Please help ID old 30 round magazine

[colreed]

Was presented this yesterday for Father's day. Can't nail down its ID. I think I have eliminated the MPs, stens, greases, etc. Is almost identical to the British 9mm Lanchester, (see link) British 9mm Lanchester 50 Round Magazine: RARE - International Military Antiques
but that one is 50 rounds. Am almost sure mine is 30 rounds. Is 9mm for sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Unless I am mistaken, this is a British made Sten gun 30 round magazine.

Just as a matter of interest, there is a superb little book about these equally superb little sub machine guns for sale by Collector Grade and available from all good gun shops. It's called THE STEN MACHINE CARBINE.

If you've got a Lanchester, then it'll fit that too!

[colreed]

Thanks, Peter,
I'll do some studying to learn more. My son-in-law thought it was a .45 grease gun mag for my .45 semiauto. Didn't fit.
I don't have a sten MG but I do have a Demro open bolt model that it does fit. Neat.
Thanks again.
Reed

[Peter Laidler]

If you have a Sten (lucky you.....) then you definately need that little book. By a bloke called.....er...., I forget his name now but....

[Sarge]

Yep, I knew tht was a Sten mag before the first mag had completely come up.
I've got 3 Mk II stens, one with each type of stock. They are fun to shoot. I've also got a Mk I Bren to go with them. Need to find a Mk II.
Sarge

[browningautorifle]

By the way gents, it also fits the sterling or submachine gun C1, I know, I've used them. Apparently, it was part of the sales pitch for the original model because there were thousands of Sten mags around.

[AmEngRifles]

Yes, and they will fit (CAN fit may be a better description) the Wise Lite produced incarnation of the Sterling machine carbine. You simply have to see if it fits the mag well and locks in place. If it does, it will more than likely feed properly. Fingers crossed. Apply little force though, as once you run one in and it sticks, it can be difficult to remove.

I guess the Sten had sufficiently loose tolerances that these mags would fit across the board, any Sten they were assigned to? :-) I have found that IS NOT the case with the Sterling. I suspect the tighter tolerances of later, tighter manufacturing controls leads to some issues with the "looser" tolerances of the Sten?.

Correct my assumptions please, because I am horrible at making "deductions"!!!

[smellie]

I have been checking out the recommended book on The Sten Machine Carbine. It has a wonderful cover photo of dear Winston letting rip a burst from what looks (in the tiny pic) like a Mark II. Book appears worth the price for that picture alone.

It is written by somebody who appears to have stolen our very own Peter Laidler's NAME, if you can even believe such depth of depravity. Journalists, I know (having been one for many years) will steal anything they can get their hands on, file off the serial numbers and represent it as their own work. But this is the first instance I can think of in modern times of stealing someone else's name... although this was common enough in the days before copyright laws and royalties.

On the other hand, we could be witnessing the hiding of a light under a bushel.

Not that it really matters. I'm going to start saving for a copy right away. My birthday gift to the nicest person I know: ME!

Maybe even learn something!