Long Branch Sten

[wwl]

I have a Long Branch STEN with Chinese characters dated 1945. Does anyone know of a Canadian manual for such a gun, especially one for sale? Thanks

[hawksnest]

I can't help you with the manual. I also have a Long Branch Canadian Sten made in 1945 with Chinese characters on the magazine housing. S/N 12L38xx. According to one article I read 72,882 Mark IIs were made by Long Branch for Mutual Aid for China while only 58,160 were made for the Canadian Army, 5,000 for the RCAF, 2,000 for the RCN, 9,781 for the UK, 1,400 for mutual aid of the Free French, 2 for Mutual Aid for Russia, 2 for the Army Engineering Design Board, 2 for the War Supplies Ltd and 686 for the Inspection Board. The total production by Long Branch was 149,905 MarkII Stens.

 

The Chinese characters roughly translate to "Sten, hand carry, machine gun, Canada made. According to the article Chinese marked stens went to China but also found their way into UK military stores and probably the Canadian Army during WWII. During the Korean and Malayan campaigns, many were captured. Also according to the article it was documented that during the battle of the Hook (Korea) hundreds of the North Koreans, who fought alonside the Chinese Army, were armed with Canadian Lend Lease MKII Sten guns, firing Winchester made 9mm ammunition.

 

Any idea on the history of yours? I wonder if mine made it to China during WWII and then came back via Korea as a G.I. bringback or if it is just a C&R gun sold on the surplus market years ago. Any thoughts?

 

I love my MKII. It is fitted with a MKV stock.

 

Private e-mail your name and address and I will send you a copy of the article.

[dalbert]

I have a Long Branch STEN with Chinese characters dated 1945. Does anyone know of a Canadian manual for such a gun, especially one for sale? Thanks

 

wwl,

 

Take a look at the Sten pinned post at the top of the page, and you'll see some Canadian Sten manuals. I don't have any Canadian Sten manuals for sale at the moment, but I do have 2 1944 British SAT Thompson/Sten manuals. They are $40 each, shipped. Let me know if they are of interest, and I can send details.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[wwl]

Hawksnest------Thank you for the offer to send the production figures. I do have that info. I have no info of the history of my STEN. However, because of the nice condition of my gun it doesn't seem that it was ever issued to a combat unit. My guess is that in 1945 the contract expired because of the end of hostilities and some guns were in the pipeline and were ultimately disposed of by the Canadian Government. I watch a few sales sites on the internet and see few C&R STENs and recall only a couple Long Branch STENs. Again to make a guess it would seem when a GI looked at what trophy he was going to bring home he looked at a German MP40, Luger, Broomhandle etc, and very few selected a STEN. Thanks again for you offer. I think I got that info in Laidler's book on the STEN by Collector Grade Publications.

[wwl]

DAlbert-----thanks for the offer of the manuals, but I think I will try for a Canadian original----

always good to have a mission to look for treasures.

[nirvana]

I have seen a number of transferable guns built with these kits. I have always assumed that a large batch came into the US in the late 70's early 80s.

 

My understanding about the writing: Its not a translation, its phonetic. As in, if its read aloud by a Chinese person, it sounds like he is reading the writing in English. Anyone have Chinese friend that they care to ask?

[hawksnest]

I have seen a number of transferable guns built with these kits. I have always assumed that a large batch came into the US in the late 70's early 80s.

 

 

On my Form 4, under item 4a (Name and Address of manufacturer and/or importer of firearm) it states "Long Branch - Canada". There are no markings on my STEN, such as you would find on a "tube" gun built from a kit.