Sterling Mk4 L2A3

[peregrinvs]

Treated myself to one of the above yesterday at the War & Peace Show. Here's a couple of quick cameraphone pictures:

Attachment 74538Attachment 74539

I had a slow methodical delve through the dealer's crate of Sterlings and decided this was the nicest. I assume it's a plain vanilla commercial Mk4 supplied to who know's where back in the day, but is it dateable from the serial number? If the answer is 'consult The Guns of Dagenham' I don't have a copy and aren't likely to at current secondhand prices, but I may try putting in an inter-library loan request with my local library.

Cheers,
Mark

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[bigduke6]

Mark, Is that EU spec or mid spec ?

[peregrinvs]

Mid-spec. As with the MkV Stens, the cocking handle sits in a steel ring and can be pulled backwards. I was hoping to examine the EU spec guns on the World Wide Arms stall, but they only started setting up yesterday afternoon and didn't have any stock on display.

It's a big hit with my 2 sons being around 90% of a Star Wars stormtrooper blaster.

[peregrinvs]

Had a more leisurely examination today and you can remove the trigger group, although the sear has been welded down. I took the grip off to give it a clean, but it ended up looking worse than when I started. Fortunately replacements don't seem to be too difficult to find. Despite the rear of the bolt being replaced with a short length of steel tube, the cocking handle feels less 'wobbly' when you pull it back compared to my MkV Sten. Possibly because the handle can still slot through the thingamabob (name?) on the end of the return spring.

[Vincent]

It’s nice to see a body in its original condition. Most of the transferable Sterlings we see here are “tube guns.” The body is a new tube from just in front of the magazine housing to the back. They look pretty, but to me all the history of the gun is lost. Thanks for posting the pictures.

The thingamabob at the end of the return spring is called the cocking handle block.

[Flying10uk]

Do all classes of military firearms have to be cut with a gas torch before being imported to the States, Vincent, or is it just certain types such as full/semi autos?

[Vincent]

I don’t know the import laws very well. I do know machineguns have to be torch cut. The body of Peregrinvs Mk4 would classified as a machinegun receiver here and it would have to be torch cut per BATFE criteria. Barrels also have to be destroyed. Semi-auto rifles and shotguns can be imported, but there are some additional restrictions, like the Obama ban on guns from Russia. Maybe Brian can answer the question better?

[Brian Dick]

Curio and relic, (50+ years old), semi auto and bolt action military firearms other than U.S. military issued are importable in functional condition as long as they are still in original configuration.

MG's must be torch cut in three places removing 1/4" of metal with each cut. Do you get the feeling the gubmint doesn't trust us or something. All military surplus barrels and breechblocks have been banned from importation since July 2005.

[Peter Laidler]

Does that mean a Sterling 'police carbine' could be imported Brian? Or is that too close for comfort!

[mrclark303]

Should be Peter, it's a non military semi automatic firearm, if I understand the rules correctly?