late production de-fouling tool

This late production, 1985, MK1 de-fouling tool came in a cleaning wallet that I recently purchased. I was surprised that MK1 de-fouling tools were still being made as late as 1985.

Does anyone have a later one?

They were still with TA and cadet units that late, so, yes, they would supplies of tools.

I wonder if many of the people who own their semi-auto Bren's even know what the tool is used for or how to use it !! I have seen one person use it to ream the gas tube cylinder but not the recess area where the carbon builds up in front of the gas piston. Or am I wrong ?

I even found one in a mortar cleaning kit???

I would have thought that enough were produced during the WW2 period to last out the service lifetime of the Bren?

The attrition rate of the fouling tool was pretty severe as the carbon build up in the gas pocket was diamond hard. so they were blunted quite quickly. As I seem to recall, the last of the L4's and Brens in service were declared obsolete simultaneously in 2002 but the odd ones, such as the IWS equipped L4A9's in the watchtowers lingered on for a couple more years as Gil will confirm. Ironically, when the L4's and Brens were declared obsolete '.....along with all otherwise associated accoutrements, ancillaries and gauges relavant to.........' went the last sole remains of the Vickers gun in the shape of the breech leed wear gauge. Don't recognise it? It was the tapered gauge that came in an unscrewable two-part steel case

Peter, would the later type de-fouling tool, that was used on the 7.62 GPMG, also work on the Bren/L4? From what has been said and implied I would guess not but I don't know for sure.

I have one that I am pretty sure is this late model. At least in my memory, this is what it looks like. Will dig it up.

Are there any instructions for use in publications available or vids on line?

Thread 6. I don't know for sure but I would doubt it