Mk 2 Sten gun manufacture differences.

[Topfmine]

Sten gun question again. Just seen a mates collection of deactivated Mk2 Sten guns and noticed the differences between them, some had lugs spot welded to the trigger housing and main receiver housing, some were welded and ground down. Some had trigger guards that were square in shape with the weld done from inside, some had tapered guards that had obvious welds seen from the sides, the guards slightly out of square. Differences of how the stock housing is fixed to the main receiver in that some are spot welded and some are welded and dress, some with just neat finished welds. Would you be able to tell which factory or period they were made. Are there any anorak web sites or books showing these details of the Sten.

Information

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[gsimmons]

"The Sten Machine Carbine" by Peter Laidler is the book on subject. Brian Dick at BDL Ltd. has it. If you're collecting Stens this is the book you need.

[Peter Laidler]

GREAT little book. You ought to get two copies. One for best and the second one to keep on your grubby workbench.

[Brian Dick]

Get them direct from Collector Grade Pubs. Blake still lists them. I'm out of stock.

[Topfmine]

Thanks for the info, looks like Peter's book is going to be a very good read.

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest, it was a book that I really enjoyed doing. Starting from fresh and ignoring all of the re-hashed previous drivel and, what turned out to be absolute horse shi.......... er....., horse manure that had been written before. Put most of the myths to bed too. Oh yes...... and the next time someone tells you that it's S for Shepherd, T for Turpin and EN for Enfield tell 'em that they're wrong. It'll be like pulling teeth but Major Shepherd and Mr Turpin say that it is EN for England. And if anyone should know.........

[Topfmine]

I have your book 'The guns of Dagenham' about the Sterling, if it's as in-depth as this then it will certainly be the book for me. I bet you found some surprising details and info while researching these books, must be great fun looking through the archives at the big establishments.

[Brit plumber]

When you collect STENs you soon realise that the Mark 2 number is about the only thing that mark has in common. You could have 2 guns with consecutive serial numbers and the parts have been made by completely different companies. The only Mk2 that are consistent are Longbranch guns in my opinion. I should post a photo of the welds on one of my Mk2 guns, splatter and welds that haven't welded anything together. They may be rough to some but I love them.

[browningautorifle]

I have to admit, after all the poor press the Sten got for it's fit and finish...I had a couple of Long Branch guns that were both 1944 marked and they gave no problems at all. I don't recall having shot English made guns.

[Peter Laidler]

It's just another of the hoary old chestnuts BAR. To be fair, even though they made 4.2 million VW's, some of them would be defective. Not many but...... Just ask anyone with a an MGB about defects during manufacture!