Giving Thanks

[AmEngRifles]

I wanted to say Thank You to all those on the forum that freely give such great information and experience in our quest for knowledge. I also am giving thanks, right behind that for my family and friends, to my "English" portion of my collection, which has now gathered a L4A4 thanks to Len Savage at Historic Arms. Len does beautiful work. His products are a job to behold and a joy to shoot. I only wish I could afford the full auto versions, but then again, not sure everything I have is located here in the US in full auto form? A few pics of the stable. I am thankful for these even if just semi auto.

AmEngRifles

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

I'm curious about the 7.62 version double marked..."MG43GA"... Anyone? As in, "Who done it" and why that marking?

[Peter Laidler]

The MG43GA is the original Ordnance VAOS part number of the 'new' L4A4 pre the later NSN - the Nato Stock Number. It would be C1/MG 43 GA (for General Assembly). To make that truly authentic it would have a little red oblong 1.5" long x .75" top to bottom with 7.62MM stencilled on in black. Positioned on the body between the barrel nut and the round feed lip reinforcing insert.
The new part number and barred out BREN is just to indicate its new status.

Notice the serial number of tyhe butt slide now marked on the rear left side of the butt slide instead of at the rear. It was difficult to mark on the rear unless it was stamped on and stamps often distorted the elongated body locking pin hole. Engraving was also a real PITA. After '72, when necessary the number was engraved onto the rear of the butt slide. Much better. To be honest, butt slides were interchangeable pretty much so numbering really was just an academic exercise. L4's......., nice guns....., BUT. Really the L4's in 7.62mm were at the limit of what they could take and while the old .303 guns would last for many years between major problems, the L4's needed a bit more TLC to remain on top form.

[browningautorifle]

Gracias Peter. I knew someone knowing would explain it... I have used that gun, sort of...one that had been an 8mm Inglis converted to 7.62. I thought it was marvelous but didn't have to work with it for years. Only recreational. Sure did go through the 7.62 tracer with it though.

[AmEngRifles]

So Peter, are the markings correct for a rifle that would have started as a Mk III then converted to 7.62? Or is the nomenclature slightly off? I can add the painted portion as I have seen many pictures of that marking. Did the painted markings persist through the life of the L4 production, or was it just done to "early guns" until everyone became familiar that this was a "7.62" firearm?

I would have loved to seen this rifle produced in the .280 or something along those lines, like the Venezuelan 7x40. I would have hoped the cartridge would not have been as hard on the working parts?

[Peter Laidler]

What rifle? Are you talking about the L4? Yes, a couple of Brens were converted to .280 but the problems but abandoned when the 7.62 was adopted. The red 7.62MM mark was never declared redundant as such. It just went into disuse by some tacit agreement when the last of the old .303 Mk2's and 3's finally drifted out of service in the mid 70's or so and only 7.62's remained. I seem to recall that the last 303's in military service were those fitted as the ranging gun on the WOMBAT and CONBAT where the 303 bullet pretty well matched the trajectory of the main 120mm gun. plus the fact that it meant that the gun crew had a machine gun to hose down those who were fleeing the tank they'd just sent to valhalla. Cadets used a mixture of the 303 and L4 guns until the 80's until they - sadly - got the LSW

[AmEngRifles]

Yes, thank you for being a mind reader. 😉 I can sometimes have the train of thought in MY head and expect everyone else to be on the same page!! Sorry for that misguided thought pattern. That, plus I have terrible blogging skills. I suppose I should have done a “reply to” in an ideal world, but always seem to always have 3 ideas floating in my head at the same time.

So it would not be too off track if I DIDN’T apply the red paint with stenciled caliber (calibre) to my L4A4...I am a bit apprehensive to paint on the receiver.

What I had first questioned ( in the first paragraph of the reply) was the engraved portions on the rear passenger side of the L4 receiver as the builder marked it. Wondered if they weren’t 100% correct. I asked this due to browningautorifle’s comment.

[browningautorifle]

I asked this due to browningautorifle’s comment

Apologies if I caused confusion, I think it's correct though as applied by the military to show the new mod.

[AmEngRifles]

Brit Plumber,

The serial on top of the rear receiver is UE72 over A18907.

These same series of numbers is located on the butt slide assembly. So I guess this means they are from a single weapon, with a new middle section welded in??

My Mk I was done that way. It is easy to tell when you look inside the mag well and see the very clean, COMPLETE mag lip support guides. Usually, in builds without the complete mid section, the interior shows gaps in the mag support area. Those must be a pain to rebuild and contour??

I was originally thinking that the builder (Len Savage) has the gun engraved with all this but realize that was wrong thinking. I will have to go over the gun and see what other indicating marks there are. I know Len marks it with his company name and address.

---------- Post added at 01:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 PM ----------

BAR, I hope it is OK to shorten your handle?

It is OK, I read things wrong all the time or do not completely understand what someone is saying in written word at times. I am terrible about being too wordy at the same time in my own replies.

[Brit plumber]

The markings are original in my opinion. If you look behind the 3 in Mk3 the weld mark of the rear section passes through the end of the 3.

The original 3 wouldn’t have been milled away and is typical of some ex Greek guns. I suspect a Mk1 mid section has been used to repair the Mk3/L4 kit.

---------- Post added at 11:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------

Is there a barred out LBxxxx number on the top rear of the body? Or possibly a barred out UE6XAxxxx type serial.