British, WW2, .303 Bren Light Machine Gun MK11, Dated 1942, Monotype Corporation, Deactivated

*British, WW2, .303 Bren Light Machine Gun MK11, Dated 1942, Monotype Corporation, Deactivated*

Serial number: S7744
.303 Calibre
Numerous War Arrows
D 1942 ( D for Daimler part of the Monotype Corporation)

Numbered on the barrel U7104 and R7958 crossed out.
Marked on the top of the barrel: Crown over 29, S26, F
Sight stamped M.C. with a War Arrow.
25" Barrel Length

A deactivated 1942 Mk2 Bren Gun, complete with magazine and bipod, is marked with serial number “S7744” and the date "D1942". The gun features a functional trigger and fire selector switch, allowing for cocking and dry firing.

At the onset of World War II, the Bren Mk 1 was the British Army's standard light machine gun. However, many were lost during the fall of France, prompting the need for a simplified model, the Mk 2, to expedite production. Most changes aimed to reduce the machining required for various parts. The most noticeable external change was the replacement of the Mk 1's drum-type rearsight with a simple leaf sight. Mk 2 Bren guns were manufactured by John Inglis & Co in Canada and the Monotype Group in the UK, the latter assembling parts made by eight sub-contractors. This particular weapon is a Monotype product, one of over 72,000 produced from September 1941 onwards. Later MK11 Brens assambled by Daimler used the marking M67 but early ones started with just the letter D - working from an old boot factory (E.Tough Ltd) close to the Daimler works.

The Bren was based on the 7.92mm rimless ZB-26 light machine gun from Ceska Zbrojovka in Brno, Czechoslovakia, but was adapted for the standard British .303 rimmed cartridge, necessitating a curved magazine. The name “Bren” comes from combining the first two letters of Brno and Enfield, the original manufacturers.

Renowned for its role as the primary light machine gun for British and Commonwealth forces in World War II, the Bren was also used in the Korean War and throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including the 1982 Falklands War. While equipped with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or a vehicle. The Bren is celebrated for its reliability, accuracy, and versatility in both offensive and defensive roles.

Condition
This Bren gun has been deactivated but can still be cocked and dry-fired. It shows signs of use consistent with active military service. Nearly all Bren guns have parts that may not belong to specific marks, particularly this variant, as improved parts like folding cocking handles and adjustable bipod legs replaced earlier components. Most parts of the Bren are interchangeable. Please refer to the photographs as part of the condition report.

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