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Advisory Panel
Highest known Sterling L34A1 - Mk5 ?
Here are the two currently highest known serial numbered commercial Sterling Mk5's serial # 1597 & # S 4212. The (Guns of Dagenham) book estimates 3500 commercially manufactured, but these serial numbers confirm that estimate as being quite low.
1597 + (S) 4212 = 5809 (by adding the two highest serial numbers);
However PL below states that he believed that Mk5 serial numbers may have restarted at S 1001, if this is the case, the known extant serial numbers would indicate that there were at least 4,809 commercial Mk5's manufactured.
In GoD, PL & DH show (in the early 1970's) 50 unit conversion batches of Mk5 SMGs, if that remained true for all production, possible totals would be 4,850 (based on restarting at S 1001).
now we just have to watch for serial numbers "no letter pre-fix" above 1597 and "S" prefix serial numbers below S 1001 and above S 4212.
and the highest known UK
L34A1 (from the Royal Armouries)
US67A423 (again the stated 50 unit batches - so a minimum of 450 units).
Implying a minimum production total of 5,300 L34A1 & Mk5 units.
here is the highest known (so far) pre "S" prefix Sterling Mk5 (1597)
Here is the lowest known (so far) "S" prefix Sterling Mk5 (S1185)
the bolt is dated 1971
Here is Mk5 serial # S 4167, the highest known (so far) Sterling Mk5
Lapped by a "SINGLE SHOT" Serial # S4212
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....l=1#post533878
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....l=1#post387183 Link to post 31 (serial number list)
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Last edited by Lee Enfield; 11-15-2023 at 06:42 PM.
Reason: updated Mk5 #1532
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07-27-2016 02:25 PM
# ADS
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Nice! And it has the studs to mount scope a rail.
Does it have the drooped cocking handle? Polymer butt?
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I seem to recall that the commercial serial numbers started at 1001
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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
Vincent
Nice! And it has the studs to mount scope a rail.
Does it have the drooped cocking handle? Polymer butt?
Nope & nope...
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Legacy Member
Does it have TWO of the round raised 'Posts' on the top of the Reciever?
If so, they WERE intended to mount a scope of some type onto the Weapon. The Military Issue variants did not have these features.
A 'Popular' Scope at the time was the single point red dot optical sight. It never really made it into British Service, but was used by the Practical Rifle boys I recall.
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The scope was a Nikko Stirling who had a commercial tie-in with Sterling.
As a matter of interest, there were 50 or so crackle black commercial Sterling Mk5/L34's that were put into the UK MoD system following their seizure by UK Customs in the 80's. They also retained their commercial serial numbers. The matter regarding their seizure was finally settled in a High Court case about 8 or so years ago when it was ordered that the owners and directors of Sterling were honest and acted lawfully in all their undertakings regarding the matter. The Country for whom they were intended - who also acted lawfully - simply went ahead and ordered 50 more silenced guns. Only this time, from H&K!
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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
tankhunter
Does it have TWO of the round raised 'Posts' on the top of the Reciever?
If so, they WERE intended to mount a scope of some type onto the Weapon. The Military Issue variants did not have these features.
A 'Popular' Scope at the time was the single point red dot optical sight. It never really made it into
British Service, but was used by the Practical Rifle boys I recall.
As of 2009 all of the following was in stock for sale in the US... welcome to the candy store...
http://www.reocities.com/Pentagon/ba...AScopeRail.jpg
http://www.reocities.com/Pentagon/ba...ScopeStuds.jpg
Sterling Publications
http://www.geocities.ws/psarms/SALit...-CoProfile.pdf
http://www.geocities.ws/psarms/SALit...nsBrochure.pdf
http://www.geocities.ws/psarms/SALit...esheet1975.pdf
http://www.geocities.ws/psarms/SALit...k5Foregrip.pdf
PS Arms Sterling Price List
http://www.reocities.com/Pentagon/ba...AMk5ArmKit.jpg
Last edited by Lee Enfield; 07-28-2016 at 11:57 AM.
Reason: you're welcome ;-)
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Paul hasn’t maintained his site for many years. You have to call him to see if he has what you are looking for. He sold out of most of the parts years ago.
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Thank You to Vincent For This Useful Post:
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Legacy Member
I wish I had bought one of those Armorers kits for the L34 (Silenced) Sterling. When they were available. A UK Company was selling them off at the time, & I thought to myself.
'I will get one later' & never got around to it!....Dam!!!!!!
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The only thing you missed Tankie was the cachet of being able to say that you had one! There was nothing in there that we didn't have readily available to us in the basic tool kit and the usual stuff that we had in the Armourers shops. I always looked on the 'special' Mk5 kit as something like a foresight cramp......... Something for your mates to woweeee about on the range!
The tool kit boxes and the Mk5 special keep your dainty hand cool wood fore-stock thing were made by a little woodworking outfit in Dagenham. That hot hand thinggy....... I mean....... would a silenced gun ever get too hot to handle.........?
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