BACKGROUND: The Czechoslovakian ZB [model 19-] 26 light machine gun, manufactured at the State Armament Works in Brno, was adopted, with modifications, by the British army in 1932, as a replacement for the Lewis gun which had been in service since 1915. Among the changes were its re-chambering for .303 cartridges, a different configuration of the butt, and a shorter barrel with its cooling fins removed. Designed to be the main firepower of an infantry section, it was capable of being operated by one man and had a rate of fire of 500 rounds a minute on full automatic. The normal rate of fire, however, was four or five bursts a minute from its 30-round magazine. Its effective range was 500 yards. The first gun was assembled, at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, in 1937, and called the "Bren," a contraction of "Brno" and "Enfield." Although Enfield was the only producer in England, the John Inglis Co. Plant in Toronto, Canada, was contracted to manufacture them in 1938, and began mass-production in 1940. The Mark 2 was introduced in 1941, the Mark 3 in 1943, the Mark 4 in 1944, and the Bren gun continued to see service in commonwealth nations until the 1960s.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A blackened, stamped steel, box type magazine for the "BREN" light machine gun in its original paper wrapping and cardboard container. The end of the box is marked "7B 1005/21/103/7221, Magazine Bren, METH 1., QTY. 1, 27/7/62 7SD". (Post WW2 Storage). Pinned and 5 round capacity as per Canadian law.

Please note, due to Postal Regulations. De-activated firearms and Inert Ordnance may not be shipped outside of Canada.