Big Sten guns

[Sentryduty]

So, that woodwork in the background is what, Cooey trainers? 85s?

Kind of looks like it to me, but there appears to be a top handguard?

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.

[browningautorifle]

Kind of looks like it to me, but there appears to be a top handguard?

Swift Training rifles? Note the rifle in hand, note the front band and the black square in front of the band...

[Gil Boyd]

At least they look organised in that workshop, not like a video of the gang related issues they have in the Phillipines at the moment. They showed some really nice weapons being churned out of a backstreet outfit from automatic pistols to heavy machine guns in a programme called VICE on Netflix, right from the cutting the shape out of old steel from ships, to a polished handgun all in a few days.
The older guy in the video said he and his father and his father before him had been making guns for generations on the islands.

[Peter Laidler]

That's a well fed lady wielding that rawhide mallet. That'd certainly get the tightest cover fitted! Photos 2,3 and 4; breech blocks.
Photo 3 looks like she is cutting a flat that ends in a radius, where the next operator would presumably use the gang miller to cut the feed horns, ejector slot and magazine clearance. That was done in one hit. Note the partially finished BBks on the table. Probably to illustrate what she's doing.
Photo 4. Is she cutting the front radial bearing surface? I interviewed a really nice fellow who contacted me. He was an apprentice and as such had his call-up deferred. As he was skilled, he was responsible for accurately setting the breech block making machines. Got called up eventually.

Better not let F-10 see those photos with all those unguarded belts and cutters. And where's the walkway safety lines that should be painted on the floor in photo 2? Makes you wonder how we ever waged an all-out war doesn't it....... And won it!

[Flying10uk]

It is interesting to see pictures of workshops in the past and the absence of any safety guards on belts and machine parts etc that would certainly be required by law today. Personally I'm not a great fan of cutter guards and tend not to use them that often because they are inclined to obstruct vision of the work in progress and get in the way. I do, however, always wear eye protection when using machine tools.

[Sentryduty]

That looks like a perfect fit, bolt handle is in the right spot, profile is good. Probably nailed it with that one.

[browningautorifle]

I'm surprised the Nazis didn't try to destroy the factory. No swift rifles would have crippled the effort... Neat to have a pic of them in factory, specially on the same line as Stens.

[Flying10uk]

I have seen it suggested that Swift training rifles were used mainly for training the British Home Guard in weapon drills/use etc but I would question the accuracy of this suggestion. Does anyone know how widely the Swift training rifles were used for weapon training amongst the new recruits to the British and Commonwealth armed forces, please?

[Sentryduty]

I had never much read about the swift trainers until just now, a very clever concept, it would be neat to have one but I imagine they are uncommon and expensive.

[browningautorifle]

Swift training rifles are for holding/aiming/firing practice. Not arms drill. Simple Google search shows... SWIFT TRAINING RIFLE Swift training rifle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They are a bit uncommon and usually when encountered they may be incomplete.