Enfield Bren LMG MKI mixed with MKII help (warning - pic heavy)

[AlexV]

Hello!

I own a "Frankenstein" Bren MKI. It's a MKI with some MKII parts.

I need help to find which parts are MKII. I also want to know if you can spot non-Enfield parts (the receiver is marked "ED" 1941) on my Bren too.

So far I know that the bipod is MKII, the butt stock is also MKII, but for the rest (if any) I will need help of most knowledgeable folks.

If you want more pictures let me know!

Thanks for your help!

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.

[peregrinvs]

Other than the butt and bipod legs it looks pretty much 'factory spec' to me for a British MkI 'simplified' Bren, although I'm sure far more knowledgeable people are waiting poised in the wings...

As for common markings, 'ED' = Enfield', (or the 'E within a D' cypher) JI' = John Inglis of Canada and 'MA' = Munitions Australia. British made subcontractor parts can either have the actual company initials or factory codes. These will start with the prefix 'S' (South) 'M' (Midlands) or 'N' (North) and a two digit number. e.g. 'M67' is the code for Daimler.

It's not unusual for Brens to contain a mixture of parts from different nationalities as they would have been serviced / rebuilt with whatever was available. IIRC correctly, John Inglis made a lot of spares as well as complete guns.

Mark

[Brit plumber]

The whole lower slide is Mk2. there should be a projection forward of the front tripod mount for a Mk1. This looks like a Inglis Mk2 complete lower assembly. Also the mag catch is mk2, the Mk1 dosn't have a hole through it.

[Peter Laidler]

The bipod is a simplified Mk1 in that it has a Mk1 sleeve and yoke but 'sort-of' Mk1 legs in that while they LOOK like the standard Mk1 legs, they're not adjustable for height.

The rest of it is just as the others have commented. Looks like it needs a new carrying handle or just patch the old one!

Most of the old Brens in service were hybrids like this but the mark type was always as described on the gun body, regardless of its configuration

[peregrinvs]

The whole lower slide is Mk2. there should be a projection forward of the front tripod mount for a Mk1. This looks like a Inglis Mk2 complete lower assembly. Also the mag catch is mk2, the Mk1 dosn't have a hole through it.

DOH! Didn't spot either. My promotion to 'Bren Spotter - First Class' will have to wait for another day.

I'll claim in my defense that I was at work and trying to view the pictures discretely.

Mark

[AlexV]

The whole lower slide is Mk2. there should be a projection forward of the front tripod mount for a Mk1. This looks like a Inglis Mk2 complete lower assembly. Also the mag catch is mk2, the Mk1 dosn't have a hole through it.

I'm not sure what you are talking about (for the "projection forward of the front tripod mount")... Do you have a picture where this can be clearly seen?

Thanks!

[Peter Laidler]

To simplify things a bit Alex, the bit BP means is that on the old original Mk1 Bren butt slide, the butt slide is about 1.5" longer that your Mk2 type, extending forwards of the front mounting pin hole. This 'extension' has a small tang of metal protruding from the left side which means that you cannot pull the butt slide back until you have lifted the barrel nut. The whole thing was a bit of a chinese puzzle in that it served no useful purpose and was deleted for Mk2 simplified production. There were a couple of other simplifications on the Mk2 butt slide too - such as a plain bolt to hold the pistol grip on insread of the old original hollow bolt.

Don't ask me for pictures as me and cameras/photography are not the best of bed mates! Ask KevG nicely. He's the photo wizzard.......

What are the weld marks on the butt slide and gas regulator? Some form of local dewat criteria?

Right, get down behind the gun, test and adjust your positions. With a magazine of 30 rounds .......
wait for it.................! LOAD. READY...................... 30 rounds in short bursts in 15 seconds when the targets appear at your front................. WATCH AND SHOOT.... WATCH AND SHOOT

[Kev G]

To illustrate the differences between the MKI and MK2 butt slides showing the projection and tang that has been mentioned on the MKI.



atb Kevin

[Peter Laidler]

Thanks for those pics KG. Note that on the 2nd picture down, just to the rear of the mounting pin hole, there is a blob of metal sticking out. This piece of metal was used to retain the gun in the AA tripod mount. (the gun had to be above horizontal to insert and remove it). The AA feature of the mount was obsolescent and obsolete by 1942 or so but nobody thought to mention this to the factory who continued churning out butt slides that featured this obsolete and difficult to incorporate feature.................

Even the Mk3 and later updates of it have it. Amazing isn't it?

[tankhunter]

As Peter has mentioned. Thise weld marks on the buttslide. They look very untidy! It would be a few seconds job to remove them with an electric rotary fingerfile to 'Tidy them up'! Also a light crack with a hammer in that area & the Buttslide WILL come out so you can inspect, clean & service the internals!
Are you NOT in the UK then? This extra welding on the buttslide area is NOT required in the UK.
Mike