Odd Light Machine Gun

jumpmaster70 · May 2, 2009, 07:40 PM

I'm a Army Contractor working overseas and saw a very odd light machine gun that I'm hoping someone can identify. It had no "country" markings. It's 7.62x39, the carrying handle is fixed on the barrel (right on top), the pistol grip unlocks, slides forward to charge the weapon, fixed bipod, and the sights set to the left side of the weapon at about a 45 degree angle. Does anyone know what this could be?

SDC · May 2, 2009, 08:48 PM

The only light machine gun that I'm aware of that fits this general description is/was the BESAL, a proposed replacement for the BREN when Enfield was in danger of being bombed out of business by the Germans; of course, that was in .303, not 7.62x39. If you can post a picture, especially of any of the markings at all, we could probably let you know in no time.

Edit: here's a scan of the only picture of the BESAL I could find, showing the cocking handle built into the pistol-grip:

Jim Watson · May 2, 2009, 10:34 PM

Does it look like the one at
http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg29-e.htm
maybe?

VZ52 LMG, not to be confused with the VZ52 rifle or the VZ52 pistol; the Czechs were overhauling their smallarms that year, weren't they?

jumpmaster70 · May 3, 2009, 07:04 AM

That's it! Thanks.

May 2, 2009, 07:40 PM	#1
jumpmaster70 Junior Member Join Date: May 2, 2009 Posts: 7	Odd Light Machine Gun I'm a Army Contractor working overseas and saw a very odd light machine gun that I'm hoping someone can identify. It had no "country" markings. It's 7.62x39, the carrying handle is fixed on the barrel (right on top), the pistol grip unlocks, slides forward to charge the weapon, fixed bipod, and the sights set to the left side of the weapon at about a 45 degree angle. Does anyone know what this could be?

May 2, 2009, 08:48 PM	#2
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	The only light machine gun that I'm aware of that fits this general description is/was the BESAL, a proposed replacement for the BREN when Enfield was in danger of being bombed out of business by the Germans; of course, that was in .303, not 7.62x39. If you can post a picture, especially of any of the markings at all, we could probably let you know in no time. Edit: here's a scan of the only picture of the BESAL I could find, showing the cocking handle built into the pistol-grip: __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936. Last edited by SDC; May 2, 2009 at 09:10 PM.

May 2, 2009, 10:34 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Does it look like the one at http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg29-e.htm maybe? VZ52 LMG, not to be confused with the VZ52 rifle or the VZ52 pistol; the Czechs were overhauling their smallarms that year, weren't they?

May 3, 2009, 07:04 AM	#4
jumpmaster70 Junior Member Join Date: May 2, 2009 Posts: 7	That's it! Thanks.