Who assembled My Nk2 Sten ???

[Flying10uk]

In my collection I have a Mk2 Sten which I have been unable to identify who assembled it and I wondered if any members may be able to help, please. The serial number is lightly stamped (not electro pencilled) on the underside of the mag housing and can be read as A 77446 but the 6 could be an 8. The beginning of the serial number is more lightly stamped than the rest so it's possible that there was an additional prefix letter originally which is not viable now. There are no other markings on the mag housing and no Mk designation to say it's a Mk2. The gun has a blued finish but this could be the result of a refurb. The only acceptance mark that I can find is on the trigger housing cover; a small broad arrow.


I'm not even sure if it's British or Canadian manufacture but I'm inclined to think British.


I thank-you for any information and help.

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.

[Brit plumber]

Can you post a photo of the whole gun, and a photo showing the welding on mag well etc. I have a feeling this could be an ex Fin gun and had a new number applied.

[Vincent]

I am not aware of an “A” only prefix. “FA” is a Fazakerley prefix. But there’s no telling where your gun was last assembled.

The Fins did a very nice bluing job on their Stens and magazines. All the ones I’ve seen have their “SA” property stamp.

[Flying10uk]

It's not possible to post a picture of the entire gun at the moment, unfortunately. But the welding is very smooth round the mag housing and it is quite possible that there was an additional prefix letter to the serial number. I will have another look with a magnifier to see if there may have been a "S" at the beginning of the serial. The gun did come with an Indian 19 round converted mag but that doesn't mean to say the gun is ex Indian. The gun was in quite a mucky and rusty state when I got it and took quite a bit of careful cleaning to get it presentable. Thanks for the info chaps.

[Vincent]

If the gun is blued the parts will have been polished as part of the process. So the welds will look smooth.

Serial numbers don’t tell you where the gun was last put together. Stens were ruthlessly scrapped and some of the parts were reused as spares. Your magazine housing could be original to the gun (body) or it might not be.

There’s a really good book on the Sten written by Peter Laidler called “The Sten Machine Carbine.” If you like Sten guns it’s well worth reading.

[Brit plumber]

Sounds like one of the ex finish guns that made its way to Africa before being reimported in the last few years.

[Flying10uk]

It doesn't have the sling loop brazed to the barrel sleeve or the bulbous cocking handle often found on ex Finn Stens. I have recently noticed a tiny "F" lightly stamped on the muzzle end of the barrel, presumably, indicating the barrel was made at Fazakerley?

[Peter Laidler]

Is it an 'F' or is it a small line that's been partly filed/cleaned/linished? A small line means something else

[Flying10uk]

It has the small "F" in addition to the zeroing line often seen on Sten barrels at the muzzle end. I'm going to start a fresh thread concerning another of the Stens in my collection also a MK2 but of Canadian Long Branch manufacture which with the help of Peter's book I have identified, in the last few days, as being an example of which was supplied to China as military aid During WW2. Probably best to start a new thread to avoid muddying the waters of this.

[Brit plumber]

My ex Fin gun has the Mk5 handle and no sling loop on the barrel nut either. There isn't a hard and fast way to tell other than the Fins put a bit of money into refinishing STENS and tend to appear better finished than when they left the UK factories. What happened to them since they left Fin refurb may result it an old looking gun but the linished welds and new serial number remains.