Sten MkV Production Changes

I could use a little more information on the STEN MkV. I haven't been able to buy "The Sten Machine Carbine" now that it is trading at over $500, but I was interested in when some production variations changed over.

I do know that the nomenclature marking changed from "Mk V" to "Mk 5" in September 1944, but were Mk V's numbers matching from the factory on the magazine housing, bolt, and buttstock? I have seen quite a few bolts with serial numbers electropenciled on them. I have also seen quite a few buttstocks where the stock socket has a lined out number on it and has been restamped with a new serial number, presumably in a rebuild.
Also was the type of buttstock with the extra metal reinforcing on the socket for the wood an earlier or later design?

Most importantly was the flat sheet steel buttplate used in production earlier or later than the stocks that use the gunmetal (brass) enfield rifle buttplate?

I have also noticed some dimensional differences in the tabs where the trigger group housings were welded to the receiver tubes. I have seen some MkV's where the forward tabs were shorter in length and also a variant where the rear tab is very narrow or rounded at the tip. Excluding the huge tabs and obvious fabrication differences of the POF made Stens; are these changes traceable to a production timeline?


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How about just the changeover in buttplates from flat sheet steel to the SMLE gunmetal buttplate?

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

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Yes I am aware; this is an older thread I wanted to bump again and the pictures comparing the variations did not survive the great forum outage of 2021 and I do not believe I have them anymore.

I could not find an actual date for the butt and butt plate change except for a reference in the EMER relating to the conversion of a rifle butt to Sten butt. It says words to the effect that different butt configurations (shallow hole or deep hole - short or long bolt or flat steel butt plates ?) were in order that manufacturers were able to make best use of their facilities.

Gun number on the butt socket. Was authorised in the early 50's to keep good fitting butts with the correct guns. I have seen gun numbers on breech blocks but I don't think that this was ever a UK specification.

The MkV and Mk5 markings would follow on from Sept '44. BUT..... there was never a requirement to change this in service. So far as Armourers were concerned - and the rest of the world, - MkV was a Mk5. You may also see the occasional Mk2 magazine housing that has the 2 barred out and over engraved or stamped Mkv or 5. Especially Fazakerley guns who made both types.

Next questioin............

And another thing........ There was another misc instruction relating to the Mk5 Sten. After zeroing, the gun number (only) should be stamped in small figures on the left side of the foresight protector to ensure that the same barrel went back onto the same gun to preserve its zero.

This is the reason that you'll occasionally find a gun number on a No4 fooresight protector.

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Originally Posted by AD-4NA

"The Sten Machine Carbine" now that it is trading at over $500

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I don't know where all the people are that are willing to pay this sort of money? When I had a spare copy for sale a few years ago I didn't get a great rush of people wanting to part with their cash at nowhere near this figure.