Canica Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 I am a firearms collector living in Latin America, of 53 years of age, male and a Lawyer by profession. I hold and possess the firearms comprising my collection under the respective license, and in accordance with all applicable laws in my country. I currently have a Sten MkII sub machinegun with respect to which I would like to ask for your knowledge and advise; however, given this is a full auto weapon located outside of the US, I thought it prudent to first ask the members of the forum whether anyone felt there would be a problem with my posting pictures of the weapon in question and my asking questions with respect to it. I would be very grateful for your views. Best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 No problem asking questions or posting photos. Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted October 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Thanks Roscoe. I will give this a couple of days to make sure no board member would feel uncomfortable. Best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 I would not worry, we discuss legalities on the regular basis and since you are located outside of the US the regulations here will not influence your discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 We also love to hear about collectors outside of the U.S. And the laws where they live. We have members from all over the world on the boards. Welcome and we look forward to hearing and seeing more. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelkih Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Can't wait to see your pictures! What country down there allows full auto? Didn't think any of them did. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG08 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 There is nothing illegal or immoral about posting legal firearms questions and photos here. The only issue is when folks mistakenly ask questions about illegal conversions or activities. I am sure a lot of us would be glad to see photos and hear how the STEN got there. I know I enjoy seeing firearms from other countires and learning about the paath to ownership in other countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted October 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Thank you all for the welcome. I will post pictures on Monday. I am technology handicapped and will require my assistant's help with it. In my country very few people are able to obtain a collector's license. Holders of a license can own all kinds of weapons and even purchase modern military weapons from the Armed Forces. A permit for the inclusion of any firearm in the collection/license is required per every event; same for sale or transfer of a firearm to another collector of military officer. The license allows you to legally own and possess the firearms listed in the license; you are not allowed to take them out of your domicile, to fire them nor own ammunition, unless you are an officer in the armed forces or have a special license (almost impossible to get). I asked before posting due to a recent experience in another forum where I posted questions and pictures on a full auto FAL rifle; my questions were focused on whether the rifle was an original legitimate FN product or not; the reaction was terrible! I was practically accused of being a criminal by people who "knew for a fact" it was illegal for me to own the weapon in my country! Best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I suspect this is often the response on most forums as most gun collectors have no idea about the legalities of full auto weapons. You have found your safe haven as we all all fans of legally owned full auto weapons on these boards. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted October 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Here are the pictures of thee weapon in question. My main question is whether this is an original, complete WWII Sten MkII. Thanks to all for your input. Best, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted October 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Please do not forget me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwiifirearms Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 I'm not claiming to be the ultimate expert on these, but I do own a full auto sten and yours looks good me. The E&Co. Would be Elkington & Co. I think they just made parts, used by other makers. It also has the "Broad arrow" proof mark. It looks correct to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks for you input WWiifirearms! Although I have obtained and read Mr. Laidler's book, I am still at a loss in positively identifying my Sten. I believe it might be a BSA produced/assembled sample; however the almost total lack of any markings (save for those observed in the magazine housing and magazine) is puzzling. I also wonder if the barrel is original; the very tip of the muzzle looks different from most of the pictures I have studied, in that the outer radius of the muzzle is not rounded, but appears rather straight. The barrel is completely unmarked. Also the finish appears to de a shiny (baked) black paint and I am not sure if this is correct or not. I have tried to obtain Mr. Iannamico's book, but it appears it is only available in this forum and only as a CD. Best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I would really be grateful for the comments of other members!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Apparently everyone just disappeared!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anticus Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Blame it on Thanksgiving ! Welcome aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelkih Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 Looks great man! Out of all of my full autos, my Sten is one of the most enjoyable to shoot. Welcome again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balder Posted November 29, 2015 Report Share Posted November 29, 2015 Canica, Nice gun in good shape. I've never seen that kind of numbering before, H with a number behind. My three MK2s are all hand-marked with FN and FK (Fazakerly). Could yours at some stage have been exported to Latin America? Could H mean for instance Honduras? Just a wild guess. The barrel looks newer than the rest of the gun, there's something about the machining and finish. Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted November 29, 2015 Report Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) In my day the Sterling had replaced the Sten.I must admit I had not heard great things about the Sten but that was generally from armchair experts.When I, finally, actually did shoot a Sten imagine my surprise at how much I liked it!Maybe not the prettiest girl at the dance but she sure is a lot of fun. Edited November 29, 2015 by canuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Everything looks good except the barrelThe barrel appears to be aftermarket.An original barrel will/may have proof marks and SOME may have a makers code as well as a drilled hole cross ways in the barrel near the chamber for a cotter pin to lock the barrel nut to the barrel.Other than that it is all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Thanks to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canica Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thanks to all for your input! It appears that I will have to try to find an original barrel, since I want to have an original WWII weapon. If I may trouble you further, I would like to mention that on trying the weapon, about 50% of the time/rounds, the bolt appears to move forward more slowly than normal and primers get deeply indented by the firing pin but do not ignite. Is anyone familiar with this problem? Tube frame is perfectly straight; recoil/return spring might need changing? Thanks in advance for your continuing help! Best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwiifirearms Posted December 28, 2015 Report Share Posted December 28, 2015 Thanks to all for your input! It appears that I will have to try to find an original barrel, since I want to have an original WWII weapon. If I may trouble you further, I would like to mention that on trying the weapon, about 50% of the time/rounds, the bolt appears to move forward more slowly than normal and primers get deeply indented by the firing pin but do not ignite. Is anyone familiar with this problem? Tube frame is perfectly straight; recoil/return spring might need changing? Thanks in advance for your continuing help! Best,It sounds similar to an issue I had with a bad magazine. When held by the magazine you could push in enough to create extra drag on the bolt.Just a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 The magazine has always been the sore spot with most sub guns and the STEN is no different.There was so much trouble with the STEN in the middle east during WW II India devised a modification to add two wires inside the magazine to each side and cut the capacity to 20 rounds as the drop in magazine capacity was enhanced by the reliability.This modification was an Indian Army design and worked well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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