Dewat sten

[Claven2]

The only complaint I had about the sten I have from Stencollector is that the barrel, when welded in, was not done with the serial number facing up like it should have been to properly index. No biggie on a dewat, of course, but it would have been a small and nice added touch Otherwise it was VERY nice.

[stencollector]

The only complaint I had about the sten I have from Stencollector is that the barrel, when welded in, was not done with the serial number facing up like it should have been to properly index. No biggie on a dewat, of course, but it would have been a small and nice added touch Otherwise it was VERY nice.

I remember that complaint and acted on it. As I repair the little nip off the end of the barrels, I also weld over the origional serial number(s) on the barrel. I then re-contour over both areas, and once the barrel is welded in to the receiver, I usually (but not always....the military never stamped all of them either) restamp the matching serial number to the receiver in the upright position, along with the indexing mark.
Most guys would have never noticed this faux pas, but because one guy did, and took the time to mention it, I have added an extra 15 minutes work to every gun I do.

[Stevo]

Not to hijack the thread, but what would the going rate be for an operational (converted auto) Canadian Sten? I know I can't shoot it, but I would still feel better having an operational gun in my collection than one that has been chopped up.

I haven't seen one for sale lately, but I bought a MkIII for $250 a couple years ago. I figure it'd be around that much for a LB these days, given the devaluation of the CA's. Probably worth more dewat than live.

[stencollector]

I haven't seen one for sale lately, but I bought a MkIII for $250 a couple years ago. I figure it'd be around that much for a LB these days, given the devaluation of the CA's. Probably worth more dewat than live.

Certainly a larger customer base for the dewat ones, and easier to display as well. I owuld say, however, that the value of the two is about the same.
I have seen the odd stens sell in the last year or two, usually around $300-$450 mark. Those weren't LongBranch mind you. Also, a number of C/A stens I have seen in the last year or two were very poor rewelds, with copious amounts of braze, and grinding of the bolts to make it all fit together.

[tiriaq]

Some of the dewats floating around were assembled from the remains of the demils which were dumped many years ago. Lots of patching and black paint.

[stencollector]

The dewats I have dassemble are also from the demilled kits. It doesn't take much to do an outwardly presentable job. As I mentioned, I was somewhat surprised to see the low quality workmanship on guns which were legal shooters, including a couple of mkVs.

[tiriaq]

There was great variation in the demils. Some were really cut up. I recall seeing one LB with a low three digit number. All the markings on the magazine housing were hand stamped with individual stamps, rather than being die struck. The barrel seating was rivetted and soldered, rather than being welded like most later ones. It was way beyond any cosmetic restoration. Then there was an as new Chinese contract gun, which had been demilled by having a cutting torch squirt up the barrel, and removal of the bolt...... 2 parts only. It was $20, and I did not have $20 in my pocket.

[Skippy]

Stencollector,
does your process still allow the gun to be broken down french-underground style?

[stencollector]

No. I cut the chamber off the barrel, install it into the receiver, and fill the entire area with mig weld. If the barrel came off, it could easily be replaced with a new one, which would make a live gun. Buttstocks still come off mind you.

Tiriaq, I have had many 3 digit serial numbers, a couple in the low 100s including 103. And of course, the one I kept for my collection, serial 0L18, also hand stamped. On the early ones, they ground the rough welds smooth...this was dropped after a few hundred.

[khornet]

X2 about the quality from Stencollector. The 1943 LB sten I got from him is a beaut. Mitchell you won`t go wrong getting one from him.

khornet