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  1. #1
    Legacy Member peregrinvs's Avatar
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    MkI and MkI* Tripods

    Hi,

    Could someone spell out for me what the differences are between the MkI and MkI* tripods? I have a friend who is looking to sell a spare front leg and we're not quite sure what type it is.

    Thanks,
    Mark
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    Peter Laidler's Avatar
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    As I seem to remember it, they were the same/same-ish but the Mk1* did away with the A-A whatsits, such as the bayonet socket and spring loaded plungers in the leg-ends........., you know the sort of thing!

    BUT, be advised......... That was the BOOK version. In real life, at the unit or on the ground, things were VERY different. You made up or repaired from what you had in stock or what came from Ordnance. As most parts interchanged as 'parts'; - if not as assemblies, most of them were hybrids by the time they'd ended their lives. I use the words 'interchangeable' in the loose sense of the word - as the fit could be anything from VERY loose to 'sausage in a high street' loose

    The Mk2(?) was the folding frame version that was supposed to fold into the parachute container (you'd be xxxxxxg lucky......) but even on this tripod most of the parts were interchangeable as parts or assemblies. Once again, you'd find the 'fixed' Mk1's of any sort with short Mk2 legs and all sorts. But honestly, Bren tripods were a sack of 5h1te and did nothing in the fixed lines role that an un-tripodded Bren with two tent pegs, or even better, the OHF Vickers couldn't do. Wasn't there also a Mk2* version too that had short legs? I'm thinking that on THIS versiopn, the rear RIGHT leg also doubled up an the front leg too or the other way around

    The Bren tripod was designed before aesthetics and especially ergonomics were in the dictionary. They were also made before the days of health and safety too. Mind you, so was my last Training Wing Company Sergeant Major! Sharp retaining pegs/pins, clamps, spring loaded whatsits and flailing legs........ Yep.......... The best place for them was stashed/dumped unceremoniously in the disused MT stor/garage where they could be left to rust in peace graciously. I did find a great big stash (and I mean, about 30+ of them slowly rusting away....) under the raised firing point of the old 25 yard range at a rarely used Army camp, now demolished, at Ogbourne St George near Marlborough. I took 10 back to 27 Command Workshop to use as spare parts.

    Bren tripods......... Ah, yes..... I remember that the man that operated the trichlor. tank and doubled up as the bead blaster operator hated them as they took absolutely ages to degrease and bead blast and paint. After painting in a wishy washy coating of black sunkorite, they had to go to the B Vehicle shop to be painted khaki/deep bronze green. They hated them too so used to put the paint on as thick as they could. I could go on about these abortions. If only mountings weren't as simple as the big 4B or the .30" Browning tripod

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    Legacy Member peregrinvs's Avatar
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    Here's the offending item. I assume it's a MkI* front leg as it's extendable, but lacks the AA fire attachment.

    As mentioned, it's for sale so get in touch if you're interested in buying it. Currently located near Tonbridge in Kent.
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    There was actually a specified colour for the tripod......,m a scamic green whatever that is. But the paint shop weren't having any of it. If it went through the vehicle bay, it came out vehicle khaki! I did have a bike painted in BFA yellow though!

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    MkI and MkI* Tripods

    I bet you stood out!



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    I asked them to paint it the standard black but some clown thought he'd have a joke and that it'd look better and un-stealable in BFA yellow. So BFA yellow it was! I had it for MANY years and gave it to someone else at Warminster in the 90's when I got another. Bike....Bren...., well they both start with a 'B' so we're not going off at too much of a tangent!

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    Legacy Member peregrinvs's Avatar
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    Out of interest, what specific colour / code is BFA yellow? I have a well worn BFA for an SLR I'd quite like to tidy up.
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    The nearest colour we use now as a touch-up paint is JCB yellow,

    To be honest, I always had a problem with painting BFA's....... The Arms storemen always wanted them back in tip-top gleaming, carbon free condition. To achieve this, the crunchies just set about them with scotch-brite pads right along the abrasive spectrum to a grinding wheel given half a chance. So you'll understand that the yellow heat resisting and baked on paint, followed by the phosphate really stands two chances Slim and None! To call any paint 'heat resisting' is really just a verbal platitude of sorts - because with enough heat, such as a GPMG at full tilt or Norton Commando exhaust downpipes, there's no such thing as heat resisting paint

    The problem with them is that they must be bright and readily identifiable to all. As I suggested and discussed many times at all levels up the chain of command, why not make the bloody things out of stainless steel. Then they can be just dunked in a mild carbon dissolving acid and if any over keen crunchie, out to impress the dozy arms storeman, he can scotch-brite them till his hearts content and it'll ALWAYS remain bright shiny silver and as readily identifiable as a yellow one!

    Where were we...............?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    I did have a bike painted in BFA yellow though!
    So you didn't get squashed by a rogue Saracen AFV I'll bet...
    Regards, Jim

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    By any chance would anyone have a spare button for locking an Enfield onto the tripod for a third leg? My tripod has the bayonet mount but no button.

    I’m also trying to find the two pieces AA leg extension if anyone has one.

    Thanks

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