######## had a table set up at the last gunshow in Maple Creeks Sk. His semi auto Mk II's for sale were advertised at $1,850.00. I just couldn't justify spending the money on something that I wouldn't get that much use out of.
snip...It may be that MP38u40 magazines were made to a higher standard than some Sten magazines, or that the magazine to gun interface was better controlled.
######## had a table set up at the last gunshow in Maple Creeks Sk. His semi auto Mk II's for sale were advertised at $1,850.00. I just couldn't justify spending the money on something that I wouldn't get that much use out of.
Good video. I fired my first Sten in 1968 when I was in the reserves. When I joined the regular force and started using the Sterling smg I felt like I had gone from a VW bug to a Caddy.
We started cutting up the war surplus Stens in about 1972.
It would be an interesting intellectual exercise to see how simple and cheap someone could design a semi-auto simple blowback rifle. It would be even easier nowadays because you could just mold a plastic shell for the stock and such.
How many parts do you think one could get it down to?
It's been done. The current crop of inexpensive simple blowback carbines are out there. Keltec Sub 2000, EMF's JR Carbine and the Thureon Defense carbine.
Accuracy of Sten..
My 43 LB when fired singe shot can hit a pop can at 20 yards. It always surprised me how well it shot. In terms of shooting accuracy, both single and full auto, I do not find it any different than my sterling. But the Sterling (also Canadian made) is a much nicer piece of kit. I have heard I can use Sten mags in the Sterling, but have not tried.
It would be an interesting intellectual exercise to see how simple and cheap someone could design a semi-auto simple blowback rifle. It would be even easier nowadays because you could just mold a plastic shell for the stock and such.
How many parts do you think one could get it down to?
I could make one in my garage in no time. Amount of parts depends on how you want it to function. Full auto is the simplest. Selective fire is much more complicated. Safety is not needed. Rifling the bore is not needed for a 25 yard weapon. fixed sights are all you need. After all, it's mostly a spray and pray type of weapon.
Moving parts could be down to a positive trigger (no sear), bolt, mag catch and extractor.
I should have saved a couple when we were cutting them up in the 70s![]()
If you were to follow those posted plans exactly, what you would end up with wouldn't work.
They are not correct.
"handy man with the right tool and some minor skills in metal working"? Lathe and milling machine and the skills to use them accurately?
If you want minimal tools and skills do a search for the late PA Luty.

If you were to follow those posted plans exactly, what you would end up with wouldn't work.
They are not correct.
"handy man with the right tool and some minor skills in metal working"? Lathe and milling machine and the skills to use them accurately?
If you want minimal tools and skills do a search for the late PA Luty.
My grandfather from the Winnipeg rifles said this was an awful gun. he was given 3 different ones and when he dropped the but of the gun on the ground it would unload the entire clip unable to stop it.. he said as soon as he landed he picked up a mp40 (ammo was few and far between). he said their best and most reliable weapon was the bren gun.
My grandfather from the Winnipeg rifles said this was an awful gun. he was given 3 different ones and when he dropped the but of the gun on the ground it would unload the entire clip unable to stop it.. he said as soon as he landed he picked up a mp40 (ammo was few and far between). he said their best and most reliable weapon was the bren gun.
the sten and mp40 used the same ammunition...so why would ammo be few and far between?
I could make one in my garage in no time. Amount of parts depends on how you want it to function. Full auto is the simplest. Selective fire is much more complicated. Safety is not needed. Rifling the bore is not needed for a 25 yard weapon. fixed sights are all you need. After all, it's mostly a spray and pray type of weapon.
Moving parts could be down to a positive trigger (no sear), bolt, mag catch and extractor.
I should have saved a couple when we were cutting them up in the 70s![]()
My father had the same experience, someone dropped a loaded sten in his barricks and it unloaded itself with everyone fleeing the room. However, it was also used to route out Germans in a building. No need to throw a granade, throw a sten into a room and watch the Germans scatter!
OK... I was aware of the Kel Tec being super simple.. but for some reason I always though of JR Carbines and Thureon Defense Carbines as being more of an AR design.
Accuracy of Sten..
My 43 LB when fired singe shot can hit a pop can at 20 yards. It always surprised me how well it shot. In terms of shooting accuracy, both single and full auto, I do not find it any different than my sterling. But the Sterling (also Canadian made) is a much nicer piece of kit. I have heard I can use Sten mags in the Sterling, but have not tried.




























