+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: 7.62 Bren mag or FAL?

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member desperatedan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 07:14 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    322
    Real Name
    Kev D.
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:26 PM

    7.62 Bren mag or FAL?

    Having a sort through my storeroom I came across what I thought was an FAL magazine amongst a few 30rd 7.62 Bren mags that I picked up in an auction some years ago. It has the small "nib" that FAL 20rd magazines have but on closer inspection it has what looks like Enfield and broad arrow markings. The other mags have the normal large front locating tab that you see on L1A1 20 rounders so if it is made at Enfield any ideas why this one would be different? Pics attached.

    Cheers, Kevin

    Attachment 92846Attachment 92847Attachment 92848Attachment 92849
    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. # 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.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 01:16 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,838
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:26 PM
    We had a discussion about these a while back one one was trotted out for show...
    Last edited by browningautorifle; 04-29-2018 at 10:47 PM.
    Regards, Jim

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    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
    01:26 AM
    Ah, yes..... but in your case there's a very little known exception that BAR and others might not be aware of. The very first trials type 762 Brens, the X10E1's(?) and L4A1's were made to be compatible with the FN rifle magazines. So your magazine is one from the lateish 50's, made for the first 762 Brens. There were several versions including one that you could fit up side down. Such a magazine had one distinct drawback - that it wouldn't feed!!!!!! So it was hurriedly changed.

  6. The Following 5 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    Contributing Member desperatedan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 07:14 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    322
    Real Name
    Kev D.
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:26 PM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for the explanation Peter.

    So I presume then that has something to do with the "X3E2" marking, that it's a trials type magazine. Would the "56" be the date of manufacture? or is that too early for the 7.62 trials Brens?

  8. #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
    01:26 AM
    56 is very probably the first year of conversion. The L4A1's were a bit of a hurried conversion and not very successful. The magazines had a nasty habit of popping out/lifting at the front. The in-built holding open device was a total shambles basically in that it couldn't cope with the forward force of the heavy breech block and piston assembly coming to an abrupt stop behind it. Loads of those L4A1's were trialled in Malaya alongside the FN's and there were still hundreds of them still doing the rounds in the late 60's, left behind when the poms withdrew

    There was a little sequel to the L4A1 saga. Due to the high attrition rate of the A1 type holding open device (the HOD) there were a sizeable amount of A1's in Ordnance, fully serviceable EXCEPT for HOD assemblies. So a quantity of late order A1 type HoD's were ordered and used to rebuild the A1 guns. A single barrel was installed and the guns were issued to rear echelon units as fully FTR'd L4A6's
    Last edited by Peter Laidler; 05-01-2018 at 05:04 AM. Reason: add atid-bit

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


  10. #6
    Legacy Member nzl1a1collector's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 02:26 AM
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    621
    Real Name
    Kevin
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:26 PM
    There are a number of trials magazines made by Enfield for the X10E1 / L4A1 7.62mm Bren Guns. The X3E1 has a standard FAL type bottom plate, The X3E2 had the L1A1 type bottom plate.

    If your interested in disposing of the magazine, I'm interested in it

  11. #7
    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
    01:26 AM
    You're right KtK. One of these was the magazine where the base pl;ate was held inside the outer contour of the magazine as I mentioned. The idea was that they could be stacked flat. But it also meant that they could be inserted upside down. There was another with a follower that buckled as soon as the sun rose in the morning. But the later ones seemed to work OK without too much trouble - providing that the small knib was in good condition. If not, as soon as the breech block hit the top round (or the bottom round in the case of the Bren........ We had to be VERY careful and explicit how we wrote technical reports regarding this seemingly trivial matter......) the front of the mag would pop out of engagement and the nose of the round would stub into the recess just vacated by the knib of the magazine. The Malay Army and SGRegt had a LOT of these L4A1/6 guns mounted on their old Dingoes and later Ferrets that were used as convoy escorts

    How do I remember all this guff.........

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


+ Reply to Thread

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. bren 303 rreceiver for bren 8mm build ?
    By dherb in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-05-2015, 03:38 PM
  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. Just a snippet of Bren info for you Bren fiends............
    By Peter Laidler in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 08-15-2010, 11:57 AM
  5. Bren Parts Set/Display Gun and a South African Bren
    By epidoc in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-05-2010, 12:19 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