Pre production MK3 Bren ?

[Kev]

As the description says a 1943 Pre production MK3 Bren -



Item can be found here - www.jcmilitaria.com/details.asp?ID=1718

I might well be missing some thing but it looks to me like a bog standard (unlightened) Monotype Mk2 body,with the addition of an Inglis MK2 or an Enfield MKIm sliding butt group (un lightened)which were heavier than a standard Monotype MK2 item.
www.brengun.copperstream.co.uk/JC/lower%20mach.jpg [/img]
Also sporting a Canadian bipod and a standard MK3 type butt.




The barrel has been shortened but not reduced in diameter and is a non UK MK2 type (due to barrel location key way)

This doesn't seem to tally with the Pendine trial guns (pre- production) in October 43 for the lightened Bren for jungle warfare.

1lb 5ozs of material weight saved from body by extra machining
1lb 8ozs of material weight saved from barrel by reduction in length and turning down diameter of barrel by up to a quarter of an inch
Small foot diameter Brit pattern (lightened) MK2 bipod.
MK4 type butt
Lightened sliding butt group
Lightened carry handle sleeve assy
etc etc.

Am I missing something here
Or is this a bargain at £675 ?

[woodsy]

It appears to me to be a normal Mark 2 body, and a modified barrel with a Mark 3 buttstock. I always understood that the two principal features of the Mark 3 were the lightened body (which this one does not have) and the shorter and lighter barrel. It doesn't feel right to me.

[Kev]

Feel sorry for the poor sod who is going to fork out 675 hard earnt quid for this 'mash up'

[Kev]

Some further info on this Bren has come to light.
It was sold at auction by Marlows on 29th Nov 2007

29th NOVEMBER 2007 - RESULTS lot 634 -
www.marlowsauctions.co.uk/m8/m8results.html
634 Deactivated MkII/MkIII Short Barrel Bren Gun £180.00

A friend of mine and fellow Bren collector who is an armourer for a UK company (known to some of you from Warminster visits) was asked to give an opinion on the Bren pre sales catologue.He was quite exited from the info he was given over the phone but upon having a look at it went home very disapointed.
I think that just about sums it up.

Caveat emptor !

[peregrinvs]

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but it appears this gun is still doing the rounds:

www.gunstar.co.uk/Deactivated-Machine-Gun/Daimler-Bren-Mk-3-gun-for-sale-gs636.aspx

£675...

Mark

[Kev]

The hype that is being used to push prices up in gereral is getting worse.Even the most common bit of kit on auction sites is proceded by 'scarce' or 'rare'

[britplumber]

I thought I'd replied yesterday but Its not there. Anyhow, the link you posted goes back to the original sale posted in 2008. I assume you came across it during a search as its a old out of date page. I wonder who got it and if they now realise they were duped?

[peregrinvs]

Yes, I came across it via Googling. I didn't notice the date and assumed it was a recent sale.

I'm a little puzzled as to who would buy it. There are far cheaper ones about if you just wanted a Bren of some sort. But if you're enough of an enthusiast to know what a Mk3 Bren is, then surely you'd know enough to be at least suspicious and do some research?

Mark

[gfo875]

I know that dealer. Be very careful