MK 1 bren tipod

[smlemk111]

I was fortunate on picking up a Mk1 Bren tripod Unfortunatly it didn't come with the extra 2 peice leg for antarcraft fire and the bayonet locking bit was gone, also gone was the bracket on the front leg that the Bren gun atached to for anti aircraft fire. I have spent quite a bit of time looking at Bren gun pictures trying to get a good view of the bracket. So far I have been unable to find a good enough picture to allow me to fabricate one up as It would make a very interesting display using the Smlemk111 as the front leg. I think that I have figured out the bayonet locking mechanism and the threads on the front leg are in good nick so I should be able to have a machine shop build the keeper for the Bren atachment bracket. Also if someone were to have prints of the 2 peice foreard leg I would also try to replicate that. Thanks for your help Alan in Portland Oregon

Information

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[Brit plumber]

It sounds like you have a Mk1* or the intermediate version which never had the AA option. There is no extra bracket to fit to the 3rd leg, its machined into the head like this.

[smlemk111]

Hi Yes that is exacktly what I have except it is missing the bit that locks the bayonet lug on the rifle to the tripod head, or the 2 peice extension onto the tripod head. I have figured out how to make the locking bit I am missing for the tripod head but the peices that I am missing and are not sure about are the two peices that go on the front leg. The one peice is threaded and holds the bracket that I am missing onto the leg. the other peice is the bracket that the Bren is locked onto for anti air craft fire. It the bit that locks the bayonet lug onto the tripod head checkerd on the end or is it smooth on the exposed end. Thanks Alan in Portland

[Brit plumber]

I've taken some more photos for you.

[tankhunter]

Blimey BP!! That Tripod is in a right state! The QM will go MENTAL if he saw that!....Lol! Clean off all that rust with WIREWOOl & PLENTY of Oil. It wont take any of the paint finnish off then, You could 'patch paint' the areas lacking a paint finnish which would be better for now, rather than a total stripdown, derusting & respray! COME ON, JUMP TO IT LAD!.....................

[Brit plumber]

Oh thats not rust, its patina.

[Peter Laidler]

Looking at and thinking about the rifle bayonet fixture to use as the third leg in an AA tripod makes me wonder about the sanity of the person who even thought about such a complicated and ludicrous idea. Ok, it worked in theory but the practice was sheer lunacy. It's a bit like putting a can or tin opener on a bayonet.............. As if any average squaddy would starve to death for want of a can or bottle opener.... I mean....., really!

[tankhunter]

And if you havent got a can opener, well.... you have a Bayonet!.............. (Arent' they the same?)

[Peter Laidler]

Exactly Tankie! It's like the wire cutters........... It'd be cheaper to give everyone a set of good quality 'snap-on' pliers that would slip into any bit of kit he has. At least a pair of pliers is versatile, unlike those wire cutters on the scabbard

[smlemk111]

Thanks for the pictures that will make it much easier to fab up some repro parts. Just a couple of questions. With the mount at the end of the bracket open on the top does the bren lock in or does it just sort of hook into the bracket? My tripod os painted a dark flat green and it I am sure is a recent paint job is the colour of your pictured tripod the original color. Thanks Alan from Portland Oregon