DISPLAY STEN MKII SUBMACHINE GUNDisplay Sten MKII submachine gun made by Denix in Spain. Non-functioning display gun. The action moves and trigger works,and has removable magazine. The barrel is plugged and the bolt is non-functioning.Model: Sten MKIIBarrel Length: 8'Serial Number: NSN. Looking an an old STEN, MK II. Has the crinkle coat finish. And some parts / condition issues. But most importantly, where is the Serial Number.
· by · in Features, History, Search By Issue, V10N3, Volume 10
A Sten MkII “tube gun”—this example was made by Charlie Erb, a Class II manufacturer from Pennsylvania. The original owner paid $150.00 for this Sten. The Sten is fitted with a No2 Mk2 “T-type” buttstock.
The Sten submachine gun was created out of necessity during World War II by the British, who were standing alone against the German Army. Despite its crude appearance, it is possible that the British Sten gun has been used and copied more than any other submachine gun before or since.
Although there are a few original Stens in the NFA system, most of the Sten guns in private hands today were assembled from original part kits and a new U.S.-manufactured receiver tube. According to federal law, no original receiver foreign guns could be registered after 1968, but a new receiver could be manufactured and used to assemble a working submachine gun—after, of course, BATF approval. Unfortunately, laws were passed in 1986 ending any new (transferable) registration of machine guns.
There were several versions or marks (models) of the 9mm Sten, ranging from the MkI to the MkVI. Some were limited production or experimental prototypes. The most common are the MkII, the MkV and the MkIII. The MkII variant was by far the most popular in the U.S., because of the large number of part sets available and its simple construction. Fewer MkV Stens exist, due in part to the lesser number of MkV Stens manufactured and thus fewer available part sets. The MkIII was not as popular, due to its more integrated construction.
The table is covered with Sten tubes at an English factory during World War II. Like in the U.S., the British war industry workforce was comprised of females.
The Sten submachine gun holds a certain mystique for many collectors. Perhaps it’s the weapon’s history, nostalgia or its simple but effective construction. Judging by the number of countries that copied the Sten, the respect for the crude, utilitarian weapon was widespread.
There is a fairly large amount of original and aftermarket parts and accessories available for the Sten: magazine pouches, mag loaders, caliber conversions and, on occasion, brand new parts still in their original packing. A number of different stocks and pistol grips are available, many cleverly fabricated from the plentiful T-style No2 Mk2 buttstocks.
Prior to 1986, a large number of Sten “tube guns” were made and registered by Class II manufacturers, making them readily available for anyone looking for one. During the 1980s, prior to the 1986 ban, an MkII Sten “tube gun” could be purchased for as little as $150.00, plus the $200.00 federal transfer tax. Most U.S.-made Sten tube guns were finished with a light to dark gray Parkerizing.
As stated, the most common Sten is the MkII model. Many owners of an MkII have opted to upgrade their Stens to the more ergonomic MkV model or the even more refined Sterling MkIV. Sten guns converted to Sterling submachine guns are often referred to as Stenlings.
An MkV Sten “tube gun”—few MkV models were assembled in the U.S., due to the small number of available MkV parts available before the 1986 ban on transferable machine gun production.
Original Parts Manufacturers
A question often asked by Sten owners is, “Who is the British manufacturer marked on my magazine housing?” In the case of the Sten, it’s more a matter of who assembled my gun. Individual parts (including magazine housings) were made by hundreds of workshops and companies scattered throughout England. In place of names, codes were marked on the parts to conceal their origin. The parts were then shipped to factories that assembled them into weapons. Thousands of Sten part kits were imported from different countries, so it is possible that the markings on the housing may not be British. The key to identifying who assembled an original Sten is the original serial number.
Known U.S. manufacturers of Sten receivers: CATCO, DLO Mfg, C. Erb, FAKTS, Fleming Firearms, Interport, John Stemple, Pearl Mfg, Qualified Mfg, Rubin, S&H Arms, Silver Bullet (York), Specialty Weapons, Taylor Manufacturing, Wilson Arms and York Arms.
