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Vincent, in your descriptions of the cocking handles, are the MK numbers which you have attributed to them referring to the MK of the gun or is it the MK of the cocking handle? For example, in your first picture of post 58, the top cocking handle which you have labeled as a MK5. Does this mean that the cocking handle is a MK5 cocking handle or was the cocking handle originally designed/intended for the MK5 Sten? Of course this handle has now found it's way onto many/most other MKs of Sten.
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09-05-2016 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
Vincent, in your descriptions of the cocking handles, are the MK numbers which you have attributed to them referring to the MK of the gun or is it the MK of the cocking handle?
They are cocking handle MK numbers.
There’s a drawing on page 248 of Peter’s Sten book that shows the five cocking handle MK’s.
The MK4 and MK5 safety cocking handles are covered in detail on pages 294 & 295 and there are diagrams, they also show the spring collar that was part of the safety modification.
Looking through some WW2 pictures I see Mk2 guns with Mk2 or Mk5 cocking handles. All the WW2 pictures I have of Mk3 guns have the Mk5 safety cocking handle. The only picture of an unmodified Mk3 gun I have seen is the one on page 61 and it looks like a MK2 cocking handle to me.
Last edited by Vincent; 09-05-2016 at 02:18 PM.
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That's a version of the Mk3 handle used on the Mk3 gun. I have the same on mine.
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Vincent, the part in your post 63 wouldn't just happen to be someone's idea of a custom fire control lever would it, by any chance???
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Originally Posted by
Brit plumber
That's a version of the Mk3 handle used on the Mk3 gun. I have the same on mine.
Thanks, BP. I was thinking it might be.
There are no markings on the one I have. Does yours have markings?
Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
Vincent, the part in your post 63 wouldn't just happen to be someone's idea of a custom fire control lever would it, by any chance???
No. It’s a cocking handle.
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The cocking handle in thread 63 definitely isn't an official UK made/spec cocking handle for reasons explained in the book. I would say that it is a locally made variant, made to give a greater degree of grip to the user.
On the introduction of the Mk5 class 'A' safety modification handle, the others were declared obsolete. Not obsolescent, but unsafe and therefore obsolete.
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The cocking handle in thread 63 definitely isn't an official
UK made/spec cocking handle for reasons explained in the book. I would say that it is a locally made variant, made to give a greater degree of grip to the user.
Thanks Peter. There’s a boxes “SA” mark on the magazine housing, so maybe the Finns made it.
In this thread Stencollector posted the picture below.
The one on the left is a Mk2 handle. What’s the simplified one on the right? Were manufacturers allowed that much deviation or is it a transitional handle, before the Mk3 handle?
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The cocking handles without the small diameter were superseded by the ones WITH the smaller diameter to give the cocking handle a bit more support in the b-block. Notice that they all have a larger diameter where they protrude out from the cocking handle slot. Main photo, thread 68, handles 3,4,5,6,7 from left show this. This is to cover the possible sharp punched edge of the cocking handle slot and prevent fore-finger being sliced on sharp edge while cocking gun. Not necessary on Mk4 type because finger too far from sharp edge.
As an afterthought, the vast amount of Mk5 cocking handles were made in and around the Reading area by small machine shops on sub contract to ROF Theale in order to speedily implement the A class modification and also supply Theale of course
Last edited by Peter Laidler; 09-06-2016 at 03:16 PM.
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Last edited by philb; 11-07-2016 at 05:07 PM.