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Post by peregrinvs on Apr 30, 2010 12:05:24 GMT 1
Hi,
I’m thinking about adding an Enfield MkI ‘modified’ Bren to the collection at some point. Obviously I ideally want one with a MkI* barrel and a Mk1 butt, but I’m less sure about the other details. Specifically, did Enfield ever make the Mk2 barrel locking nut, did they ever make the Canadian pattern Mk2 fixed-legs bipod and did they ever make the 'less machined' profile Mk1 butt-slide?
I’ve noticed that a lot of the deact Enfield MkI Brens about have ended up with Mk2 butts. Could anyone give me a ball-park figure for the cost of a replacement Mk1 butt + fittings and how easy is it to get these parts?
Cheers,
Mark
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Post by britplumber on May 2, 2010 13:23:32 GMT 1
Hi Mark,
I believe the early (F/G serial No.) Mk1 modified patten had the long cone Mk1/modified to Mk1* barrel before soon changing over to the short cone Mk1* and the Mk2 type locking nut came in on the F serial numbers. I believe (but Kevs the one to ask for sure) that Enfield made the Mk1 bipod for all Mk1s and the less machined butt slide came in around the end of the E and early F numbers.
Ref, Mk1 butts, a 1942 Lithgow butt less metal work was for sale on a web site for £80 but its now sold. There is a company inthe States that sells NEW made Mk1 wood but its minus the metal work and its not cheap either. As Kev suggested to me, your better off waiting for the right gun, or finding the gun you want, and then finding another to salvage parts.
This is what I intend to do with one of my Inglis DD Mk1's, I have another later Inglis on the way to swap the butts over as the DD has a Mk2 butt.
Hope thats of help, Cheers, Chris.
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Post by peregrinvs on May 2, 2010 20:13:01 GMT 1
Hi Chris, Thanks for that - very informative. As you say; overall it's best to wait for the right one. E.g. I got the right MkII Bren at the right price at Beltring last year after spending all day carefully examining every example for sale. Naturally the one I ended up buying was the first one I'd seen that morning. ;D I'd do the same this year, but a double whammy of bad timing means I shall probably have to miss Beltring for the first time in 11 years. Gutted.  Still, should I come across a Enfield MkI Bren with a Mk2 butt at a very good price... I believe it was a legit field repair, so it wouldn't be anachronistic. Cheers, Mark PS. Whilst we're on the subject, what are the odds of getting a correct spec Monotype MkII Bren? I think I've yet to see one for sale. |
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Post by britplumber on May 2, 2010 21:01:05 GMT 1
Chances of a MonotypeMk2 are quite good, obviously there are sh1t loads of Inglis around but every so often a Monotype Mk2 comes along. Most people just see both types as just a Mk2, only collectors seam intrested in the individual models.
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Post by Kev on May 2, 2010 21:33:39 GMT 1
+1 with what Chris has said.
Bren butts used to be relatively reasonable in price , but once someone starts putting them on Ebay at 80 quid everyman and his dog seems to set this as the going rate.
The metal furniture is still available for the MKI butts but not allot left.
ATB Kevin
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Post by britplumber on May 2, 2010 23:36:05 GMT 1
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Post by peregrinvs on May 3, 2010 9:27:06 GMT 1
Bren butts used to be relatively reasonable in price , but once someone starts putting them on Ebay at 80 quid everyman and his dog seems to set this as the going rate. There seems to have been a recent 'collective decision' to ramp up prices for everything. Have you seen some of the prices private sellers want for totally average Brens on Milweb etc. lately?  Mark |
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Post by britplumber on May 3, 2010 11:25:53 GMT 1
I know what you mean. You can get a DD Mk1 with Mk2 Butt and bipod for £380 or so, or a Mk1m with Mk1 Butt and Bipod for £400 or so.
How much are the Withams Brens these days, If they still have a stock!
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Post by horsa (David Gordon) on May 3, 2010 20:51:20 GMT 1
The new-made furniture for the Brens on sites like Gun Broker and Auction Arms is for people in the USA building legal semi-automatic weapons. You're limited in the number of original parts that can be used and the rest need to be USA produced to stay in compliance. That's why you'll see other modern relatively simple to build parts like screws and swivels that are high priced compared to what the going rate is for similar original items.
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Post by peregrinvs on May 3, 2010 20:55:49 GMT 1
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