Sten Mk 5 - unusual markings?

I've come across a sten mk 5 with only one serial number on the mag well. There is no serial number on the underside of the front sight or on the butt stock attachment. Is that
suspicious or has someone seen a similar thing before? I had thought that all guns were marked in all three places ...

You are located in the UK and so you are most likely referring to a EU/UK deactivated Sten? Why not post some photos so that people can better understand what is being discussed?

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

You are located in the UK and so you are most likely referring to a EU/UK deactivated Sten? Why not post some photos so that people can better understand what is being discussed?

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The weapon is not yet mine so I'm struggling to get pictures but, in any event, there's nothing to see. Just a typical front sight and stock attachment without any serial numbers ... the mag well serial no. is VS 228XXX, if that helps

It's worth remembering that the numbered foresight protector and butt socket were UK Military spec. To keep the zero of the gun and fit of the butt to that particular gun.

So if your gun came from another part of the world, say, Nepal or Rhodesia etc etc, it might not be so numbered. But the VS serial number prefix is a good sign, indicating Mk5 (the V) S indicating Sten.

Not quite the Rolls Royce, but certainly the princess of SMG's. The Rolls Royce title goes with the Sterling L2A3 / Mk4

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

It's worth remembering that the numbered foresight protector and butt socket were UK Military spec. To keep the zero of the gun and fit of the butt to that particular gun.

So if your gun came from another part of the world, say, Nepal or Rhodesia etc etc, it might not be so numbered. But the VS serial number prefix is a good sign, indicating Mk5 (the V) S indicating Sten.

Not quite the Rolls Royce, but certainly the princess of SMG's. The Rolls Royce title goes with the Sterling L2A3 / Mk4

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Thank you, Peter.

I also remember reading somewhere that the numbering of the buttstock was only introduced somewhat later in the life of these guns. Is that correct?

Answer to above, yes. You can wasily replace the wood butt from any Mk5 Sten by using a short No4 rifle butt. Follow the instructions shown elsewhere on this forum, pretty-well copied straight from the late 50's EMER

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Answer to above, yes. You can wasily replace the wood butt from any Mk5 Sten by using a short No4 rifle butt. Follow the instructions shown elsewhere on this forum, pretty-well copied straight from the late 50's EMER

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Thanks again, Peter. Out of interest, do you happen to know the approximate date when the buttstock attachments started to be numbered? I have read somewhere that it happened in the 1950s, but if you have any information on that, I'd be grateful ...

I don't know the date but it was a unit level C class modification meaning that it should be done when the gun is in the unit workshops. To be really honest, I have seen SA80's with the lower trigger housing looser than some Sten butts! It was said to be '....character building.....'

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I don't know the date but it was a unit level C class modification meaning that it should be done when the gun is in the unit workshops. To be really honest, I have seen SA80's with the lower trigger housing looser than some Sten butts! It was said to be '....character building.....'

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Thanks, Peter