Question on Sten identification for Mr. Laidler.

[gravityfan]

Hi, Mr. Laidler,

This may interest you (I hope so). I have a Sten, and despite a thorough reading of your most interesting book, I cannot identify it. Could you possibly help to do so?

It was said to be from an estate sale, so no known history, but also said to be unfired since the semi-auto conversion. How they can know that and not know the history is beyond me. However, the barrel is in an excellent condition, so it may well be hardly-used.

The best description I can give is that it very closely resembles a Mk.III, but it is drawn tube; not pressed, rolled and welded. There is no top (or other) seam. Other than the butt, cap, housing, spring and breech block, the rest is all one piece. The mag well is welded on - not spot welded, so there is no plunger. It does have a finger guard. The finger guard is affixed using three of the barrel rivets. Oh, the other piece that can come off is the mechanism cover; this is the unbolted pop-on type. It has a Mk.V cocking handle, but does not lock in the forward position because although the breech block is drilled through, there is no matching hole in the casing. Neither end of the spring has a collar.

There does not appear to be any phosphate or oil-blackened finish, just thick black paint.

The breech block is a Mk.I* or II. The butt is exactly like the No.3 Mk.0, but the crossbar is not used for the sling, as there is an added squarish sling loop on the lower arm about a third of the way from the heel of the butt, and a sling is permanently attached to it; just folded around the loop and stitched. The other end of the sling has the free-swivelling hook obviously made from a nail. The front sling loop is underneath the main tube, so the whole thing naturally hangs completely upside down.

The only external identification I can find is on the top of the mag well: STEN.M.C. over SA over much smaller and in a tiny rectangular cartouche; SA again.. On the underside of the mag well is a partly obliterated serial number; The "8" digits are clear, the rest are poorly struck. Best I can guess is G08387 - if a G then definitely sans serif. Internally, there are some marks on the breech block. Crown over undeciferable letter, Broad Arrow, oval cartouche with BECo (Baird, Boulier, Broadway?) No other component has any form of identification that I can find.

The standard of the build is excruciatingly bad. The welds are all pidgeon crap, some finished off with an angle grinder from the look of them. Weld spatters abound. Possibly the ugliest weld job is that which attaches the mag well. It looks more like an avalanche.

I don't have any photos at the moment. My camera is totally crap, yet still better at photography than am I.

Now naturally, I'm hoping you will tell me that I have a long-lost, only remaining specimen, invaluable prototype something or other. However, I suspect that you will instead inform me that I have some piece of crap made up from mixed parts kits and assembled in someone's garage, or the Khyber Pass. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I tried it out today, and it functions just fine. I was very pleased with its performance all around. Definitely FUN!

I hope all that piques your interest somewhat, and will allow you to form an pinion of my new friend.

Cheers,
Conrad
(gravityfan)

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[Peter Laidler]

It sounds like a Morris Minor. But if you put a picture on site, I'll be a bit more specific