Question on a STEN

[yohuang]

This gun:

 

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/Enfield-Sten-Mk-II-9mm-Machine-Gun-T27186/lotInformation/45835901

 

On the ATF form, it says the maker being Enfield. On its magazine well, the stamp is Theale. But this was not a pre-1968 gun, it's created on an ATF Form 1 in 1981.

 

Question: Was it a gun with welded receiver?

 

 

[huggytree]

reweld would have the maker/welder of the guns name on the gun. i own a reweld. its stamped on the receiver...hidden, but on it

[Black River Militaria CII]

Most likely incorrectly ID'd by the registrant, deliberately or by mistake, unless his name is Enfield. A form 1 registration was for an individual to make and register an MG in the years prior to May 19, 1986 and, as the "manufacturer', the individual was required to mark the receiver with his name, address and a serial number. The stampings on the magwell are irrelevant for form 1 remans except that usually the maker used the original serial number, but they did not have to. In any case the maker's ID should be on the receiver somewhere or on the magwell. If there is no evidence of welding of the receiver tube, one possibility is that the tube was replaced by a newly made tube and the gun form 1 registered but the maker incorrectly identified the maker on the form. Second possibility which was not uncommon, the registrant just registered the original receiver as a form 1 "making' without replacing or cutting and welding the tube and put a phony "manufacturer", in this case Enfield, in the mfg/import box. ATF did not vet most manufacturing registrations to confirm compliance with the regs. If the tube appears to be vintage with no evident welding and metal finishing, then it was just registered with out the required cutting and welding. I've seen quite a few of such improperly registered MGs done by small and large FFL/SOT shops and by individuals. So take your choice.

You can have someone with MG and Sten experience go see the gun if that is a possibility, take it apart and make an assessment of it's manufacture.

Sounds like an illegally registered or contraband gun from the info posted but if someone can look at it there might be a good deal in the offing. FWIW

Edited January 13, 2019 by Black River Militaria CII