+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Sten SMG: Pinnacle of Simplicity

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member usabaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Last On
    09-27-2024 @ 08:35 PM
    Location
    San Deigo, CA
    Posts
    1,766
    Real Name
    Bill Baker
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM

    Sten SMG: Pinnacle of Simplicity

    I Ran across this looking for something else. A bit of light reading on the Easter Sunday. Happy Easter to all..

    Link to article --> https://militaryhistoria.com/sten-sm...-Jwvqqovf6FwqB




    https://militaryhistoria.com/sten-sm...-Jwvqqovf6FwqB



    Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
    " Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "

  2. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to usabaker For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 07:30 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    30,340
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM
    I had a couple, my first was a 1942 Long Branch I bought from a Warrant Officer that claimed he "Found" it hanging in a tree in Germanyicon back in the '50s. Possible, there was enough stuff still around over there at the time. It worked perfectly.
    Regards, Jim

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Contributing Member usabaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Last On
    09-27-2024 @ 08:35 PM
    Location
    San Deigo, CA
    Posts
    1,766
    Real Name
    Bill Baker
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    claimed he "Found" it
    I find it funny that we Military Folks seem to always "Find" things lying about
    Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
    " Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "

  7. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to usabaker For This Useful Post:


  8. #4
    Advisory Panel Lee Enfield's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 09:12 PM
    Location
    out there
    Posts
    1,835
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    05:58 PM
    The Sten MkII is not "simplicity", rather it is an example of extremely intelligent design.

    If you were to class subguns into generations, one could argue that a STEN MkI is a Gen 1.5 subgun, but a MkII has leapt the MP40 and PPSh into a Gen 2.5.

    In reality a MkIII Sten is a MkI* converted to modern production methods, truely analagous to the relationship between an MP38 and an MP40

  9. The Following 5 Members Say Thank You to Lee Enfield For This Useful Post:


  10. #5
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-09-2024
    Local Time
    12:58 AM
    If you had a solid tube Mk2 - or better still, a Mk5 Sten and 10 good magazines the worked in YOUR gun, that was all you needed. It was as safe as the other SMG's too. In that fired when you wanted it to and wouldn't fire when you didn't want it to, contrary to some ill informed writings.

    But If I had to carry one in action again, it'd be a trusty L2A3 Sterling. The Rolls Royce of SMG's

  11. The Following 8 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  12. #6
    Contributing Member eb in oregon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2021
    Last On
    Today @ 10:19 AM
    Location
    Northern Oregon
    Posts
    227
    Real Name
    Eric
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM
    Just the other week I finished a semi-auto SBR for a friend. The Sten is agriculturally simple and an excellent example of efficiency on a budget. It's magazines sort of stink, but it works.
    Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	IMGP0003.JPG‎
Views:	103
Size:	1.27 MB
ID:	136124   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMGP0004.JPG‎
Views:	99
Size:	1.36 MB
ID:	136125   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMGP0005.JPG‎
Views:	102
Size:	1.26 MB
ID:	136126  
    "You are what you do when it counts."

  13. Thank You to eb in oregon For This Useful Post:


  14. #7
    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last On
    Today @ 12:27 PM
    Location
    Centurion RSA
    Age
    73
    Posts
    1,419
    Real Name
    Daan Kemp
    Local Date
    10-09-2024
    Local Time
    01:58 AM
    Sten magazines were based on the Lanchester SMG because the Lanchester was in production already. The Lanchester in its turn was based on the Germanicon MP28, thus magazines also. MP38/40 magazines in turn were based on the MP28 magazines as production existed. In theory [and practice?] the Sten magazines should be able to use MP38/40 magazines. The Sten magazines were used as the basis for the US M3 SMG?
    Is my reasoning correct?

  15. #8
    Contributing Member eb in oregon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2021
    Last On
    Today @ 10:19 AM
    Location
    Northern Oregon
    Posts
    227
    Real Name
    Eric
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Daan Kemp View Post
    Sten magazines were based on the Lanchester SMG because the Lanchester was in production already. The Lanchester in its turn was based on the Germanicon MP28, thus magazines also. MP38/40 magazines in turn were based on the MP28 magazines as production existed. In theory [and practice?] the Sten magazines should be able to use MP38/40 magazines. The Sten magazines were used as the basis for the US M3 SMG?
    Is my reasoning correct?
    "Based on" does not entail interchangeability and I don't believe any of the magazines can be used in another gun. The M3 SMG had it's own magazine not interchangeable with anything I know of. The Sten magazines are almost impossible without a loading tool. Out of two one would take 10 and the other 12 without having bloody fingers. Hardest loading magazine I've ever seen.
    "You are what you do when it counts."

  16. #9
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 07:30 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    30,340
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    10-08-2024
    Local Time
    04:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by eb in oregon View Post
    Hardest loading magazine I've ever seen.
    Agreed, I had to do it sitting in the bush one day after going through six mags quick...loader was elsewhere.

    Lanchester and Sten mags would interchange, many times the Sten mag was issued when Lanchester mags were short supply. Sten mags would also fit and operate in Sterling(SMG C1,9mm), I did that one too to see.
    Regards, Jim

  17. Thank You to browningautorifle For This Useful Post:


  18. #10
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-09-2024
    Local Time
    12:58 AM
    Harold Turpin only had £5 to spent to make the two prototype guns, No.T/1 and No.T/2. There was no money - or time - left for a new design of magazine. The Lanchester magazine was already in production. It was 9mm and so said, it was Major Shepherd who dictated that the Stens would be submitted for trials using the shortened* Lanchester magazines - from Sterling at nearby Dagenham!

    Like I say many times. Get 6 magazines that work flawlessly with your gun and you're home and dry. That said, again, there were plenty of Bren magazines that were scrapped, not because they were damaged as such, but simply because they failed to function properly

    * shortened to 32 rounds to fit the new short pouches/

  19. The Following 7 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. ID of Sten Mk5 kit
    By gpd823 in forum Gunsmithing for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-17-2016, 12:48 AM
  2. Sten
    By rtyner06 in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-01-2014, 05:46 AM
  3. Sten Gun Use
    By Combover in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 58
    Last Post: 03-28-2014, 07:37 PM
  4. Sten MKV - WW2 or later ?
    By lugerfan in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 09-07-2013, 05:33 AM
  5. New (to me) STEN
    By NavyEngineer in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-02-2011, 09:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts