Lee Enfield n°4(T) and Bipod

[Surpmil]

Isn't it amazing how well preserved the leather is, when the rest of it so far gone.

They've confused matters by putting the scope in a case that was never buried anywhere, and putting leather caps on that were obviously not buried either. They've certainly dried out a lot though.

Or were you joking?

[Lou Cypher]

Hi Guys,
I"m bumping a very old thread, but I've infos about this bipod and the rifle.
Both were discovered together at the same time. The bipod is a Bren Mk I bipod with the tips of a n°4 bayonet fixed on it.
I'm expecting to get close pictures.
If I can determine the regiment which was involved in the combat at "bois de Bavent", Normandy, do you think that we can find the name or at least a short list of the potential owner?

[Peter Laidler]

The bipod with bayonet tips on it is NOT a Mk1 bipod. It's a Mk2 or a 3. Mind you, there were several hybrid variants. As for locating the owner or user........ I'd say not even the remotest chance

[nzl1a1collector]

Bren Bi-pods are wonderful things, that can be used for all sorts of weapons.

Which one of you highly skilled armourers made this?

[Peter Laidler]

I'd hesitate to use the words '....highly skilled' and 'Armourers' in respect of that monstrosity KtK. Looks like the offender has unpicked the shroud from an L4 type bipod. (I think the man that did this was the same man that installed my new shower a year ago. That's now been totally stripped out, properly sealed, properly waterproofed tray and tiles and being put back together - properly!)

On a serious note, I wonder if someone - KtK - could put these pics onto the L1A1 bit of the forum for posterity. Interesting if nothing else

[nzl1a1collector]

You know someone in the field made this........ probably someone wanting a removable bi pod for their L1A1. The bayonet is from the late 60s or later. It was probably someones answer to putting a bi pod on the SLR fitted with the IWS for observation duties in Northern Ireland. It was probably easier to obtain a Bren bi pod than a L7A2 bi pod and modify that into this.

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, it's a later 'reinforced' bayonet. I thought these bayonets with the straight sided stronger crosspieces were from the mid to late 70's. Certainly stronger and I never saw one with a broken X-piece ring. There's quite a bit of brazing work involved in this bipod project because once the blade is cut off the X-piece will just slip off the front unless it's all brazed together! Not the sort of facility that the average crunchie would have. No good for accurate shooting with of course but like you say, across country ground level observation with the IIW or from the watchtowers, as good as anything else. Seems hard to believe that we used IIW's that size now! Mind you, they lasted for many years, right up to the L1A7 version.

What is that circular stud/nut/reinforce on the butt, just above the missing sling loop? Is it a hybrid Arctic Warfare butt with the clip-on sling loop on the other side?

[tankhunter]

You know someone in the field made this........ probably someone wanting a removable bi pod for their L1A1. The bayonet is from the late 60s or later. It was probably someones answer to putting a bi pod on the SLR fitted with the IWS for observation duties in Northern Ireland. It was probably easier to obtain a Bren bi pod than a L7A2 bi pod and modify that into this.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...MGIWS_05-1.jpg

When I was with the Para's I used to make these set up's all the time. Ideal then for observational use in N.I & on Exercises. I have been asked to make a few more from members on here. & have done so for Them!

---------- Post added at 05:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 AM ----------

Never seen this lash up with a bayonet part before! But I can see where the original 'Owner' was attempting to go!......................................

[nzl1a1collector]

What is that circular stud/nut/reinforce on the butt, just above the missing sling loop? Is it a hybrid Arctic Warfare butt with the clip-on sling loop on the other side?

Yes its the Arctic Small Arms Butt. At the time of the photo the rifle was set up for the Arctic warfare role, I swapped over the handguards, but not the butt for these photo.

[Peter Laidler]

As I seem to remember, the Arctic Warfare butts were different internally to the standard butts somewhere along the way. It was to prevent the other side of the side mounted sling loop from pulling through the black outer shell of the butt. Or cracking it (before it did pull through.....) in the severe cold of darkest Norway. The firm in Macclesfield(?) who submitted the trial butts had a bit of a headache. It was a case of '......you can have temperate climate plastic butts, you can have cold weather plastic butts or you can have tropical climate plastic butts. But you can't have ALL climate plastic butts!' This little firm also made the last batches of L1A1 telescope range and deflection drum assemblies.