Sten Mk II

[gsimmons]

What is the proper finish and colour for a war time Sten?

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[camerl2009]

it would have been parkerized or some sort of paint or bluing idk it would be all over the place there was no one standard on some of the sten stuff other then the barrel length and chambering lol

[gsimmons]

Let me rephrase that rather vague question. Were the British war time manufactured Sten Mk II and III painted with suncorite? I realize they were after the war, just wondering about wartime finish.

[camerl2009]

the parts i have seem to be blued or park idk like i said there was no one maker of stens so things vary alot most of my parts are canadian made so im no help on a brit made gun

some may be paint some may be blued and some may be park only wy to tell is holding the parts in your hands you are talking about a gun that was made in bike shops nd anywhere with a welder in war time id just blue it or park it or maybe duracoat idk i dont have all the parts to build mine yet

[gsimmons]

I have a catco semi- auto that I had someone cut a dovetail for the foresight and he made a mk2 charging handle for it. But catco used green phosphate to finish it. I just wasn't sure what type of finish I should use. The other parts I have are both phosphate and paint. Long way round it but was suncorite used during WWII? Or some other type of finish.

[camerl2009]

i dont have a time machine lol id have to ask someone i know on this he makes sten guns and sells them so i bet he will have some answers (he was on this forum at one time but i dont thinks he's been on here in a few years )

id just finsh the gun the way it was before adding parts but do what you like its not like it would be like a real mk2 anyway with a long barrel and closed bolt

also im trying to tell you there was no proper finish since there was so many different makers thay all did there own thing for the most part thats why mags are lose on some and tight on others varying dimension from place to place manufactering differed this can be seen on the mag wells

[Peter Laidler]

Yes it was used over phosphate later in the war. However, it wasn't the hard durable finish of sunkorite as we know it today. I suppose that it was a spirit based paint but seemed to lack something. It would come off onto oily hands and certainly if you had insect repellent on them. The true stuff, from the 60's onwards looks identical but is far tougher and durable.

It's safe to assume that later Mk2 Stens and all the Mk5's will be phosphate and paint. Given that you have a Mk2 cocking handle and it's already phosohated, then black paint will be the most realistic.

To be honest, for military purposes, blueing is rubbish followed closely by the pre war controlled corrosion. Current phosphate and paint is as good as it gets in my opinion. Only stainless steel is better but shiny steel or even a matted steel isn't a wise option

[gsimmons]

Thank you! Was it a baked on paint? Or just brushed or sprayed on?

[Vincent]

Current phosphate and paint is as good as it gets in my opinion.

Powder coat is more durable than paint in my opinion. You should try it, Peter. You're a practical man. I think you would like it.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Add to that, the STEN was made in different countries, some right under the noses of the germans. The IRA also made them