Mk 2 Sten gun manufacture differences.

[browningautorifle]

About what I thought. Anywayzzzz, that was what you were for. Spot of weld, hammer a few into the butts and hand it back out again.

[stencollector]

I would add the following observations on the Canadian produced Sten mk2. Since they were only produced by one factory, there is not a lot of variation, and it is all pretty definite.

1942 LB stens: Rough weld on the body, and magwell. First few hundred had the welds dressed on the magwell, so a somewhat smooth finish. First few hundred also bear the DCP proof marks. First few hundred were also hand stamped. Later guns were roll stamped.
The rough bodies have the small LB on the right rear of the trigger housing, and an inspection stamp on the left rear. This stayed the same throughout production. Some of the early ones are broadarrow marked on the bottom of the trigger guard, while some are C/l\ marked. All the early Cdn rough welded bodies have a small H stamped in to the rear over the slot for the T stock.

Serial numbers on the early ones range from 0L1 to into the early 3Ls. Very small serial numbers were stamped on Cdn stens from about 1L5000 until 1L8000, at which time they reverted back to the normal size serials.Early Finish was a blue/black.

1943: Magwells and bodies were smooth finish. Mag housings were formed rather than fabricated, and the trigger housing and back tube rings were spot welded to the tubes. Serials range from the 2Ls up into the 9L area. Some 9Ls and many 10Ls were for Chinese contract. Rear of guns were cut for use of the Lop stock. Canadian loop stock differed form the British loop in that the loop was butt welded to the front piece, as opposed to looping completely around like the British stocks.

1944/1945. Also smooth finish. Original guns are a dark black colour. All Cdn stens observed from around 11L3000 are Chinese marked. This incudes un-serialised Cdn housings that were later serialised with the XR range of serials (only a few hundred observed, no idea what the XR project was, but an XR serial number was also observed on a Brit housing).

The Grey guns (and mags): Suspect post war, many of the Cdn stens (including British made examples) were re-finished into a very grey park. All guns observed have a single letter and 2 or 3 numbers following added to the magwell, and occasionally to the sides of the trigger housing. Could be an inspectors number or a batch number.

Cdn magazines: Common to see KC (Kalvinator of Canada) stamped on the mags. Small C/l\ at the top front of the mag. Occasionally also marked M3. There are also LB marked Cdn mags, and I found one Cdn mag that was formed slightly differently and with a plastic follower.

Despite the different methods of attaching (spot weld vs gas weld) things like the design of the trigger guard or front sight never changed. There did seem to be a slight change in the magwell release, with later guns having a lightly raised center. Again, since all the producton was limited to one company, there did not seem to be a lot of variations, unlike the British guns, which had parts made all over and collected up to be assembled into guns.

Now all this is just on the Cdn sten production. One can only imagine the variations that were available with the British production.