2 Japanese machine guns handed in during firearms amnesty

[JohnDillworth]

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/world-war-two-machine-guns-among-140-firearms-handed-to-police-during-giveupyourgun-campaign-a3696836.html

[Smoky Stoker]

The tripod-mounted heavy MG pictured may be Japanese, but the LMG is a Bren gun, a British weapon equipping units from 1936 until 1991.

[DRF99]

It's likely a Japanese Type 99 LMG, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_99_light_machine_gun

Looks a lot like a Bren gun.

[Barb]

Both Type 99 LMG and Bren can trace their lineage to the Czech ZB vz.26 - Type 99 LMG via Type 96 LMG to captured Chinese ZBv26 and Bren via Czech ZGB33 license adopted for British use from the same ZBv26. [;)] Similarity is to be expected here...

[adarbrauner]

The heavy MG itself derives by the Hotchkiss model (from 1st world war) to which it strikingly resambles...

[m10bob]

After WW2, my dad brought back hundreds of firearms from the ETO, including an MP40, (always mis-labelled as a "schmeisser")..
At that time many G.I.'s opted to "DEWAT" the machine guns by plugging the barrels with cement, etc.


Are our friends in the U.K. allowed to keep historical firearms?

[crsutton]

Over fifty percent of the weapons turned in were air pistols. Pretty much shows the differences between our societies.

[Gregg]

Neither of these machine guns are Japanese.

The tripod mounted HMG is a Hotchkiss, likely a British manufactured copy, built on licence.
It is not a Japanese Type 92 Nambu HMG.

The other LMG is a Bren Gun, no ifs ands or buts about that.

I own a live registered T99 and a live registered Mark I Bren Gun.
Although the T96 & T99 Japanese LMG's and the Bren Gun share a common ancestor, the Czech ZB26, the guns are very different externally and internally.

Both were commonly used in WWII and the Bren Gun was also used in Korea and Viet Nam.
So having them turn up in an English gun turn in event, is not at all surprising.

Gregg

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: m10bob
After WW2, my dad brought back hundreds of firearms from the ETO, including an MP40, (always mis-labelled as a "schmeisser")..

What, like, was he allowed to ship in a whole container full of firearms? [X(]

[JohnDillworth]

thanks for the clarification!

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: m10bob
After WW2, my dad brought back hundreds of firearms from the ETO, including an MP40, (always mis-labelled as a "schmeisser")..

What, like, was he allowed to ship in a whole container full of firearms? [X(]

He sent many home a piece at a time in some cases. He told me this verbatim.
I have photos of his collection, which filled a couple of (then) standard issue footlockers.
The collection included Lugers with matching clips, broomhandle Mausers, Walthers of every description and several machine guns.

When he learned he was not able to keep the machine guns, he sold at least 5 to the Greensburg Indiana Police Department.
He hung onto one of those MP39-40's until roughly 1961.
Aside from some of the smg's, my brother and I had fired and become familiar with every common military small arm from that war, (and a few from WW1, like that clumsy French Chaut Chaut, lol.
I served in the Rangers in my war and the knowledge was invaluable on out team.