Inglis Bren Mk I
John Inglis and Company · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1940
Also known as: Bren Light Machine Gun, Gun, Machine, Bren, .303-in, Mk I, Inglis Bren
Overview
The Inglis Bren Mk I is the Canadian-manufactured version of the iconic British Bren light machine gun, produced under license at the John Inglis and Company plant in Toronto from 1940 onward. Chambered in .303 British and fed from a top-mounted curved 30-round box magazine, it served as the primary section-level fire support weapon for Canadian, British, and Commonwealth infantry throughout the Second World War. The gas-operated, air-cooled action incorporated a quick-change barrel to manage sustained fire, a folding bipod, and a distinctive offset sight line dictated by the top-mounted magazine. Inglis was contracted in March 1938 to produce 5,000 Brens for the United Kingdom and 7,000 for Canada; by August 1942 the plant was averaging 10,000 guns per month and had produced approximately 186,000 Brens by war's end.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 10500 g (370.4 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 11250 g (396.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1156 mm (45.51") |
| Barrel Length | 635 mm (25.00") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3120 J (2301 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1850 m (2023 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Phosphate Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Quick Change Barrel, Bipod, Carry Handle, Top Mounted Magazine, Offset Iron Sights, Gas Regulator, Flash Hider
Variants
- Inglis Bren Mk I (M) — Wartime Simplification
- Inglis Bren Mk II — Wartime Simplification
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Canadian Army · adopted 1940 · as Bren Mk I
- British Army · adopted 1940 · as Gun, Machine, Bren, .303-in, Mk I
- Republic of China Army · adopted 1943
- Australian Army · adopted 1940
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 186,000 · Production years: 1940-1945
Approximately 186,000 Brens of all marks produced by John Inglis and Company in Toronto by the end of WWII; production peaked at roughly 10,000 units per month in August 1942.
Origin
Country of origin: Canada
Designer: Václav Holek (original ZB vz. 26 design); adapted by Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The Bren design itself derives from the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26 / vz. 27 by Václav Holek, anglicized at Enfield (the name 'Bren' combines BRno and ENfield). The Inglis variant is functionally identical to British production but is identifiable by Canadian acceptance markings and the Inglis maker stamp. Inglis also produced a 7.92x57mm Mauser variant for the Chinese Nationalist Army.
Background
The Inglis plant in Toronto became the second-largest Bren producer in the world after Enfield itself, transforming the Canadian appliance manufacturer into a wartime arsenal that also turned out Browning Hi-Power pistols destined for British commandos and the Chinese Nationalist Army. Canadian Bren gunners famously fired the weapon from the hip on the move during the Italian and Northwest Europe campaigns, exploiting the magazine's reliability and the gun's excellent balance.