UK straight pull Bren?

[Gloworm]

Thanks Peter but not quite what I had in mind, that would just be a 10/22 in a wig.
My apologies if my query came across badly, it was a genuine one to the collective knowledge on this forum, I have looked at this thread a few times over the years, the initial comments didn't rule it out as a possibility hence the thread resurrection.

[Peter Laidler]

Hey, that was a serious reply to a serious question Glowworm. It really is that simple to do and that's the way to do it. Anyone could try it but the problem would be getting someone at the HO to say that this was a 'new' gun. This is how the straight pull L1A1's came about tentatively at first, refused, modified and then accepted. It is only on the back of the L1A1 success (?) story can the Bren straight pull succeed.

It will take a dealer with a bit of get-up-and-go to set about it. And finding a get up and go dealer....... that'll be another problem..........!

[Gloworm]

Thanks Peter, sorry, thought I had upset you for a moment, If there is a right way and a wrong way to read a message then you can guarantee it will be the latter, the typed response can be a little inflectionless.
I will mail you from work in a few days, we know each other, laid up with flu at the moment 😜
Regards
Robert

[mrclark303]

Nice thought Peter using a dead Bren, unfortunately it would revert to Sec5 as it started from a complete deactivated MG.

To stand any chance of a start, you would need sec1 Bren Parts kits, (do such a thing even exist). In the extremely unlikely event that you could find parts kits (Or strip Bren's abroad and import them as kits) get the green light from the HO ... and carry out Tankies suggested mods to the build, would a removable barrel be an issue, after all plenty of sec1 firearms have quick change multi cal barrels etc?

On a related topic, I have unfortunately all but given up on building a straight pull L2A1 (built on a Lithgow L1 parts kit) with a new unported heavy L2 profile barrel and L2 gas block/bipod, though all quite possible but admittedly a very expensive project, I think that what would appear to be an LMG would not go down well with the powers that be.

[Roy W]

I wouldn't be too sure about the L1A1 straight pulls at the moment, following the Buckland debarcle. A quick look at the main 'supplier/manufacturer' will show they have been pulled from the website, spookily enough following a visit by the local finest about another issue. I think the jury is still out on the L1A1 straight pulls at the moment.

Personally I can't see how a semi auto L1A1 action can ever change into a 'new rifle'.

[Peter Laidler]

You've misinterpreted me Mr Clarke (your thread 14). I was simply explaining in technical speak how simple it would be to make/convert so as to be non-returnable to its former status, bearing in mind that I've had a couple of years to learn the technicalities of the inner workings of Brens.

RoyW has hit the nail firmly on the head in his para 2 of few but VERY sage words. I looked at one such straight pull L1A1 and while it was indeed a straight pull L1A1 as defined, well, let's just say that the ins and outs of the conversion such as it was might have convinced others of a less technical bent - but it didn't convince me

[mrclark303]

Sorry Peter, guess I shouldn't be sat typing away at stupid o clock! With regard to the SP L1A1's (I have two). Several companies were involved in building them a few years ago, all have now stopped, but for different reasons, non related to the L1 builds.

When the first company (Anglo Custom) approached the Home Office with a view to doing this some years back, they got permission based on Sec1 kit builds and the modifications made.The fact that Straight Pull Imbel Fals (that only lack barrel bleed after all and some even had the piston ) have been avalable in the UK since 2000 without any issue, was apparently a very convincing argument.

Now, nothing is ever set in stone regarding firearms as we well know in the UK, but SP L1's have been around in small numbers for over five years now.

These rifles are in the hands of genuine enthusiasts, who paid a lot of money and certainly won't be mucking about with them illegally, so we can only hope common sense, admittedly a very rare commodity, carrys on winning the day chaps

[Peter Laidler]

Ah......, that's the difference. The hand cocking, straight pull, single shot Imbel was MADE as that. Just like the identically figured L98 SA80. And unlike their big brothers, can't be made to be anything else. Unlike the ex L1A1's. But in reality, there are so few of them that have very neatly side stepped the perceived interpretation of the rules - as opposed to the literal interpretation of the rules, that there really is little or no cause for concern. Just my view of course

[bigduke6]

An interesting thread, I,ve been reading up on the Law a bit more than normal recently, (still doesn't make sense) little snippets that I've forgotten or never acknowledged are the bit's that stand out, Peter mentioned the status of a deactivated firearm and is right in saying once its deactivated it is no longer a firearm.... in fact its harder to buy an orange painted air soft than a deac, but thats the way it is.

The SP debate I can't see a problem, the thing is you need to look outside the box, Tankhunter mentioned the fact it was a Semi Auto rifle to start with and from what I was told is a lot to do with the reason we have them, 17 odd years ago L1A1's were advertised in Gunmart for £350 (sec 5).

Ship them rifle's to another country then they are what that country states they are, strip them down and you have a selection of rifle components, (no such thing as a section 5 part) so a foreign country now has a load of rifle parts, build a rifle out of them with a new barrel and do a small conversion on the bolt carrier, then they are a straight pull rifle and UK legal.

The problem lies with such persons as Roy mentions, I know some "parts" were making there way back to the UK and being re-barreled here I guess everyone was getting on the band wagon.

A lot of straight pulls out there at present, M1 carbines, M1 Garands, AK variations and other Russian rifles, to top it off we have the famous AR15........ being a previous owner of an AR15 (M4) it was a lovely rifle but in straight pull a real pain..... just my view but was very fussy on ammunition and on a cold day cocking it every round become unbearable, again just my view and the reason I sold it, give me a bolt action rifle any day, quicker to operate and easier..... and more accurate.

The problem I find is when people push there luck..... anyone in the UK would of heard of the lever release 9mm by a UK company famous for AR15's, again a nice piece of kit and it does the job but it stood out like a sore thumb..... and got noticed more for things it wasn't meant to do....

To anyone with the above then I say good luck to them and and enjoy it.....

If your looking at a straight pull then buy off the shelf, if you want a Bren Straight pull then I would do the homework, get some plans, read up on the USA closed bolt system for the parts kits and start from scratch...... and be prepared for a lot of swarf

[Vincent]

You could make a new body using another method. Two side plates, top plate, barrel support, etc. Then weld them together. No gas system, no barrel nut, just press and pin the barrel in. Mount the bipod on the barrel or on the barrel support and have it fold forward under the barrel where the gas system was. No return spring or buffer, just firing pin/striker drive spring. Striker stays on the sear when the bolt is open. Mechanically there’s not much to it. CNC would make quick work of the parts, but you could make them on a manual mill.