The MkII Sten
There are several reasons for the popularity of the select-fire MkII model. The subgun is chambered for the common 9mm Parabellum cartridge. There seems to be an almost endless supply of inexpensive spare parts and magazines to maintain the gun for a long time. There are many original and aftermarket parts to enhance the Sten or to change its basic configuration. There are several original and aftermarket buttstocks and pistol grips, caliber conversions and barrels. The Sten MkII can be easily disassembled into a compact package for transport, concealment or storage, and the Sten is a good candidate for the mounting of a suppressor. The original finish on the Sten MkII varied by manufacturer, varying from dull blue-black to Parkerizing.
An aftermarket, insulated canvas cover hides the muzzle end of the modern suppressor, giving it the appearance of an original suppressed Sten MKII S. The Sten is fitted with an early production No3 Mk0 buttstock with a diagonal strut for attaching a sling.
The MkIII
The MkIII Sten was designed for two reasons: to speed up production and reduce cost. The receiver was made from a rolled piece of sheet metal welded together along the top seam. The barrel was held in front and rear supports that were permanently riveted, making the barrel non-removable. Many components, such as the magazine housing, were permanently attached to the receiver tube by spot-welding. (This solved the problem caused by the housing sagging on the MkII and MkV models.) After determining that the MkII was a better design, MkIII model production was terminated in 1943, but examples remained in military service. In recent years, large numbers of MkIII part sets have been imported into the U.S. Many of these kits have included the, formerly rare, cast bronze-aluminum alloy bolts. The MkIII parts that will fit into an MkII are the bolt, extractor, extractor pin, selector, trigger assembly, trigger pin, sear, sear pin, trip lever, recoil spring, spring cap and lock, buttstock, magazine catch and spring. Other parts, although not readily interchangeable, can be modified to work in the MkII model. The bottom line is that the MkIII part sets can be used as an inexpensive parts source for the Sten MkII.
The MkV
The MkV Sten was introduced in 1944; it cost more and took longer to manufacture than the MkII model. By 1944, the threat to the British homeland had subsided, and the urgent need for weapons had diminished. The Germans had their hands full fighting in the Soviet Union. The barrel of the MkV featured the adjustable front sight and bayonet lug of the Enfield Mk4 rifle, as well as a pistol grip. Early models had a forward pistol grip attached to the barrel retaining sleeve, but counter-clockwise pressure from a hand would rotate the grip and loosen the barrel. The model of the Sten is marked on the magazine housing. Early production MkV Stens were marked with a Roman numeral; later, this was changed to an Arabic number 5. The MkV submachine guns were Parkerized then finished with semi-gloss black paint.
A Sterling MkIV/L2A3 submachine gun made from original Sterling parts and a Sten receiver tube.
Converting a Sten MkII to an MkV
The construction of the MkII Sten differs from that of the MkV model, so a conversion from an MkII to an MkV is more complicated than just a parts swap. The MkV trigger housing was modified to house the pistol grip and is positioned 1.3 inches further forward. A conversion from an MkII to an MkV configuration would entail cutting the MkII trigger housing off, then cutting new openings in the bottom of the receiver and cutting a new safety slot (as well as welding patches over the old ones) in order to move them 1.3-inches forward. Some parts of the MkV differ from the MkII. The barrel bushing has an index pin to align the barrel, so the front sight is vertical. The tripping lever has an angle on the end, and the trigger housing cover is shorter. The front bearing surface of the bolt has a cut on the bottom to clear the tripping lever; an MkV bolt can be used in an MkII or MkIII, but an MkII bolt will not work in an MkV Sten.
Converting a Sten to a Lanchester
The Sten receiver is very similar to that of the Lanchester submachine gun. However, like for the Sterling, the cocking handle slot on a Sten tube is oriented slightly differently to that of an original Lanchester. This problem can easily be overcome by using the original Sten bolt. The Sten bolt and recoil spring also address two design flaws of the Lanchester: the firing pin and the extractor. One other problem was that the Sten receiver tube has an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than that of the original Lanchester. This results in a loose fit between the receiver tube and Lanchester magazine housing. This is addressed by installing a thin .015-inch spacer between the housing and the receiver. The perforated barrel jacket of the Lanchester is attached to the Sten tube by welding. For attachment of the original endcap, a receiver extension can be fabricated and welded to the rear of the Sten receiver. One of the major obstacles of a Sten to Lanchester conversion is a limited supply of part sets.
