Haganah - TMT IV Sten markings

[Peter Laidler]

You need to read the Sten book . It's all in there. If I tell you, you won't read and digest it!

[Vincent]

Do you ever do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper? What could the letters “V” and “S” on a Mk5 Sten gun stand for?

It’s not a hard one.

[philb]

okay will have a read....thanks for signing my book the other day....many thanks

[philb]

ok page 82

thanks

[tankhunter]

[Peter Laidler]

A nd that's why the same era Mk3 Brens all start the serial number LB.......... Lightweight Bren

[Flying10uk]

The lower face of the trigger housing cover looks more angular and not a smoothly flowing radius edge as on U.K. produced covers. I wonder if it is a foreign made cover or the product of some-one's garden shed?

[Vincent]

Yes, it was foreign made.

Palestininian Mandate Stens

Copies of the Sten Mk II and Sten Mk V were clandestinely manufactured in Tel Aviv and on various kibbutzim in 1945-48 for use with Haganah and other Jewish paramilitary groups. According to British paratroopers who served in the Palestine Mandate in 1946-47, the Sten copies were found to be of better quality than their own issued weapons.

The Sten was one of the few weapons that the State of Israel could produce domestically during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Even before the declaration of the State of Israel, the Yishuv had been producing Stens for the Haganah; after the declaration, Israel continued making Stens for IDF use. The opposing side also used (mostly British-made) Stens, particularly the irregular and semi-regular Arab Liberation Army.

They made the cover from three separate parts that were welded together along the entire length on both sides. I am not sure if any were made that way in England. I am sure Peter would know.

There is a picture on page 283 of Peter’s Sten Machine Carbine book showing a cover punched out by Terry Drury. It is a single part.

[tiriaq]

Had two Israeli Stens. One TMT marked, the other in Hebrew. On one, the tube for the butt was formed and seamed - the full length seam being hand welded end to end. Hard way to get a piece of tubing.

[philb]

might be a silly question, on the sten bolt, why is there large hole at the rear ? what purpose does it serve ?