Anyone buy the Bren Mk4 at http://www.switzersauction.com

[Peter Laidler]

I deciphered the Indian mark and sub mark cunundrum with the help of ouyr Indian Liaison Officer some years ago. Believe me, it's like pulling teeth............ He was most helpful (mind you, it was a two-way thing over a few Mess lunches and dinners...... and drinks of course.....). The problem is that He deals with Indian Ordnance Corps who deal with the Ministry of whatever who deal with the Ordnance Board who deal with the factories who................ on and on it goes. We all now recognise the Mk3/1 as originally a heavy old Mk1 brought down to Mk3 weight. Therefore it is now, for all intents and purposes, a Mk3. BUT, because it differs slightly from a Mk3 - with a radial sight, it is a sub-mark of the Mk3 so it is a Mk3/1. The barrel configuration however makes no difference - whether they are lightened Mk1 or Mk2 JUST SO LONG AS THEY ARE THE LIGHTWEIGHT VERSION

The remainder follow a similar pattern thus:
To sum-up .303” Bren guns in the Indian Army
Mk1: Standard UK/Canadian/Australian Mk1, Mk1A, Mk1M or Mk1L gun
Mk2: Standard Mk2 gun of UK or Canadian origin
Mk3: Standard UK or Indian made Bren. Parts fully interchangeable between each
Mk3/1(IP). Any version of the Mk1 gun converted to lightweight spec
Mk4/1(IP) Any version of the Mk2 gun converted in India to lightweight Mk4 spec.
Mk5(IP) Standard Mk2 gun fitted with UK or Indian spec lightweight Mk4 barrels

But even this isn't a certain 'fact' because some of those on the market don't seem to conform to this. I'm not quite sure whether this is due to them just fitting any old stuff prior to sale/disposal and shipping it out or stuff being swopped and chopped elsewhere. But that's how it is said to be, seems to be and how it appears in the Indian Ordnance parts lists - although, like ours, there are occasional blips that don't make any sense

Where was I now.........................

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