The basic configuration of a Sten can easily be changed by swapping its buttstock. Pictured are some aftermarket concoctions to make the Sten shorter or slightly more ergonomic.
Converting a Sten into a Sterling
The Sterling MkIV conversion turns the 1940s Sten design into a more modern, ergonomic submachine gun. The Sterling offers a well-designed folding stock, a canted pistol grip and—perhaps best of all—reliable, easy-to-load 35-round magazines. A commonality of the British Lanchester, Sten and Sterling submachine guns is the dimensions of their receiver tubes. One difference is the position of the cocking handle slot in the tube. In 1994, the Sterling was replaced by the SA80 rifle in British service. During the late 1990s, a fair number of Sterling MkIV/L2A3 submachine gun part sets were imported, and it didn’t take long before someone discovered the similarities between the Sten and Sterling. After months of correspondence with the BATF’s Technology Branch, permission was granted to use a Sten receiver tube to make a copy of a Sterling MkIV. However, the conversion is quite an undertaking, requiring a skilled gunsmith with a well-equipped shop. This is because, first, many of the components welded to the Sten tube must be carefully removed, and, second, the Sterling components—several of which are silver soldered to the receiver—must be added. This must all be performed with care, so as not to warp the tube. Alignment of the Sterling components onto the Sten tube is critical to achieve reliable functioning. To keep the conversion within BATF guidelines, the cocking slot in the receiver tube could not be changed. The problem of the Sten’s 50-degree cocking slot versus the Sterling’s 60-degree location was solved by modifying the cocking handle with a 10-degree offset. Sten magazines will fit and function in a Sterling. Unfortunately, however, Sterling magazines won’t readily work in a Sten.
Magazines
The Achilles heel of the Sten gun is the double-stack, single-feed magazine. The primary problem of the magazine is the feed lips that determine the angle of the cartridge being fed into the barrel’s chamber. The feed lips have a propensity to spread apart slightly, changing the angle of the top cartridge. If an angle of 8 degrees is maintained and there are no other issues with the weapon, it should function as designed. The British made two variants of the Sten magazines, the MkI and MkII. The MkII design eliminated the “round-count” holes in the back of the magazine housing and added a strut between the follower’s legs to keep them from spreading apart and restricting the follower’s movement. (For more in-depth information on Sten Magazines, refer to SAR Vol. 17 Issue 3, September 2013.)
A kit to convert a Sten to the potent 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge.
Recommended Reading
The Sten Machine Carbine
Peter Laidler, Collector Grade Publications.
Peter Laidler, Collector Grade Publications.
Sten Parts and Accessories
International Military Antiques: ima-usa.com
International Military Antiques: ima-usa.com
SARCO, Inc.
e-sarcoinc.com/sten.aspx
e-sarcoinc.com/sten.aspx
Numrich Gun Parts
gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/sten/mkii-sten
gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/sten/mkii-sten
BRP Corp
brpguns.com
brpguns.com
Occasionally new-in-the-wrap Sten parts can be found. This 1946 dated, sealed box contains two brand new Mk2 Sten bolts. The Mk1 bolts were designed for the MkII Sten. The Mk2 bolts, which were designed to clear the trip lever in the MkV Sten, can be used in all Sten models.
A pile of deactivated MkV Stens for sale at the War and Peace show in England. A few are fitted with the forward pistol grip. The laws in Europe differ from those in the U.S. In many countries, the receiver is allowed to remain intact, but the barrel and bolt are modified so that the weapon will not fire. In the U.S., the receiver is the registered/controlled part.
