The first examples of the Canadian Bren were built in 1940 by the Inglis Company. A total of 186,000 Brens were built in Canada with 56,000 going to the Canadian army. Marked with the date and manufacturer (Inglis) on the right side of the receiver.
Inglis Bren Mk I • Courtesy Blake Stevens, The Bren Gun Saga, Dugelby
Pre-1968
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 45000 | 42500 | 40000 |
Pre-1986 mfg with reweld receiver
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 25000 | 22500 | 20000 |
Canadian Chinese Bren Mk II
Full production of Mk II Bren guns in 7.62x57mm began in January of 1944 and ended in 1945. These guns were produced under a Chinese contract. About 39,300 of these guns are marked with Chinese characters and Inglis with the date of manufacture. Some 3,700 guns were sent to resistance groups in Europe. These were not marked in Chinese, but marked with “ch” prefix serial numbers. A few of these guns were converted to .308 for Canadian use.
Pre-1968 (Very Rare)
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 45000 | 42500 | 40000 |
CHINA/PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
Chinese Military Conflicts, 1870–2000
By 1870 China was affected by foreign influence from Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. The central government in China was further weakened by its defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. The decade of the 1890s ended with China’s fierce attempt to overthrow foreign influence by means of the Boxer Rebellion, 1898 to 1900. The period of the early 20th century was marked by internal strife which eventually led to Chinese warlords gaining control of the government in 1916. These warlords were eventually ousted in 1927 by the Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek in alliance with the Communists. The year 1927 marked the beginning of a long Chinese civil war between the Nationalist and the Communists ending with the Communists’ Long March of 1934-35 and their exile. In 1931 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 the Japanese mounted a full-scale invasion of China. Both the Nationalists and the Communists fought in an uneasy alliance against the Japanese. By the end of World War II, the civil war again ignited and the Communists became victorious in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed. China entered the Korean War on the side of the North Koreans in 1950.
HANDGUNS
MAUSER
Between the two world wars, the Chinese military purchased a number of Mauser 1896 pistols directly from Mauser and other commercial sources. These purchases consisted mainly of Bolos and Model 1930s. In addition to these purchases, China made its own copies of the Mauser broomhandle as well as the Astra. See Germany, Handguns, Mauser for more detailed descriptions and prices.
CHINESE MAUSERS
The Chinese government purchased a large quantity of Mauser pistols directly from Mauser and continued to do so until they began purchasing Browning Hi-Power pistols from FN in the mid 1930s. The Chinese bought many Bolos and Model 1930 pistols. Some of these pistols are marked with Chinese characters, many are not. The Chinese also made their own copies of Mauser broomhandles as well as Spanish copies. Some of the more commonly encountered varieties are listed here.
Chinese contract Mauser 1896 and 1930, standard or bolo frame. With or without Chinese markings.
Many thousands of these were imported in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Many are in fair or poor condition. Bores are usually a rusted hole that a .30 caliber bullet will drop through. A few specimans in good or VG condition might be seen. Many were rebuilt and re-finished by importers or other companies. For a re-built gun with new 7.63 or 9mm barrel, use the Good value.
Chinese Marked, Handmade Copies
Crude copies of the Model 96; unsafe to fire.
Taku-Naval Dockyard Model
Approximately 6,000 copies of the Model 96 were made at the Taku-Naval Dockyard. Values listed below include a correct shoulder stock/holder.
Taku Naval Dockyard Model • Private collection, Paul Goodwin photo
Shansei Arsenal Model
Approximately 8,000 Model 96 pistols were manufactured in .45 ACP caliber at the Shansei Province Arsenal in 1929. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
NOTE: It has been reported that some newly made copies of the Shansei .45 were recently exported from China. Proceed with caution.
NOTE: Copies of the Model 96 were made by Unceta (Astra), Eulogio Arostegui (Azul), and Zulaica y Cia (Royal) and marketed by the firm of Beistegui Hermanos. These copies are covered in their own sections of this text.
Courtesy Gale Morgan
Courtesy Gale Morgan
CHINA STATE ARSENALS
From top to bottom: M20 export model, K54, K51 • Courtesy Chuck Karwan
Type 51/54 Pistol (TT33)
A 7.62mm semi-automatic pistol with a 4.5" barrel and 8-shot magazine. There is no safety. This model was produced in a number of communist countries. It is essentially a Soviet Tokarev TT-33.