Long Branch Sten
- Thread starter koldt
- Start date
I remember September 1977ish and FA Stens were available for ~$150 at a store in Saskatoon, (I don't recall the name). I stuck my nose up saying, "I don't need that, it's a waste of ammo". What a dummy.
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Hello gents. An original Mk II STEN bayonet has B&JSL in rather small letters on the spring and stamped on the left side
of the body. The forgeries made in India usually have a spring that has a significant bend in it and are unmarked. Obvious
quality differences if placed side by each. Long Branch did not make or contract for bayonets to the best of my knowledge
so those few originals in the country are imports and Canadian soldiers in WW2 acquired those in the U.K. before being dispatched
to active service. JOHN
of the body. The forgeries made in India usually have a spring that has a significant bend in it and are unmarked. Obvious
quality differences if placed side by each. Long Branch did not make or contract for bayonets to the best of my knowledge
so those few originals in the country are imports and Canadian soldiers in WW2 acquired those in the U.K. before being dispatched
to active service. JOHN
That’s what is on the spring and on the body, although not perfectly stamped, but still readable.
Laughing over coffee on this one. Live by the sword...
The breech end of a Mk. III barrel is certainly different from that of a Mk. II. A Mk. III is stepped down to fit into the heavy steel cup that supports the breech end.
A British Mk. II barrel was a plain cylinder pressed into a collar, and cross pinned. Perhaps a contractor produced blanks turned down at the muzzle which could be finished for use in either Mk. III or Mk. II guns.
A Mk. II gun could easily have another barrel installed if necessary; a Mk. III, not so much. Mk. III barrel installation was considered to be permanent and if the barrel became unserviceable, the gun was scrapped.
I'll send you a photo of the barrel.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I have seen hundreds of ex-Cdn service Chinese marked magwells. These are directly out of Cdn service. Not one of them was scrubbed or altered in any way. I have seen the Chinese script scrubbed on dewats, and I think that was to make them more saleable as many guys did not want the foreign script. However these days, they seem to be as popular as the non-CH script magwells.
Any of the knurled cocking handles that I have seen that were Cdn had the C/l\ stamped on them facing outwards on the washer like portion. When a gun was altered, there was an X stamped on the end housing cap. Of the thousand or so ex-Cdn cut up stens I have seen, the tubes were all modified for the push thru cocking handles.
Your barrel will be British, and as others have said, possibly a recycled mk1 or mk3 barrel. There is apparently a difference in diameter between the ends of the two.
If you show the back half of the tube, with the trigger area, it may be that your tube is British as well. Your sten may be a mixmaster of parts and pieces.
Apex gun parts got a bunch of original bayonets a few years ago, and have varying manufacturing marks. They weren't charging much for them at first, but as the demand went up, so did the prices. They still have some remaining. I think they may have come out of the Irish military stocks....they really seemed to have a time capsule with a lot of odd equipment like 25 pounders and Boys rifles. There were reproductions a decade or two back with the BJ&S marking on them. It was always said back then that you only paid what you would pay for a repro sten bayonet, as it was hard to differentiate them from the real thing.
Any of the knurled cocking handles that I have seen that were Cdn had the C/l\ stamped on them facing outwards on the washer like portion. When a gun was altered, there was an X stamped on the end housing cap. Of the thousand or so ex-Cdn cut up stens I have seen, the tubes were all modified for the push thru cocking handles.
Your barrel will be British, and as others have said, possibly a recycled mk1 or mk3 barrel. There is apparently a difference in diameter between the ends of the two.
If you show the back half of the tube, with the trigger area, it may be that your tube is British as well. Your sten may be a mixmaster of parts and pieces.
Apex gun parts got a bunch of original bayonets a few years ago, and have varying manufacturing marks. They weren't charging much for them at first, but as the demand went up, so did the prices. They still have some remaining. I think they may have come out of the Irish military stocks....they really seemed to have a time capsule with a lot of odd equipment like 25 pounders and Boys rifles. There were reproductions a decade or two back with the BJ&S marking on them. It was always said back then that you only paid what you would pay for a repro sten bayonet, as it was hard to differentiate them from the real thing.
Yup, it sure is a mix-master of parts. Couple of LB stamps and a couple C/|\ stamps. Nothing I can find on the barrel and barrel nut/shroud.
There is a small oval stamp on the left side of the trigger housing, just above the rear trigger guard. It has what appears to be a 99 and C/|\ inside the oval but hard to tell even with the magnifying glass.
There is no mark on the cocking handle and no hole on the opposite side of the body/tube. No markings on the bolt. The spring retention cup and plate are C/|\ stamped along with the butt.
The Apex bayonets are now $345 US
Thanks to all, for your input.
I had a Brit marked/registered Sten and found this Long Branch registered gun, so it fits in my collection.
There is a small oval stamp on the left side of the trigger housing, just above the rear trigger guard. It has what appears to be a 99 and C/|\ inside the oval but hard to tell even with the magnifying glass.
There is no mark on the cocking handle and no hole on the opposite side of the body/tube. No markings on the bolt. The spring retention cup and plate are C/|\ stamped along with the butt.
The Apex bayonets are now $345 US
Thanks to all, for your input.
I had a Brit marked/registered Sten and found this Long Branch registered gun, so it fits in my collection.
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stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Along with the inspectors oval there should be a LB over the trigger on the right side, but it sounds like your tube is indeed Cdn. The early tubes were rough welded at the point where the trigger housing attaches to the tube....in the 2L to 3L they changed to the spot welded attachment, although there will be overlap where you can find the rough welds up into the 7L production. I see your sten appears to be 8L or 9L. The bulk of those did go to the Chinese....I have only seen a very rare one or two out of Cdn service. It is usually from early 11L to the end of production in the upper 12L range that are all Chinese marked and all seemed to remain in Cdn or friendly nation service.
There is a nice write-up on the Apex pages about the bayonets.
There is a nice write-up on the Apex pages about the bayonets.
There are remnants of the LB on the right side as you describe.
This is an 8L gun.
It would be a dream to have the 12x legislation permit transport to a range. I promise not to hold up any 7-11. Or better yet just get rid of those stupid sections.
I am doing my best, and I hope this shows up. It is a photo of one of my walls, with the Long Branch Sten hanging out with some of the rest of the all Canadian stuff. I hope the photo is, worthwhile.
I am doing my best, and I hope this shows up. It is a photo of one of my walls, with the Long Branch Sten hanging out with some of the rest of the all Canadian stuff. I hope the photo is, worthwhile.
Good man! Amazing display...thanks for posting.
