+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 53

Thread: Trials Bren gun

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:02 PM

    Trials Bren gun

    Morning all,

    Calling all Bren experts ... DEACTIVATED ZBG .303 BREN TRIALS MODEL

    I don't profess to know anything but the basics on Bren Guns, is this DP converted example correct guys, if so just how rare is it??

    Deactivated ZBG 33 Bren .303 Trials Model Light Machine Gun
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. Thank You to mrclark303 For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:02 PM
    I don't happen to have the usual samples in front of me for comparison but it looks like a bit of a hybrid with a UKicon made barrel/barrel nut and certainly the or parts of the backsight assembly. I bet ZGB and BP will have some pertinent comments to add.

    Certainly most of the well used/thrashed trials guns were converted to DP and used at Hythe in order to teach the unit military training cadres about the 'new' Bren they were soon to be issued with and teach. At Warminster we had an attendance register relating to these Courses which also included the new BOYS rifle and 2" mortar. There is an interesting photo (clearly posed......) shows the instructional cadre teaching soldiers the new Bren prior to shooting it. It shows the Rifle Brigade Depot at Winchester at the rear of the recently demolished camp 25 yard range.

    Interesting.

  5. Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  6. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  7. #3
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:02 PM
    Thread Starter
    Many thanks for the insight Peter, they have another well used DP Mk1 on the site, I would imagine they came from the same source. If its correct then it strikes me as an example well worthy of restoration and preservation.

  8. #4
    Contributing Member desperatedan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Last On
    03-27-2024 @ 07:14 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    322
    Real Name
    Kev D.
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    John,

    There were quite a few more examples on the site first thing today but have all sold now I think so the pictures have disappeared. I tried to save one or two pictures but will have to search my PC to see if I managed to.

    The example mentioned is as Peter says a mixture of parts and unlike the other BRNO examples it has a Britishicon butt. All of the other examples looked like they were all complete Czechicon made ones as the butts had a socket for mounting on a tripod as opposed to the retaining pin/handle fitment on british brens. All the others were DP examples and I suspect that they were ex-Irish as one at least had an FF stamp on the barrel. I think that the Irish bought Mk1s from the BRNO factory in 1937 onwards (some were marked with this date and I think I read somewhere that they converted them to DP when they got the Mk3 Bren in the 50s.

    All the examples I saw earlier were all described by the vendor as "Trials" but I for one don't believe that to be the case, I think they're ex-Irish Army.

  9. Thank You to desperatedan For This Useful Post:


  10. #5
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:02 PM
    I seem to recall that the ZB gun made in .303" to almost the UKicon spec was a ZB39...... or something like that. ZB wanted to capitalise on it for export sales to nations with a military allegiance to the UK where .303 was the norm and the tight licensing agreement precluded export sales. The war came along and the rest is history as they say.........

  11. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  12. #6
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    The pictures are back...... seems a lot of Bren Guns, has Kev G sold up?

  13. #7
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:02 PM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for the info guys, as I would expect, very knowledgeable and infomamative.

    The sad thing is, (assuming they are ex Irish examples), then that's interesting in its own right, why do dealer's have to spin a tale...

  14. #8
    Contributing Member desperatedan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Last On
    03-27-2024 @ 07:14 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    322
    Real Name
    Kev D.
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by bigduke6 View Post
    The pictures are back...... seems a lot of Bren Guns, has Kev G sold up?
    Geoff, the ones left showing (albeit a lot of them) are Enfield made. As well as these there were at least another 4 Czechicon made "trials" ones listed earlier today - all DP marked....

  15. Thank You to desperatedan For This Useful Post:


  16. #9
    Contributing Member desperatedan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Last On
    03-27-2024 @ 07:14 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    322
    Real Name
    Kev D.
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    Found a pic of one of them from listed earlier. I don't think that's an Enfield butt.

  17. Thank You to desperatedan For This Useful Post:


  18. #10
    Legacy Member ragtop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Last On
    08-29-2023 @ 01:07 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:02 PM
    There is another one here. Some detailed barrel markings.

    BRNO ZGB dated 1937 +++++ SPECIAL OFFER PRICE +++++ - Saracen Exports

  19. Thank You to ragtop For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Bren parts kit and Book 'The Bren Gun Saga" by Dugleby
    By colfi in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12-18-2015, 10:42 PM
  2. Infantry Trials and Development Unit trials question
    By pzluchs in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-12-2014, 05:36 AM
  3. Why do the Bren Mk3 and Bren MkII rear sights have the same part number?
    By Lee Enfield in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-26-2012, 03:03 PM
  4. No.32 scope and Bren gun trials
    By Nigel in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-05-2010, 06:47 PM
  5. No.32 scope and Bren gun trials
    By Nigel in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-28-2010, 12:23 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks