Last for 2016

[porterkids]

Happy New Year everyone. Thought I'd share the last few pieces I acquired in 2016. First is a Sten No4 frog. These have been reproduced but this is an original. They are quite difficult to find here in the US. Unfortunately the plate that goes in the small pouch is not there. The last two I got together. A brass gripped and a case hardened steel gripped Webley Pritchard bayonet.
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Information

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[browningautorifle]

the plate that goes in the small pouch is not there.

Is that not supposed to be the small flat loader that was available tucked in that little pouch? These are all very nice. Very seldom seen bayonets and the frog too.

[porterkids]

Is that not supposed to be the small flat loader that was available tucked in that little pouch?

No, it's for a small flat plate that I believe was designated as a spring retainer. These frogs were designed for paratroops. They would remove the butt stock from the SMG and the plate was installed in place of the butt stock. Without it the innards would all slide out the back of the receiver tube.

[Peter Laidler]

That's not strictly correct Porterkids. If you remove the butt from any Sten, the ireciprocating parts are retained by the return spring cap which is a bayonet lug type fitting - albeit a tenuous retention! That cap holds the CUP and return spring. The little plate you speak of was to replace the abutment plate part of the butt that you've removed and hence reinforce the rear of the gun so that you could fire it butt-less without it falling apart. To be honest, like BAR, I thought this little pocket was to hold the early magazine loading tool - but clearly not!

Incidentally, it was shooting the Sten without the plate (or the pistol grip attachment in the case of the Mk2 gun) that caused the Sten to jamb-up, thus initially saving the life of the Butcher of Prague, one Reinhart Heydrich. Alas, the grenade and infection caused by the horsehair stuffing of the car sear eventually got him. But was the ultimate price too great.........?

[browningautorifle]

a small flat plate that I believe was designated as a spring retainer.

Right, I forgot about that. Looks like a big washer. As Peter points out though the rear cap had projections to retain it. No matter, still a neat piece.

[porterkids]

Thank you for the clarification. I'm a bayonet guy, not extremely knowledgeable about the bayonet holders

[Peter Laidler]

Don't be shy Porterkids....... You're an EXPERT bayonet guy!

[browningautorifle]

The frog is the only one I've ever seen, other than in books. First time anyone has held one up and said "Here's one"... I'd like to see more of the bayonets too, I think they'd be WONDERFUL to have on the muzzle of a pistol. Make it kind of like carrying a kitchen sink to the attack...or using a battle axe in a phone box.

[Peter Laidler]

We had one of those Webley pistol bayonet thinggies at work and according to the records, it'd been there, well......, since the start of proper books! And some would come in and say that it was a fake while others would say it wasn't, others didn't give two monkeys either way. They'd be sending in photocopies of books and catalogues, ancient and modern, explanatory covering letters and sketches....... you name it, we had it sent to us! I carefully read it all, inwardly digested it, thought about it and of calling an O group meeting but common sense prevailed. It was all carefully filed in a safe place, a little wicker basket under the table.

[browningautorifle]

We had one of those Webley pistol bayonet thinggies at work

At least you had one...

since the start of proper books

That would be just after stone tablets...