Sten Machine Carbine Mk II (Mfg by Royal Ordnance Factory, Fazakerley in 1942)

[Badger]

With thanks to Moderator and Advisory Panel member Claven2, we've added a new entry to the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library, accompanied by a high quality 18 picture photo montage.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Sten Machine Carbine Mk II (Mfg by Royal Ordnance Factory, Fazakerley in 1942) (click here)

Regards,
Badger

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

Thats more like it. There's a classic example of several phrases.
KISS or keep it simple stupid
If it ain't broke, then don't fix it
You can only kill a man so dead............

Of all the guns that my son has fired, he only seems to remember a couple of them. The big Vickers and the Sten gun. But when you were 13 or 14 and you fire a few magazines from the waist, it tends to make an impression. Lets hope that this takes off like the Bren forum.

As a matter of interest, the 'T' shaped butt was deemed to be too expensive to continue to manufacture. It consisted of 5 parts, welded together. The stamped out plate, the saw cut tube, the punched out 'hand piece' (or gusset in some drawings), the punched out and machined abutment plate and the machined locating stud/button, all welded together! The skeleton butt consisted of two parts. The flat steel frame rolled to a crescent cross section while it was being shaped and welded to a simplified abutment plate. The trigger and sear spring was taken directly from the Sturmey Archer 3 speed cycle gearbox. Harold Turpin was a mechanical genius

[Badger]

Here's a link to a thread on some Stens that sold at auction two years ago ...

Reference Thread - Poulins and James Julia Auctions (March 7-11, 2008)

Regards,
Badger

[Brit plumber]

Maybe it would be worth starting a STEN sub forum, I'm sure there would be plenty of intrest. My main intrests are the Bren, Sten and Enfield No.2 and so far the Bren section has been ACE! Plus, this site has the benefit of having as a member, a senior Brit Armourer who's probably forgotten more than the rest of us actually know.

[Brit plumber]

Here's a link to a thread on some Stens that sold at auction two years ago ...

Reference Thread - Poulins and James Julia Auctions (March 7-11, 2008)

Regards,
Badger

Wow, that Mk1 is nice, I'd love one. I was offerd this one a while back but I thought it was a copy (I still think it is).













(I tried to load these to the site but nothing happend when I clicked on upload, am I doing somthing wrong?)

[Peter Laidler]

What is strange about those photos is that the Mk1 mag housing has SECo underneath which is the logo for Sterling Engineering Co............ found on Sten and Lanchester magazines and not on Singer Mk1 guns. Or am I missing something?

Likewise, the wooden trigger mechanism cover isn't shaped to retain the trigger axis pin and it has a Mk2, much later, magazine catch. And unless I am mistaken, didn't the production Mk1's have the barrel retaining screws going horizontally (the pre productions had them vertically - or vice verca)

Anyfurther comments.................................

Thanks also for your complimentary comments BP............ unless there's another Armourer here!

[Brit plumber]

What is strange about those photos is that the Mk1 mag housing has SECo underneath which is the logo for Sterling Engineering Co............ found on Sten and Lanchester magazines and not on Singer Mk1 guns. Or am I missing something?

I couldn't point out what I thought was wrong, somthing just didn't quite fit.

Likewise, the wooden trigger mechanism cover isn't shaped to retain the trigger axis pin and it has a Mk2, much later, magazine catch. And unless I am mistaken, didn't the production Mk1's have the barrel retaining screws going horizontally (the pre productions had them vertically - or vice verca)

I have no idea, I'll read your book!(Or look at the photos as we know armourers can't read)

Thanks also for your complimentary comments BP............ unless there's another Armourer here!

Sorry Peter, I was blowing my own trumpet!!! (I really do wish knew as much as you!)

Oh, and during my research of that Sten, I found it was deac'd by WWA, and theres a rumour they made some Mk1s from parts sourced from the Ishapore plant. This mag housing just happens to have RFI stamped into it.

[Brit plumber]

Oh, and is the cocking handle a Finish Item?

[tiriaq]

The trigger pin does seem to be hanging out in the open. Wonder what is retaining it?
Any photo of the front of the magazine housing? If it is a reworked Mk. II, there should be some patched holes. The length of the collar in front of the magazine housing seems more Mk. II length, and the rivets don't look correct.
The top and bottom of the buttplate look to be flat, rather than radiused.
The flashider shows lathe turning marks inside and out. Is this correct?
The front sight is attached with tack welds, does not have the flanges formed when the windows were punched out of the guards.
While there are numerous variations seen in Mk. II Stens, because so many contractors were making parts and sub-assemblies, the Mk. I guns were made by Singer, and I would expect greater uniformity.
I suspect that the gun is a representaive specimen assembled from odds and ends of parts.

[Brit plumber]

Unfortunatly these are the only photos of the gun as I decided against buying it. I hadn't noticed the incorrect front sight protectors, thats a big give away!