York Arms Co

[WJP]

I hate to start a new thread on the same topic. Please move or merge my last one started in the Sten forum if needed. What can you tell me about York Arms Co? I know they built Stens and the stutter gun. When did they start, did they import guns or only build them? I picked up a Sten (in transfer) no pics. I was told it was an import, originally bought in the 60s. It's a Long Branch 10L sn range and parkerized, excellent condition. The paperwork I saw had importer underlined in 4a. Thanks

[Black River Militaria CII]

York Arms was in Hurricane, UT when I first encountered Bill through some ads in SGN, probably in 1978 or may be later. He manufactured, remanufactured and registered quite a few MGs of various sorts proor to the endof the ‘68 Amnesty and seemed to like and specialize in Stens. It is possible he imported some MGs, including Stens, but the only way to actually determine if the gun you are considering was imported or was “manufactured” by York Arms is to have the current registrant call ATF and ask for the date, form and ID of original registration. The registration form “importer/manufacturer” information does not indicate if an MG is imported or manufactured when there is a US business identified in that box. Some importers prior to the end of the ‘68 Amnesty are well known if their name is in the box, but many guns were imported by variety of others, busninesses and individuals, in small numbers. Sometimes the ID box includes the notation “imported” or other indication of that status but that is not ocmmon.

Date and form of registration are critical pieces of information to understand the transfer status of and provenance of vintage MGs when there is ambiguity. FWIW

[WJP]

Thanks. I was mainly wondering if he was in business prior to 68 so you answered that for me. At least there is a possibility that it is an import as the first owner informed me. I'll do some checking with the ATF.

[BillyDixon]

for a while bill york was located in gardner, nv. he had a warehouse at the end if a road out in the desert, really a nice guy, just sayn

[BillyDixon]

my correction, it might be gardnerville nv for bill york