BREN MK 1 - BIPOD

[jumpinghat]

Hey All,

Been scrutinising my Bren and have found the following:.....

It has a load of BSA markings on it (Butt, near the AA Mount etc)

Ser No is F9140 on the Body, and the Butt (one serial virtually sitting on to of the other - as it were)

Barrel is Ser No B6288

Has the markings MkI with a stylised 'D' under it and 1941 under that on the left (date I assume..... ) I'm assuming from some background reading that the stylised 'D' is an an Enfield marking?? (if so then why all the BSA markings on it??)

Butt has no spoon and no AA Handle (common problem ...... )

Bipod is a little on the 'odd' side though......... it looks like a Mk2 .... but it has a Mk1 'top' on it .... and holes in the 'feet' ..... I read a pam by Ian Skennerton ages ago and seem to remember that the Canadians made one like this (or am I mad..... ;D )

Any info would be great!

Cheers - Jim

[britplumber]

You have an early Bren, possibly one of the last intermediate guns or one of the first true mk1m guns. The BSA parts are correct as BSA were subcontracted from Enfield to build Bipods, butts and carry handle assy. As disscussed in a earlier topic, the BSA crossed rifle logo gave way to the single 'B'probably just after your gun was finished. The D is also correct and is an enfiled logo. The Bipod is a Canadian type used on all there later produced guns.

Do you have a couple of photos so we can tell you if its a mk1m or Itermediate gun?

The last intermediate type (which could be yours) had the fluted gas ports as found on all DD Brens and all Inglis mk1 Brens. The Enfield mk1 (modified) guns had plain 'D' shaped gas ports like the mk2. Which ever it is, its either the one of the very last Intermediates or the very first few true mk1 modifieds.

Cheers, Chris.

[jumpinghat]

Hi, how do you paste pictures onto this site then.......? cheers

[britplumber]

You need to upload them to a host site and then link them into this site. Or alternativly, speak to Kev very nicely and he will sort somthing out. He's like a Bren photograph host site all by himself.

[Kev]

If you haven't got any webspace email them to me, no problem

[Kev]

[britplumber]

jumpinghat said:

Bipod is a little on the 'odd' side though......... it looks like a Mk2 .... but it has a Mk1 'top' on it .... and holes in the 'feet' ..... I read a pam by Ian Skennerton ages ago and seem to remember that the Canadians made one like this (or am I mad..... ;D )

Any info would be great!

Cheers - Jim

After seeing the photos, it is in fact a correct mk1 bipod.

Is this a Aussie FTR'd gun? its in amazing condition!

Its also one of the very last mk1 intermediates. and I mean very last.

It is at least one of the last 356 intermediate guns made, and i estimate there were only about 5000 of the fluted model made.

[jumpinghat]

Since the last message I posted I managed to get hold of some Mk1 legs ;D Its in good nick because I had to restore it as when I bought it, it was in a very sorry state (rust, unoriginal finish etc) now its going to get a Mk1 Tripod too ( when I restore that) that is also in a very bad state....... still it keeps me out of trouble ;D I've also got a broken box for it.... same story except the lid is in three peices......

And whats an intermediate .....?

[britplumber]

The intermediates are the guns that were produced when Enfield changed gradualy from the true mk1 gun to the mk1 modified gun (simplified). Your example has fluted gas ports (the part of the receiver at the front that has holes in it, behind the bipod head and gas shield) which were a throwback to the original mk1. The later Mk1 modified pattern has a smooth D shape profile and this is the most common type.

Its said that there are 8 Intermediates but I can only find a total of 6 Variations, including the true mk1 and the mk1 (M).

I'll try and post a pic of my '39 BSA tripod tommorow.