As Peter pointed out, the ears are missing. If you look at what is left of them under magnification you can see they have been milled off and do not contact the tube. So the trigger mechanism housing has to be attached to the tube some other way.

The ones I have seen that look like this have a block welded to the tube that aligns with the front of the trigger mechanism housing. There’s a screw through the block that threads into the front of the trigger mechanism housing. When the screw is removed the tube can be pulled forward and removed from the trigger mechanism housing. (That’s why I wanted to see under the cover)

I have never heard of an original Sten made this way.

*

Except for the barrel nut and magazine housing, the gun looks very clean. It looks like the other parts have been refinished or made new. The tube doesn’t have a mark on it.

*

If I didn’t know you were Switzerlandicon, I would say it might be what we call a “Post Dealer Sample.” Those are guns only licensed dealers here can own. If they give up the license, the gun has to be sold to another “dealer” or destroyed. So the value of these “dealer samples” is a lot less than Transferables. A “dealer sample” Sten might cost around $1,500 and a Transferable around $7,000 to $8,000.

*

The tube has been reamed on the inside, like a Sterling. I don’t recall if any Stens were made that way. Mine has a new tube/receiver. Maybe Peter can tell us, or someone who has an original body tube, if the tubes were reamed?

*

If it was me looking to buy this Sten, I would ask for pictures with the cover removed. And I would tell the seller why?

I often find people selling guns who don’t know what they have. They nearly always appreciate getting more information.

I would also want to know about the “2016” marking on the magazine housing.