Sten Gun Use

[Peter Laidler]

Sorry Gil............ Another myth that's just gotta be busted. The CHEAPEST price ever recorded for a Sten was the Mk2, by BSA during one particular week when they produced 47,000 from late on a Monday to the following week. The cost per gun was £2-7s 6d or £2.35p in todays money

Re the rifle on auto with the matchstick............. We all seem to forget that you have to shorten or remove the PLUNGER, trigger because even though the change lever is in the R position, the trigger can't be rotated back far enough. That is the reason why the L2 not only had a different change lever with a second flat but also had a different plunger. Look at the parts list..........



ike I say, you COULD do it, and I did, a few times but.............

[Gil Boyd]

Well he's 92 and adamant on the price and still as sharp as a razor. He says they sold for 2 quid odd to the War Department.
Only passing on what one of our veterans says, " Big hammer, and screwdriver that's all I had, anyone could put them together"

Thats probably where the myth started then Peter, the workforce! as it was a lot of money in the forties!!

[Peter Laidler]

BSA did it as a timed and costed production exercise at a time when they were producing every part and were able to time/cost every part of the product. They say this in the documents (now archived at Aston Uni) but I don't think that they actually produced springs. But in the great scheme of things, it'd be peanuts.....

I summised afterwards that the actual period they (BSA) did this was when there was talk of the Mk3 totally replacing the Mk2. So it was probably a production and financial argument that they could put forwards to counteract a similar notion/argument from Lines Brothers and Glover and Main - who were also going to produce the Mk3.

But £2.7/6d was never beaten!

[CINDERS]

What I would give to be where Peter was in that armoury, a very good insight into adaptability that has to be a part of any Countries weapons manufacturers liked it heaps well done Peter.

[Gnr527]

I seem to remember we wedged up the carbureter governor on champs with our matchsticks -!!

[Beerhunter]

I summised afterwards that the actual period they (BSA) did this was when there was talk of the Mk3 totally replacing the Mk2. So it was probably a production and financial argument that they could put forwards to counteract a similar notion/argument from Lines Brothers and Glover and Main - who were also going to produce the Mk3.

But £2.7/6d was never beaten!

I can understand people being surprised that a Mk.2 from BSA could beat the price of a Mk.3 from Lines Bros. Do you know how much Lines could do a Mk.3 for?

[Brit plumber]

I'm surprised considering every part of MkIII except the barrel and block were stamped or pressed. The Mk2 had the head and both parts of the barrel nut to be machined and the extra fabrication of the magazine housing. I'm glad they did keep the price down or Mk2s would be as rare as Mk1s are now.

[bigduke6]

Regarding the Mk111 did these ever come with a wooden butt/stock ? reading an obituary last week it had a photo of a group with what looked like Mk111 Sten's but with wooden butt/stock ?

[Brit plumber]

If I remember correctly from Peters excellent STEN book, there was a one off experimental 'butt a la Lanchester' type made, then there's a well made version which looks based on a Enfield Rifle stock but must have been purpose made for the STEN. And then there's a version which is a rifle butt adapted on to the retainer plate of the STEN, these I think may be of Canadian origin.

Did it look like a Mk5 stock as they will fit all models of course.

So no, no official wood stock except the butt for the mk5.

[Peter Laidler]

There were several post war variations to make the Sten into something that it really wasn't. Including the 'viper'. But all fell by the wayside. Like the Sten bayonet......... I mean........ If you need a bayonet on a sub machine gun, then you really do need a bayonet!