Attachment,blank firing,bren .303

[ZGB]

Help info needed for next project.Was the BFA MG79 modified with the foresight bracket as per EMER mod instruction No8 dated 1959 ever fitted to Mk5 barrels.The reason being i will have to turn down a Mk2 barrel to lightweight configuration as i have no spare Mk4 barrels available.Hence it will still have the standard gas block on the barrel.Also was the 11/16Bsf thread screw cut on the end of the barrel or done with die&die holder.Were Mk5 barrels made in any quantity or did they die a death along with the Mk4 gun.The BFA is still in its original black colour.Pre 1970s yellow.Thanks.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I can't say that they weren't ever fitted to Mk4 barrels (converted lightweight Mk2 barrels) as you can't ever say never with the Bren worldwide. But they were fitted to SHORTENED Mk2 barrels as well as the standard Mk4 barrels for the Mk3 guns. This was because a) the Mk3 gun barrels were cut short in any case in order to modify them to BFA and b) because there were plenty of Mk2 barrels spare.

I suppose that you COULD cut the thread with a hand held tap and die but it'd be pretty tough. We used to them cut them in the machine shop on a lathe. If you do it by hand, taper the start of the thread so that it grips and watch that it cuts square - not that it will affect a dewat barrel much.

At first they were painted a heat resisting silver grey but later on up to the last Cadet Brens, they were painted BFA yellow. What about a photo ZGB man?

Next question..................

[Kev G]

ZGB, the EMER you mention refers to using Mk4 barrels,but also states that the Bulleted blank, BFA MG79A was previously used on MKI and MK2 barrels (but without a foresight bracket fitted) So maybe you can make any early version ?

Peter Re - next question........

As the MK4 barreled bulleted blank BFA (MKI) is introduced in List of Changes in the mid 50's, when was the earlier BFA using the same MG79A attachment but fitted to MKI and MK2 barrels with no foresight bracket introduced into use ?
It is not mentioned in any LoC's so would be interested to know of the BFA first use.

Many thanks Kevin

[Peter Laidler]

You're right! You could make/get an earlier version that didn't have a foresight assembly, presum,ably so that you couldn't actually aim the gun at anyone - just squirt blanks! I don'e ever remember seeing one but it LOOKS as though they were modified so as to take a foresight block. We have a couple that have had foresight blocks added.

As for when the earlier sightless BFA was introduced, then I'd say it was during the war because in the film HILL 69, about Korea, you see the earlier type, called a 'masher barrel' being used. I remember using one of these when I was a Cadet at my school. They were VERY dangerous because the constant bombardment by wooden 'bnullets' shot the baffles out and you fired wood bullets without them being smashed to smithereens before they started on their journed down the range!

The new purposemade BFA's solved the problem

[Kev G]

Peter,can't find any reference to 'Hill 69' film ?
Do you mean 'A hill in Korea' (with a very young Michael Caine) ?

ATB Kevin

[Kev G]

(On behalf of ZGB)
ZGB's MG79A 'masher' BFA.

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, KG, it probably was a Hill in Korea. And that's the original foresight-less BFA modified by the addition of the foresight block band. We have a couple of these

[Peter Laidler]

I forgot to mention that these BFA's were definately painted bright JCB yellow. And because they got clogged up with wood shavings and carbon, they were always only kept in the Armourers shop where we could keep our eyes on them. At the School of Infantry in the 60's, where they got a real pounding, we bathed them overnight in vinegar to remove the carbon then stored them muzzle down in an oil tank

[ZGB]

Thanks for the info peter.I will end up painting it JCB yellow so it stands out from the rest of the collection.I will also post a picture of the converted barrel.I was thinking of putting the light weight barrel on a Mk1m/a gun with a Mk4 butt so as to represent a typical post war gun 1950's era.

[csmarcher]

If it helps any, I have some of the Mk II barrels with the screw on type blank adaptor for use with the L10Z Blue bulleted blanks.

I can take a picture if anyone needs to take a look at one.

They work very very well. The inside diamater goes from .311 down to .276 and provides plenty of back pressure to cycle the action.

We did a History Channel shoot with a Bren gun using that type of barrel & blank combination.

Gary