![Numbers Numbers](http://l450v.alamy.com/450v/br60ga/an-english-submachine-gun-sten-mk-ii-calibre-9-x-19-number-s-7153-br60ga.jpg)
Sten Machine Carbine Mk II
(Mfg by Royal Ordnance Factory, Fazakerley in 1942)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Caliber: ........................ 9mm Parabellum
Rifling & Twist: ............ 2 or 6 Groove,Right Hand, 1:10'
Barrel Length: .............. 7.75 in.
Overall Length: ............ 2 ft, 6 in.
Weight: ........................ 6 lbs, 10 oz
Magazine Capacity: ...... 32 rounds
Qty Mfg: ...................... 1,950,000 at Fazakerley, 2,466,383 total between August 1941 and March 1945.
Source: .... The Sten Machine Carbine by Peter Laidler (2000) - ISBN: 0-88935-259-3
Sten Machine Carbine Mk II
(18 picture virtual tour)
Observations:(by 'Claven2')Rifling & Twist: ............ 2 or 6 Groove,Right Hand, 1:10'
Barrel Length: .............. 7.75 in.
Overall Length: ............ 2 ft, 6 in.
Weight: ........................ 6 lbs, 10 oz
Magazine Capacity: ...... 32 rounds
Qty Mfg: ...................... 1,950,000 at Fazakerley, 2,466,383 total between August 1941 and March 1945.
Source: .... The Sten Machine Carbine by Peter Laidler (2000) - ISBN: 0-88935-259-3
Sten Machine Carbine Mk II
(18 picture virtual tour)
Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com moderator Claven2.
The First World War had demonstrated to the world the utility of the submachine gun. The Germans, in particular, had put the MP18 to good use with its 9mm parabellum cartridge and 32 round detachable snail drum magazine. The MP28 brought further refinements after the war, primarily by doing away with the temperamental and difficult to produce snail drum magazine in favor of a much simple box magazine.
In 1940, after the set backs of Dunkirk, the British Ministry of Defense began to see the seriousness of the situation in europe and to recognize the value of the submachine gun, which hitherto had been thought of as a classless thug-weapon unworthy of widespread use by the British Tommy. Initially, the Royal Air Force began to push for some form of submachine gun for airfield defense with a strong preference for a copy of the expensive and difficult to produce German MP38. As the development of an entirely new or overly complex weapon was not feasible in a very short timeframe, it was decided to directly copy the German MP28, captured examples of which were reverse-engineered. Given the pressing need, the navy decided to join with the RAF in adopting the new weapon, and played a key role in its design. This 'new' submachine gun was given the name Lanchester after George H. Lanchester, the man tasked with development and production of the gun at the Sterling Armament Company. Ultimately, only the Royal Navy would deploy the Lanchester in significant numbers.
The Lanchester was supplanted for non-naval British forces by a more mass produceable submachine gun in the Sten Mk1. Designed and championed by Harold John Turpin and Col. Reginald V. Shepherd, the Sten MkI was superior to the Lanchester in that it was lighter, cheaper and much faster to produce. The basic premise of the Sten was developed in one evening (December 2, 1940) by Harold Turpin when he sketched the trigger and sear mechanism on a scrap of paper. The sketch still exists today and all Sten guns are still identical to that hand sketch.
The Sten MkI was manufactured beginning in March of 1941 by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Ltd. - ultimately 300,149 would be built including both MkI and MkI* patterns. The MkI* differed in that the wooden forestock was replaced with the now-familiar sheet steel cover and the spoon-billed flash eliminator. A Sten MkI* took 12 hours to manufacture.
In late March 1941, Turpin received a request to modify the Sten for paratrooper use, making it lighter and more compact. The resultant gun would become the Sten MkII, and the first order was placed in August 1941 with Longbranch in Canada for 17,000 guns. In the UK, the guns were made by BSA (starting Sept. 1941), Fazakerley (starting Dec. 1941), and Theale (starting Mar. 1942). Prototypes were also made at RSAF Enfield. Fazakerley was to be the most prolific producer.
