Unusual Sten Mk5 serial number - ?

[Peter Laidler]

Fazakerley were FTRing Mk5 ex UK Military Sten guns for disposal well into the 60's. If one went in as AO12345 then it'd come out as AO12345. If in its past life it had a Mk2 magazine housing complete with its old Mk2 serial number fitted then so be it - they were interchangeable!. During its FTR it'd be correctly marked as a Mk5 of course. Many with unidentifiable or obliterated serial numbers were reallocated a new type number such as SA67A-12345. But believe me, changing or reallocating a serial number was not an event that you'd undertake lightly.