Bren tripod t&e adjustment

[Kev G]

Thanks for the pictures cal50 appreciated.
I presumed the 37 number on mine was a year date as 1937 was the date of the contract for Iraqi Brens.
As yours shows 59 in western Arabic and also eastern Arabic I'm now presuming this is the tripod number.
The 37 was also why I thought these were Iraqi but the usual inspection/acceptance mark for Iraqi ordnance is the Jeem which I cant find on mine ?
Anyone any ideas on the crown marking and country connection ?

[WallyG.]

Kev:

Does the crown marking here bear any resemblance to the crest markings on the Brens? Mine is not readily accessible to check and it has been a while since I looked closely at this feature. If it is similar... could it not be an earlier acceptance mark to the triangular Jeem? It might imply that the Brens and this tripod were part of the same era's production for Iraq. Just postulating here... Fascinating thread about a rather rare bit of history. Thanks guys!

[cal50]

Like I said before , I wish these things could talk.........

Mine will work for my Bren gun when I get it finished but it does raise another set of questions. Its a cool and unique tripod but whats it worth standing next to a regular MKI Bren Tripod value wise ?
Part of me would prefer it to go to the guy with the correct gun missing the correct tripod but nice MKI's tripods are not exactly easy to find either.

Looked it over again today with a fresh cup of coffee and found the front leg / bottom has a BSA mark~

[Kev G]

WallyG Have attached a few pics of the crown.
Bears a resemblance but the tripod quadrant crown is a bit basic.
I have not seen this crown marking on any parts of other Iraqi Brens.Attachment 120581Attachment 120582Attachment 120580
Have only seen the Jeem marking as shown on the gas regulator housing.

[cal50]

WAY cool!

[WallyG.]

Thanks for the great pics Kev!

Well... more than one country used the crown in its markngs... Naturally the UK... but also... the Dutch.. and the Dutch used the Bren post war.. I've several cases of their .303 ammo. Since this tripod received a liberal application of UK parts by someone... I wouds suspect a post war rework program by some institution rather than an individual adapting a tripod from an unusable to a usable configuration... Armies were much bigger users of such programs and these guns... Could it be a Dutch acceptance for the completion of the tripod's conversion? Again... I have absolutely no proof... but it is conceivable.

Thanks again guys!

WGH

[cal50]

[42rocker]

I also have had to share your Questions.
Yes, I think because of several reasons you have a ZB Tripod.
Out of time tonight but I'll get back with you this and a few other things.
Your T&E is loose because it's British, more later.

Later 42rocker
Look Ma no hands, opps I meant screws.

If you are lucky the number on the traverse bar will match the number in the front

[42rocker]

Here is another ZB pic. Click on pic to enlarge.


More Another time

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

cal50
I'm glad that you ground off the stub on the "goose neck" and used it. I've found on mine that the ZB "goose neck" hole is around 15 thousand smaller in diameter. So a Bren "goose neck" will not fit in the hole, I tried. Min e is missing at this time. Also, I believe that your front leg where you found the BSA marking (nice spot) is a replacement leg. The front bolt also. If you review your pics you will notice the "cut out" for the front bolt is an upside down "U", same on mine. The bolt that is there has a complete round head, (non-lighten style), not like the normal 1/2 moon head. Mine also at this time. I'll add more later. Back to work.

Later 42rocker