this bolt, that is advertised as being for a Bren, but has a round firing pin?

Hi Jean,

Many variations on the Bren itself and prior weapons that the Bren was designed from ZB,s et al. Variations such as the firing pin will be dictated by the end user requirements and caliber etc. Ditto variations to barrels, some finned for cooling some not, and obviously magazine design with regards to ammunition being rimmed or rimless.

Any markings on the round firing pin bolt? (compliments of Kevin g, Round profile firing pin and insert also as ZB vz39 for 8 x 56R . Contract for Bulgaria 1938, guns produced by CZ , contract not completed for obvious reasons when you look at the date, reasonably rare item)

Regards

Tim

[Jean-Loup]

So the UK version has the oval shaped firing pin, the round one is an export version. The answer to my question was actualy already given in the first photo posted in this thread.
Could a US or other "free" country member post a good close up photo of a UK version bolt, with the firing pin visible?
I am writting an article about my finds, and would like to have a nice photo of as Bren bolt to associate with the found cartridge cases.

[timg]

Hi Jean-Loup.

Couple of quick pics that may help. Taken from a training poster on my wall (who needs a banksy anyway)

Taken at night so if interested in some better ones that you could photoshop with arrows etc PM me and I will send them taken in daylight at full size for you to play with.

[Jean-Loup]

Timg, thanks for posting those pictures, although interesting and explanatory, what I need is a frontal view of the bolt, something that enables the reader to compare the bolt with the base of the catridge case, so he can understand how the various imprints ended up on the base.