Unlike many British firearms, the producer was not explicily marked on the UK-produced Sten guns (as opposed to Longbranch which did mark them). Rather, Fazakerley guns are prefixed with an 'F', BSA guns with a 'B' and Theale guns with a 'T'. Sometimes a second letter character proceeds the factory ID letter which increased by one letter after each run of 99,999 guns was produced.
One problem that came to light during the war was the receiver tube construction. At one point, Drawn Over Mandrel (DOM) tubing became scarce and some tubes were made by rolling sheet metal stampings into tubes with integrated trigger housing plates. These did not prove strong enough in use and most were later scrapped. The parts were then re-used in production.
Sten MkII's were produced with, primarily, two types of buttstocks. The early T-type stock (depicted on the subject Sten) and a loop-type stock aproximating the shape of a wooden rifle butt. Other versions of the Sten were produced with still more buttstock or pistol grip variations.
Sten MkII bolts were produced both of machined steel, and of cast aluminum-bronze. The steel versions are much more commonly encountered as the Al-Bronze versions typically did not last as long in service before requiring replacement and were also made in fewer quantities. Their very existence was due to a general shortage of ordnance-grade steels during the war.
British made Stens were not so much manufactured as assembled. Parts were made in small job shops all over England and assembled at one of the three primary factories. Often, not two parts on a Sten will seem to have been made in the same town. One of the most obvious differences is in the magazine housing assemblies. Sten guns with consecutive serial numbers could differ in that one type was gas welded and left rough, while the next gun could be arc welded and sanded smooth. These types of differences no doubt led to the often unwarranted perception among soldiers that the Sten guns were of low quality or unsafe. when properly maintained and in serviceable condition, the Sten was a reliable and deadly weapon, often outperforming the well-liked Thompson in adverse conditions.
The very great majority of British-produced Sten guns will be finished in a black paint called Suncorite 259. This is a painted on and baked coating used on many British MOD issued steel pieces of kit which is all but impervious to caustic agents and the elements. In contrast, the Longbranch made guns were either blued or parkerized. The gun depicted above is phosphated and then Suncorite painted, likely on more than one occasion, though the current coat is mostly intact.
The Sten was eventually produced in an all-stamped receiver variant, the MkIII, by Lines Brothers. Additionally, A MkV version was produced with a wooden buttstock a longer sight radius, a pistol grip, and on early examples, a foregrip. Silenced versions such as the MkIIS were also produced for special operations and the basic design of the Sten was copied and adapted by many nations, including the Germans themselves who sought a cheaper alternative to the MP40.
Although Commonwealth production of the Sten MkII ceased in 1945, the guns continued to be issued in Canada and the UK and only began to be phased out with adoption of the Sterling 9mm submachine gun by both countries, though the UK Royal Navy used the guns well into the 1960's as a replacement to the Lanchester [note: in Canada the Sterling was referred to as the C1]. In India, where it was also standard issue, the guns continued in use much longer, well into the 1980's.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1.The majority of collectors will not have an opportunity to own an original, live, select-fire Sten. In most of Europe, ownership of live Stens is outright banned. In the US, pre-ban models are rare and expensive, while semi-automatic versions are modified to fire from a closed bolt. In Canada, only a select few 'grandfathered' owners can retain originals, though modern semi-automatic copies can be purchased or made in both open and closed bolt configuration under certain tightly controlled conditions.
The vast majority of Stens in private ownership and collections are deactivated. The degree of this deactivation varies from place to place based upon the laws in effect in each region. Nevertheless, Sten collecting, either live or deactivated, remains a popular passtime and the information above applies equally in all cases.
The Sten depicted in the above gallery is a UK-made Fazakerley example out of British service which had been upgraded to MkV cocking handle and has been Factory Thorough Repaired (FTR'd) at least once. At some point a second serial number was applied to the gun for reasons unknown. In all likelihood the original electro-pencilled serial number was at one time hard to read after being re-painted in suncorite so the armorers applied a new number. It is deactivated in that the bolt face will no longer support a cartridge and the barrel was been permanently welded to the receiver and the bore plugged. In all other respects, it still mechanically operates............ (Feedback by 'Claven2')