I was wondering if a Mk1 butstock will fit on a Mk11 lower? Thanks Alan AbramsonInformation
Warning: This is a relatively older thread
This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
I was wondering if a Mk1 butstock will fit on a Mk11 lower? Thanks Alan AbramsonInformation
Warning: This is a relatively older thread
This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
Yes it will, they are interchangable.
When fitting you will just need to replace the MK2 return spring tube nut with a MKI return spring tube cap and nut.
ATB Kevin
Directly interchangeable............ Thinking out aloud, I don't recall so. I think that you have to adjust the kidney shaped protrusions/anti rotation blocks at the front of the butt so that they fit in to the smaller(?) shaped holes in the butt slide. Nothing major of course but........ It might be applicable one way but not the other. But this was mentioned in the old Bren EMER's/Notes for Armourers for the information of those who still have Bren guns in their charges. It suggested that the butt was fitted over the return spring tube and tapped with a rawhide mallet so as to slightly mark out the differences between the kidney shaped slots. Then make off to suit, then fit.
Make sure that when you do fit a new butt that its the front end of the butt INSIDE the housing that takes the weight of recoil and not the edges around the outside of the housing. If not, the edges will split and you'll have to patch it
But once you have overcome the actual fitting to the butt slide, then the butts as an assembly are interchangeable. Not something we'd do in service because after the late 70's the older butts were obsolescent and NLA (no longer available or NP (not provisioned) in the VAOS lists. The only butts available thereafter were the lightweight Mk3 gun type. That's why you will often see old UK spec Mk1 and 2 Brens and DP L54's with the Mk4 lightweight butts. Strangely, the curved Mk1 carrying handles were available right up to the end of its life. They were all marked JI, presumably Canada supplied a zillion years worth of spares.
Intrestingly, I've found that some Mk2 slides have the large kidney shaped hole that will accept the Mk1 stock and then some where the top kidney is slightly narrow. I'll have to have a look and see if its applicable to Inglis or Daimler/monotype guns.Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I recall that there is something different as it mentions that Armourers should be aware of the shape and size of the kidney shaped slots and corresponding recesses. Keep us all up to date BP
(added a bit later............) Is everyone aware that there is a later variant of the butt plate for the Mk4 butt with a loop attached/welded to the top so that the gun could be carried with the sling fixet to the top of the butt - as opposed to the side as in the usual butt plate.
This was because the sling hooks were causing havoc to the right hand side of the butts where it hooked into the Mk4 butt butt plate. Maybe photo maestro KG could put a picture up
Last edited by Peter Laidler; 01-15-2011 at 10:51 AM.
(added a bit later............) Is everyone aware that there is a later variant of the butt plate for the Mk4 butt with a loop attached/welded to the top so that the gun could be carried with the sling fixet to the top of the butt - as opposed to the side as in the usual butt plate.
This was because the sling hooks were causing havoc to the right hand side of the butts where it hooked into the Mk4 butt butt plate. Maybe photo maestro KG could put a picture up[/QUOTE]
Peter, wasnt' this a Mod, or miscelaneous instruction in E.M.E.R.s?
You're right Tankie, it was one or the other. But another slight variation none the less, that some Bren fiends won't be aware of.
All a bit invloved & superflous when you think about it Peter. IF the gunner simply fitted a sling through the loop of the Buttplate without using the hook. instead of snapping a hook on there as well (I realise the sling is issued with TWO hooks) it would have made modding the buttplate with the top hoop unessacary & added the bonus of being a little more tactical in that there would be less metal clicking & clunking when being carried on a patrol! When you look at a buttplate sling loop on a MKIV Plate, it certainly is wide enough to fit a sling THROUGH it & NOT use a hook. Ill bet a pound to a pinch of 'Brown Stuff'. that was what was ORIGINALY intended to be effected! And from a QM's point of view, only HALF of the amount of sling hook assemblies need ever be used & the money saved in not having to order double that amount originaly!
Thanks for all the information and help I have gotten on this forum I have been an Enfield and other british arms collector for 25 years but have just gotten into Brens which I shot 45 or so years ago when I was in the Queens own Cameron Hightlanders a malita unit back in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. I have the book the Bren saga and am looking forward to Peter Laidlers "who I met one time when on a tour of Military museums with Ian Skenerton and a bunch of othe folks" book . Alan Abramson