BREN Mk1

Description

The Bren light machine gun (LMG) was essentially a British copy of the highly successful Czechoslovakian ZB vz 26. The main points of visual difference were a the longer/curved magazine, smooth/quick change barrel, shorter gas cylinder and slightly modified wooden butt stock.

The word Bren was an amalgamation of the Czech city that the ZB vz 26 was born (Brno) and the location of the British manufacturer (Enfield).

During World War Two, this highly accurate .303 LMG was issued to all commonwealth forces, who in tern would produce their own under license, from ‘Long Branch’ in Canada to the ‘Ishapore Rifle Factory’ in India. Versions were also produced in 7.92x57mm and 7.62x39mm for Chinese use, which intern were then used against allied forces in the Korean War.

To save on production costs, the Mk1 design was updated in 1941 with the introduction of the Mk2. Externally the main differences were a smoother body, the introduction of a folding rear sight, a fixed height bipod, a fixed cocking handle, a shorter flash hider and the stock was simplified, with the removal of the folding rear grip and shoulder strap.

The Mk2 design was altered again in 1944, to provide Paratroopers and those operating in confined spaces (such as jungle warfare) a shorter weapon. The Mk3 was created by simply reducing the barrel length.

The Bren was converted to fire 7.62x51mm NATO in the mid 1950’s (re-designated the L4) and it remained in service with British forces until the Gulf War of 1990/91.

Having been produced in such high numbers and having seen service in so many theaters of operations during WW2, post war, amongst the chaos of the repatriations and clean-ups, weapons such as this readily found themselves in the hands of the criminal underworld and paramilitaries. Their presence in these organizations would last for decades and even today the odd example still appears in an obscure civil war or police seizure.