MkII Inglis Bren Barrel Handles

Peter, Jeez, I just looked and I've actually got six Inglis Mk.II barrels. Three are dated 1943 and three dated 1944. This includes the one fitted to my 1945 15Txxxx Inglis Mk.II gun. All have Canadian walnut Mk.1 carry handles fitted except one 1943 dated barrel that has a British Mk.II carry handle made at Enfield. Brian

Just in case anyone needs one or more, I have a box of new Bren carrying handle wood that I picked up years ago in Australia DIRT CHEAP

Hello again John. That's a fine offer, but we're OK at the Infantry School. I remember using them as file handles!

On the same subject, I seem to remember that in Australia we only ever used to see the female Mk1 shaped carrying handles too.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

On the same subject, I seem to remember that in Australia we only ever used to see the female Mk1 shaped carrying handles too.

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It appears the Australians also made Mk2 handles:

Australian Issue Bren Carrying Handle Mk2 on eBay (end time 24-Jun-10 06:02:40 BST)

Would these have been made for L4's?

Cheers,

Mark

PS. On the subject of the Infantry School, a friend and I have booked a visit to the small arms collection next Wednesday morning. Thoroughly looking forward to it.:)

There was a complete case of 18 Australian Mk.II barrels for sale at the Knob Creek show in April. They were all still packed in grease in brand spanking knew conditon. It would make the perfect display for a rich guy's gun room with the lid replaced with glass! I thought about buying them for resale but talked myself out of it PDQ!

An importer friend in Tucson had stacks of cases of those MkII barrels.

Now on the "female handles, I am willing to send them to whoever wants one or more for just the postage. All my spare barrels have good handles.

Of course, Peter, you would have boxes of handles where you work. No doubt some of them might even have been used for firewood:D
I just meant the offer for some of us less fortunate folks who might have a damaged one.

I envy you working at a place where you can test fire lots of interesting toys at gubmint expense;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Sukey

An importer friend in Tucson had stacks of cases of those MkII barrels.

Now on the "female handles, I am willing to send them to whoever wants one or more for just the postage. All my spare barrels have good handles.

Of course, Peter, you would have boxes of handles where you work. No doubt some of them might even have been used for firewood:D
I just meant the offer for some of us less fortunate folks who might have a damaged one.

I envy you working at a place where you can test fire lots of interesting toys at gubmint expense;)

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Tucson, my favourite place in the US, I was there for 3 months in 2008 working at Davis Monthan. If I get back, any chance of meeting up?

Cheers, Chris.

Don't forget that those Mk2 barrels were the basis for the later lightweight barrels. Remove and refit the flash eliminator and the Mk2's can be turned down and cut to length to give you Mk3 barrels. Good/passable if you have a needy Mk3 'LB' serial number gun.

I know someone will point it out, but I know it's not exact as the flash eliminators are very slightly different, but you'll have to be pretty astute to notice..............

Maybe the photo maestro KG could photograph a Mk2 and 4 barrel flash eliminators together for comparison.

As requested,pics of barrels/flash hiders (degrees are approx) -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fhiders1-1.jpg

ATB Kevin

Thanks for that camera maestro KG.

But forumers can see, that with a surplus of Mk2 barrels and shortage of Mk4 short/lightweight barrels (Mk4 barrels for the Mk3 gun don't forget.....) you could easily convert a Mk2 to a passable Mk4 spec.

Or, if you need one, an L4 look-a-like barrel if you're handy with a horizontal milling machine to make the flash eliminator body. The foresight block can be unbrazed from the old flash eliminator and replaced onto the new repro look-a-like. As we say... 'with a file and a hacksaw, anything is possible.....'