axenige

There is a lot of play in the housing, every Sten I've owned over the years has this problem. I think this was down to the tolerances on the manufacturing of parts. I've always found that Lines Brothers magazine seem to best the best, as they are well constructed and finished with machined faces on the feed lips. I've dealt a lot in the past with re-enactors and most people I know that have feed stoppages problems are those who hold the magazine during firing, just like in WWII movies.

The correct paint for Stens is Suncorite which is still made by Trimite Paints, here in the U.K. This paint was also used by R.E.M.E. Armours to refinish weapons after issue. The samples that I've seen of the WWII original paint shows a Jet black egg shell finish. Also I've another version of this product which simulates a grey phosphate finish. As to the paint for Sterling SMG's this is a similar product but has a Wrinkle or Crinkle finish, identical to that used on old car parts and radio sets.

Yes it was me : ) http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l212/axenige/mk1sten2.jpg http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l212/axenige/mk1sten-1.jpg The model is a replica of a Sten MK1* these were made in very limited numbers during 1940/41. They were built by Singer Manufacturing (sewing machines) and less than a 100,000 units (Mk1 & Mk1*) were produced before switching to the Mk2 production. Most Mk1's were destroyed at the end of WWII as they were classed as obsolete, some did survive in the hands of film companies and the B.B.C. up until the mid 1970's however I've not been able to find out what happened to these survivors, and I've heard rumours that they were melted down for scrap. As to my replica I spent about ten years on the project, due to problems with obtaining the information about the special parts for the MK1*, as there are numbers of differences between the Mk1 and Mk1* as well as all other models produced after them. This replica contains no original parts except the magazine due to U.K. law, as a result everyting was built scratch, most of it by hand. It took over a 1000 hours to build and many 100's of hours doing the research. As to the main parts which are different they are the magazine housing, the stock, the sling (Rifle type), the bolt (maching different on base), the ejector (part of the magazine housing and and not fixed) and finally the front sight and barrel bushing as already mentioned. My replica this is now on loan to a local WWII related museum, as the missing link there collection on the wartime deployment of Sten gun series.