New 1945 MA bren barrel

[ActionYobbo]

I picked up a new bren barrel this week. Its new straight from 1945.
Its marked MA on all the parts but its a MK2 barrel and its also marked LT. Any Idea what the LT refers too?
I did not know that Lithgow was turning out Mk2 bren barrels I had thought they only made Mk1 bren stuff

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...pshnotr9np.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3yktkldv.jpg


I have included a link to the pictures

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Yep, you're right, they did produce Mk2 barrels for cheapness and at the same time started to produce other cheapened Mk2 type components that were a bit of a mix and match sort of thing. Bipods and barrel locking nuts being a couple that I can think of.

[Brit plumber]

Most of Lithgows Barrel production was the Mk2 Inglis type. I haven’t got access to my records at the moment but they didn’t make many Mk1 long cone barrels and never made the short cone.

[Brit plumber]

Prompted by fellow member ZGB, I eventually got my computer charged up and some details.

The last Lithgow long cone Mk1 I have record of is barrel number 15833, Date scrubbed and from gun number A6664. The first Lithgow Mk2 I have record of is barrel number 16578 dated 1’43 and from gun number B1276.

It’s pretty straight forward to work out the date the change occurred but it’s impossible to work out which guns had Mk1 barrels originally. There were 2 production lines running at the same time with allocated blocks of serial numbers. For example Barrel No 16578 (1’43) was installed to gun B1276 but Barrel No17369 (2’43) was installed to A7353.

[mrclark303]

Afternoon all, here is a 1943 Lithgow Bren Mk1M with a mk1 barrel that came my way a while back. Came and went very quickly unfortunately, I will dig out the S/N.

It came with its Bandiana Depot marked transit box, nice example that appeared to have seen very little use indeed.

Attachment 92008Attachment 92009

[Brit plumber]

It looks like it maybe one of the 50s FTRd guns or an original gun with an earlier barrel fitted. Originally it would have had two of the Lithgow mk 2 type barrels.

[mrclark303]

The SN is 8976, but looking at the barrel it has had a previous SN xxxx out.

No FTR markings from memory, did Australia Mark its Brens with FTR and rebuild date?

[Peter Laidler]

The Aust FTR markings were on the left side where the barrel nut closes down. Know Bandiana very well. It was the Armourers Training Centre at the big Base Workshop.

[mrclark303]

The Aust FTR markings were on the left side where the barrel nut closes down. Know Bandiana very well. It was the Armourers Training Centre at the big Base Workshop.

In that case no FTR markings on this one, the box was an inch deep in cosmoline. It was like the Bren had been greased up for long term store, then loads more had been dumped in on top to cover the whole box contents too...

I would assume the 6/68 is when it went to store...

[Brit plumber]

In that case no FTR markings on this one, the box was an inch deep in cosmoline. It was like the Bren had been greased up for long term store, then loads more had been dumped in on top to cover the whole box contents too...

I would assume the 6/68 is when it went to store...

If no FTR marks then it is likely unused but with a replacement barrel. I have a similar gun in the A serial range, all matching numbers, no FTR and looks as though it went straight to storage. I also have another that is all matching except for the lower which is the same number but has an A prefix and not the B of the body. I think the chances of that must be V slim and more likely someone used the wrong prefix letter when marking a replacement lower at FTR.

I also have a transitional Lithgow Mk1 that has been renumbered. It’s a real shame as it may be the only one in existence. I’ve certainly never heard of another. It has the second dovetail but doesnt have the dimples. I’d guess the number to be around A350 and certainly not passed A377 as that is Mk1M pattern.