Trials Bren gun

[mrclark303]

Morning all,

Calling all Bren experts ... DEACTIVATED ZBG .303 BREN TRIALS MODEL

I don't profess to know anything but the basics on Bren Guns, is this DP converted example correct guys, if so just how rare is it??

Deactivated ZBG 33 Bren .303 Trials Model Light Machine Gun

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I don't happen to have the usual samples in front of me for comparison but it looks like a bit of a hybrid with a UK made barrel/barrel nut and certainly the or parts of the backsight assembly. I bet ZGB and BP will have some pertinent comments to add.

Certainly most of the well used/thrashed trials guns were converted to DP and used at Hythe in order to teach the unit military training cadres about the 'new' Bren they were soon to be issued with and teach. At Warminster we had an attendance register relating to these Courses which also included the new BOYS rifle and 2" mortar. There is an interesting photo (clearly posed......) shows the instructional cadre teaching soldiers the new Bren prior to shooting it. It shows the Rifle Brigade Depot at Winchester at the rear of the recently demolished camp 25 yard range.

Interesting.

[mrclark303]

Many thanks for the insight Peter, they have another well used DP Mk1 on the site, I would imagine they came from the same source. If its correct then it strikes me as an example well worthy of restoration and preservation.

[desperatedan]

John,

There were quite a few more examples on the site first thing today but have all sold now I think so the pictures have disappeared. I tried to save one or two pictures but will have to search my PC to see if I managed to.

The example mentioned is as Peter says a mixture of parts and unlike the other BRNO examples it has a British butt. All of the other examples looked like they were all complete Czech made ones as the butts had a socket for mounting on a tripod as opposed to the retaining pin/handle fitment on british brens. All the others were DP examples and I suspect that they were ex-Irish as one at least had an FF stamp on the barrel. I think that the Irish bought Mk1s from the BRNO factory in 1937 onwards (some were marked with this date and I think I read somewhere that they converted them to DP when they got the Mk3 Bren in the 50s.

All the examples I saw earlier were all described by the vendor as "Trials" but I for one don't believe that to be the case, I think they're ex-Irish Army.

[Peter Laidler]

I seem to recall that the ZB gun made in .303" to almost the UK spec was a ZB39...... or something like that. ZB wanted to capitalise on it for export sales to nations with a military allegiance to the UK where .303 was the norm and the tight licensing agreement precluded export sales. The war came along and the rest is history as they say.........

[bigduke6]

The pictures are back...... seems a lot of Bren Guns, has Kev G sold up?

[mrclark303]

Thanks for the info guys, as I would expect, very knowledgeable and infomamative.

The sad thing is, (assuming they are ex Irish examples), then that's interesting in its own right, why do dealer's have to spin a tale...

[desperatedan]

The pictures are back...... seems a lot of Bren Guns, has Kev G sold up?

Geoff, the ones left showing (albeit a lot of them) are Enfield made. As well as these there were at least another 4 Czech made "trials" ones listed earlier today - all DP marked....

[desperatedan]

Found a pic of one of them from listed earlier. I don't think that's an Enfield butt.

[ragtop]

There is another one here. Some detailed barrel markings.

BRNO ZGB dated 1937 +++++ SPECIAL OFFER PRICE +++++ - Saracen Exports