My first Sten

[angelmonk]

Just acquired this supposed to be C&R Sten Mk II.  It is my first ever and I love the simplicity and built of the Sten.   I cleaned and inventory it with pictures and have some questions that I certainly welcome your opinion and info. 

1. ATF transfer has it as Importer of Firearms,  Diamond (Brand of J. Stevens).  Anyone familiar with this name?

2. As seen in the attached pic, The WSD3456 serial number seems to be a "new" make up addition.  Is this from the importer because the firearm does not have a serial number? (I cannot find any other serial number on the firearm)

3. Any insight into the other marking on diff parts of the firearm is certainly welcome. 

4. If anyone by chance has a manual or cleaning instruction of the John Norrell suppressor, I would appreciate knowing what kind of aluminum is used for the baffle to determine whether they should be cleaned with sonic cleaner. 

Additional pics of the full album https://postimg.cc/gallery/vsYXdcdJ

[Rekraps]

Welcome to the Forum! Sten's are not my specialty, however I bet it won't be long until some of our experienced Sten owner's post comments. Great pics and glad you found a gun you like!

[StrangeRanger]

Stens are typically serialized on the bottom of the mag housing.  It appears that the importer may have removed the original serial number from the roughed up area between the existing S/N and the manufacturer's stamp and added a new one.

[angelmonk]

You are right StrangeRanger, upon closer look, the new serial number WSD3456 indeed is stamped over the original serial number.   It is especially clear under the current numbers of 4 and 6 with part of the original serial numbers still visible.     With that said, is there anything you see that might indicate it is not a C&R piece?  And is the manufacturer code E&Co Elkington & Co in Birmingham, England ?

[BillyDixon]

i hope you have a mag loading tool ! the mag you show is a post war 30 rd converted to 20rd for realibality, just sayn

[StrangeRanger]

The best $20 you'll ever spend

https://www.brpguns.com/sten-mk4-magazine-loader-spoon-type/

These actually work much better than the more expensive MK2 loaders and almost as well as the hyper-expensive Austen loaders

 

[angelmonk]

These https://www.brpguns.com/sten-mk4-magazine-loader-spoon-type/  unfortunately are out of stock.   But found these:

STEN Spoon Magazine Loader, Type 2 *Good* (apexgunparts.com)

Is there a preference between Type 1 and 2 ?  And do you mean they are better than these MK2 loaders ?  STEN MK 2 Magazine Loader, Bronze Handle, *Good* (apexgunparts.com) ?

 

[1gewehr]

I prefer the spoon type.  They work just as well as any others, but are less expensive, and easy to keep a couple in your range bag, gun case, and/or pocket.  If you want to be a snob, get one of the heavy, bronze AUSTEN box loaders.  

[StrangeRanger]

I don't see  much difference between a Mk4 type 1 and Mk4 Type 2.  Mine is a Type 2

Either is better than the Mk2 loader.  The Mk2 doesn't consistently lock onto the mags and frequently spits rounds out the back rather than loading them

The Austen locks on securely and consistently and does not misfeed rounds but they cost a lot.  I always use the Austen when loading my 50 round Lanchester mags.  The last 15 rounds need all the leverage I can get.

And my Austen is zinc not bronze

Edited August 21 by StrangeRanger

[Rollback82]

Nice piece... I want through three mainsprings before I mine to run the way I like ... I'm building another semi auto one now ... but I still love my original full ... just eats a lot of ammo ..

[Rekraps]

On 8/21/2024 at 7:42 PM, Rollback82 said:

Nice piece... I want through three mainsprings before I mine to run the way I like ... I'm building another semi auto one now ... but I still love my original full ... just eats a lot of ammo ..

Ya... but soooooo coool. At least 9mm is amongst the least expensive ammo out there.

[2ndArmored]

Welcome to the party.  You now own the same gun that future astronauts will carry!  (At least in the Twilight Zone.)

 

Regarding the loader - take Strange Ranger's advice.  When I got my Sten, the dealer suggested also buying a loader.  I figured he was just trying to sell more stuff (like "upgrade to luxury floormats for only $200 more!")  No thanks.   Then after a day at the range with my necessarily 5-round magazines and a thumb that hated me, I picked one up at the next gun show.

I have the Type 1 because that's what I found at the show.  It works just fine.  The bend in the Type 2's handle is apparently for better grip by wet or gloved hands. 

[quartermaster-1939-69]

Sten guns are fantastic. The serial number has been overstamped and I think the prefix has been changed, they usually start with the prefix of the assembling factory, so B for BSA, F for  Fazakerley. I'm not sure what the prefix for Glover and Main Ltd was as they one of the rarest assemblers. People always get confused by the E&Co, Elkington & Co stamp. They were the company that made the magazine housing, not the gun.

Your gun has a lovely patina to it so I'd avoid refinishing it. 

[Robert Henley]

A good book, although somewhat expensive, is The STEN Machine Carbine by Peter Laidler.  An excellent resource.