Gas Cylinder: Mk1 or Mk2?

[richardw]

I'm confused about a part I have.

I had thought that any non-threaded, press and pin gas cylinder would be classed as a Mk2, but wasn't the elimination of the row of vents under the bipod a Mk2 improvement?

This one has a Mk1 gas vent scheme, with 2 rows of vents, but has no threading and a separate gas deflector, like a Mk2. Is it something unusual?

[Kev]

The gas cylinder is an early pattern Canadian MK2 (press fit) type cylinder that retained the troublesome extra vents of the MKI .British produced MK2 cylinders and later Canadian production deleted them.
I take it the cylinder is from an early Inglis MK2 Bren ?

[richardw]

Hi Kev-

The cylinder was loose in a box of mixed manufacture parts when I got it. There is an Inglis "JI" on the gas deflector.

I was unaware that there was a different, early-pattern Mk2 cylinder. Thanks.