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Sten Bayonet... Real Vs Fake (Reproductions)


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Asking the experts...

 

I've been trying to find an original bayonet for the Sten.

 

I've found very little (next to nothing really) information on the Sten bayonets themselves and nothing on how to identify the real thing from reproductions and fakes.

 

Any information & photos would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers!

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There is a very good book on the subject, 'The Spirit of the Pike' by Grahan Priest which covers the subject in great detail, including the various fakes. The short answer is that spike bayonets for the Mk II Sten are very hard to find and most of the ones seen (including mine) are good quality fakes. The Mk V Sten used the No 4 spike bayonet and also the No 7 bowie blade bayonet. The No 9 blade bayonet was also used although, strictly speaking, not correct.
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  • 4 weeks later...
The Mk II Sten bayonet was not the common No4 spike but was a fairly crude spike with a tubular mount that fitted over the barrel and an external spring catch that engaged the inside of the barrel shroud. They were apparently all destroyed and originals are very rare. To my knowledge they were never issued or used. A short Sten with a short bayonet gets you way too close to the enemy!
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No kidding! On a short STEN with a short bayonet....that is WAY too close for comfort..

 

Do you have a photo by chance, or is there a website that shows it? I have a STEN Mk V, and the regular spike bayonet goes right on it like clockwork. I always assumed that was the bayonet meant for STENs.

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This photo is a display I did last year with some of my Stens. Of the two bayonets lying on the table the one on the left is for the Mk II. It uses a standard No4 type scabbard but the bayonet is completely different.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z209/gundoc_photos/StendisplayMAMS2010.jpg

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  • 1 year later...

Hi all,
After searching and searching on the net about this bayonet, I found this forum, where I would like to give their opinions about this bayonet, is original, or another copy?.
regards
Xavi

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/4986/bayonet1.jpghttp://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4281/bayonet2.jpghttp://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3282/bayonet3.jpghttp://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5002/bayonet4.jpghttp://img560.imageshack.us/img560/966/bayonet5.jpghttp://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4171/bayonet6.jpghttp://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4121/bayonet7.jpg

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This photo is a display I did last year with some of my Stens. Of the two bayonets lying on the table the one on the left is for the Mk II. It uses a standard No4 type scabbard but the bayonet is completely different.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z209/gundoc_photos/StendisplayMAMS2010.jpg

 

 

WOW, some rare guns in that display!

I think I have only ever seen one OWEN SMG, and that was at Knob Creek on Bob Landies table.

The Mark 1 STEN is a SMG I have always wanted to examine as it started the British into the easy to produce service weapon.

I remember my Dad talking about the Lanchester's they had on his ship in WWII.

He spotted one on a Royal Navy ship during the news coverage of the Falklands War!

I sent this link to a friend of mine who owns a real bayonet for the STEN MKII.

 

Richard

Edited by APEXgunparts
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My friend looked at this thread and also is of the opinion that the rusty bayonet in the above photos is a more recent copy.

He sent me some photo's of his original bayonet.

It came from Canada and was purchased by the original owner in the 1960's.

Before my friend owned this STEN bayonet the paint had been removed with a wire wheel.

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/638/stenoverall.jpg

 

You can see that the locking "tab" is stamped out and not formed as on the reproductions.

This bayonet also has the makers markings.

I have handled this piece and the manufacturing methods are in line with what you typically find on STEN's!

 

Richard

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