WTB Mk I buttstock

[stencollector]

At a minimum, here in Canada, a collector MUST have an Inglis mk1, a Mk1(M), and a MkII. Then any oddities that surface like the CH serialized Bren, and the transitional mk1 to mk1M DD Brens also have to be added to the collection. Now I read about these sterile Brens, so I will have to make space for one more.

One could also get duplicates of some of the marks for the different buttplates on the mk2, and for the different length of cones on the mk1. Also, the early mk1 machine work is nice to have as well. But adding these might be getting obsessive.

I never got into the foreign brens or the CZ guns....not common here and lacking the Cdn connection.

[Peter Laidler]

Those original Mk2 butt plates with the useless overhang that was supposed to act as a shoulder support were nothing but trouble for Armourers. The moment the gun was put down butt first, anything like close to heavily, the butt plate would chisel away a great sliver of the butt. In itself, that was easy to cure because we didn't have to patch that, just make good and level off the previously undercut section. What did make trouble was that as the butt plate moved, it took the chunk of wood away but in doing so, caused the top butt plate screw to elongate the screw hole, inevitably stripping the thread. This had to be drilled out, plugged and re-drilled............ The flat Mk3 butt plate without the overhang that just folded over the top of the butt solved the problem. Later on, we'd just fit all Brens with damaged butts with the Mk3 gun lightweight butt assemblies with the Mk5 triangular butt plate

When I was writing the Bren book, I spoke to a lady who as a young girl, was a wood machine setter for Tibbenhams at Ipswich, who made Mk2 Bren butts from imported Americal black walnut. She still had a memory that was as sharp as a knife. With the offcuts, they made SMLE bayonet grips. These were machined as a solid then cut to make pairs. They also made Mk5 Sten butts and pistol grips

[peregrinvs]

When I was writing the Bren book, I spoke to a lady who as a young girl, was a wood machine setter for Tibbenhams at Ipswich, who made Mk2 Bren butts from imported Americal black walnut.

Perhaps she made the one on my Monotype MkII? I noticed when I was stripping it down it has the F. Tibbenham dispersal code (S111) stamped on it. I'm glad to hear it's Walnut - it should clean up nicely.

Mark

[Sarge]

[QUOTE=stencollector;139922]At a minimum, here in Canada, a collector MUST have an Inglis mk1, a Mk1(M), and a MkII. Then any oddities that surface like the CH serialized Bren, and the transitional mk1 to mk1M DD Brens also have to be added to the collection. QUOTE]

What is a Mk1(M)?
Sarge

[peregrinvs]

What is a Mk1(M)?

The simplified version of the MkI - the 'm' stands for 'modified'. From memory the following things were deleted / changed:

- Fixed line sight dovetail removed
- Strengthening rib on right-hand side of receiver removed
- Butt handle deleted
- Butt-strap deleted
- Simplified machining to gas cylinder
- Lightening holes by breech removed
- Change from Mk1 barrel to Mk1* barrel with shorter flash-hider
- Change from Mk1 barrel locking nut to simpler Mk2 barrel locking nut (?)

And no doubt Britplumber or KevG will be along in a minute to point out the things I've missed. There are various types of 'intermediate' receiver between the original MkI and the fully developed MkI(m) as the changes were phased in over time. Again IIRC, Enfield did this from late 1940 onwards and Inglis and Lithgow from early / mid 1941.

Mark

PS. Only the Inglis guns were actually marked with the 'm' and unlike the Enfield and Lithgow guns, they didn't simplify the machining to the gas cylinder.

[Brit plumber]

I think you have about covered it there Mark, there were some internal machine processes deleted too but theres no point in trying to describe them, it would take forever to actually describe them. I would add that the true Mk1 had a more intricatly (Spelling) machined bottom slide compared to the type fitted to the Mk1m. Also the Inglis Mk1m retained the fluted gas ports but it had a simplified gas shield but not as simple as the flat Enfield Mk1 gas shield. Inglis also produced a slightly simpler drum sight to, the hand wheel was made with out the little notches on the outside and just had knurling completly around instead.

Kev G will be along with some more bits soon.

[mrclark]

[QUOTE=Sarge13;140398]

At a minimum, here in Canada, a collector MUST have an Inglis mk1, a Mk1(M), and a MkII. Then any oddities that surface like the CH serialized Bren, and the transitional mk1 to mk1M DD Brens also have to be added to the collection. QUOTE]

What is a Mk1(M)?
Sarge

heres my MKIm for your reference

[Gripweed]

Hi all, I am looking for my bren for Butt Plate Mk.I, so if anyone can help, please, let me know. Thanks!

[tankhunter]

You forgot to add, the bipod had fixed feet!
The adjustable up & down facility was done away with.
Brackets for the latches on the side of the legs were omitted, along with axis pins & retention springs. Then the feet were brazed in place.

Thus cutting down on four componants in production on one leg alone!