semi-auto STEN Mk2

FeralChild

FeralChild

Member
Rating - 100%
18   0   0
Location
QC
Hey guys, I’d like your opinion on the saleability of my converted to semi-auto STEN Mk2.
I bought it from an Ontario collector back in 1991, and the SQ (Quebec provincial police) insisted that it be delivered to their ballistics laboratory for expertise. After close to a year, I got a phone call suggesting I turn it in for destruction “to save me trouble”, as they felt it was too easy to convert to FA. I told them to tell it to a judge, then didn’t think any more about it, until I got a subpoena two weeks later. Long story short, I represented myself and got a judgement against the SQ, and got my STEN back.
The conversion was done by simply welding the selector in place. The trigger housing can still be removed. My question is, if I sell it outside the province, will the potential buyer end up in the same situation as I was, or will the transfer go through with no problem. Would it be prudent to weld the trigger housing in place before selling it?
Any insight would be welcome!
 
As an owner of numerous 12(3) CAs, my advice if you wish to sell and recoup most of your original investment, is to have the STEN deactivated and de-registered by a licensed gunsmith. Then you are free to sell the inert results to anyone who wants a STEN example but lacks the license endorsement.
 
FeralChild said:
Hey guys, I’d like your opinion on the saleability of my converted to semi-auto STEN Mk2.
I bought it from an Ontario collector back in 1991, and the SQ (Quebec provincial police) insisted that it be delivered to their ballistics laboratory for expertise. After close to a year, I got a phone call suggesting I turn it in for destruction “to save me trouble”, as they felt it was too easy to convert to FA. I told them to tell it to a judge, then didn’t think any more about it, until I got a subpoena two weeks later. Long story short, I represented myself and got a judgement against the SQ, and got my STEN back.
The conversion was done by simply welding the selector in place. The trigger housing can still be removed. My question is, if I sell it outside the province, will the potential buyer end up in the same situation as I was, or will the transfer go through with no problem. Would it be prudent to weld the trigger housing in place before selling it?
Any insight would be welcome!
Click to expand...

Deactivation etc or wanting to buy and own them is worse than cannibalism IMO.

You will find somebody that will want it and will go to any trouble necessary.

You can always do it if worst comes to worst but why not give somebody else a chance first?
 
I just bought one spent $600 . It must of already been examined as the transfer was completed in 2 months
 
If the trigger housing comes off, couldn't you jut manipulate the sear by hand, thus totally bypassing the trigger, disconect lever, and change lever for full auto? Or even run a small screwdriver through the drain hole of the trigger housing and again manipulate the sear?
I would suggest a few more welds before you try and sell it as it will merely get tied up in the inspection (and rejection) process of the transfer.
 
stencollector said:
If the trigger housing comes off, couldn't you jut manipulate the sear by hand, thus totally bypassing the trigger, disconect lever, and change lever for full auto? Or even run a small screwdriver through the drain hole of the trigger housing and again manipulate the sear?
I would suggest a few more welds before you try and sell it as it will merely get tied up in the inspection (and rejection) process of the transfer.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of welding on the trigger housing. Do you think that would be enough to make or a trouble-free transfer?
Of course you’re right, if someone was so inclined, you might be able to remove the trigger housing and push the disconnect lever to one side, and defeat the welded selector. My defence in court was that just because it is relatively easy to do something illegal (I mentionned using a hacksaw to shorten a shotgun barrel), shouldn’t mean that I had to forfeit a legally registered firearm.
 
I would tack weld a piece of metal to the inside of the cover to block the drain hole, then tack weld the cover screws so they can't be removed easily. That should do it.
 
you can weld up all you want. If it has not been examined it will have to got to the lab for verification of a "proper" conversion to semi auto. Takes three years if your lucky. I bought mine from EPPS. Their gunsmith and the lab seem to have it worked out so they just exchange photos to ensure a "proper conversion" . I currently have a BREN going through this process. I am at 5 months now waiting . Hoping it will only be another month or so. My STEN must of been examined because the transfer only took two months. Hoping to pick it up this weekend. Maybe you can find a gunsmith with a similar arrangement with the lab.
 
FeralChild said:
My defence in court was that just because it is relatively easy to do something illegal..... shouldn’t mean that I had to forfeit a legally registered firearm.
Click to expand...
The Supreme court Hasselwinder decision says the complete opposite of what you have put forth. However, Hasselwinder is not generally used against the C/As, but rather the restricted and non-restricted classes of guns. In your case, if you decide to sell the gun, the lab will eventually dictate what will make them happy, and a gunsmith will make that happen for you in order to comply.
 
Last edited:
Like I said. Given all of the hassle and inevitable delay described above, deactivation is by far the simplest, easiest, least time-consuming option. It is also the only option that will allow you to recoup $500 to $600 of your original investment, depending on the condition and make/model. Even If you can find a buyer for your "live" 12(3l STEN, you are unlikely to be able to sell a CA for the same money as the firearm would fetch in deactivated condition. That is the sad reality of 12(3) conversions in today's ever dwindling market of potential buyers and diminished CA values.... Of course YMMV, but a STEN MK II really isn't worth a lot of effort.... or money.
 
Komodo said:
you can weld up all you want. If it has not been examined it will have to got to the lab for verification of a "proper" conversion to semi auto. Takes three years if your lucky. I bought mine from EPPS. Their gunsmith and the lab seem to have it worked out so they just exchange photos to ensure a "proper conversion" . I currently have a BREN going through this process. I am at 5 months now waiting . Hoping it will only be another month or so. My STEN must of been examined because the transfer only took two months. Hoping to pick it up this weekend. Maybe you can find a gunsmith with a similar arrangement with the lab.
Click to expand...

So there is the answer for the OP. Send the gun to Epps on consignment, and when it sells, with their arrangement with the gov't, might be able to transfer it to the new owner in a reasonable length of time.
 
OK just picked up a 12.3 sten the trigger cover is welded on both sides at the front . The selector is welded both sides. The foresight is welded on . The flat portion of the bolt at the rear has been welded and then filed round to fill in a cut which I assume is where the disconnector fit into when on auto. Fore some reason there is a weld on the barrel so it will not separate from the barrel nut when removed. Transfer took two months. So this must of been inspected and approved prior to me buying it.

I went online and it appears this manufacturer welded on the foresight . I thought it might have been welded on to prevent the removal of the mag well
 
Last edited:
The majority of stens from Cdn service had the front sights welded in place. Originally they would have been staked in place. Quite common. I suspect it was so the front sight would not be moved or lost altogether when the sten bounces around in the vehicles.
 
The Sten MkII was able to be adjust of zero by using one of three sized foresights mounted in the aforementioned dovetail that allowed for deflection left and right. The different height in foresights (stamped 1,2 or 3) allowed a three inch adjustment to MPI at 100 feet. Then it was tack welded after zero. Post war ( late 1950s) the barrel nut would have been tack welded to the receiver after zero. References to both can be found in the book the Sten Machine Carbine by Peter Laidler pages 47 and 293, a book worth having on the shelf.
 
stencollector said:
It is indeed a great book, but being that it is long out of print, copies are currently listed for more than the stens sell for.

Canada did not weld the barrel nuts in place. I can't say what other countries did.
Click to expand...

The Brits did as noted in a May 17 1957 technical instruction due to serrated teeth being worn on barrel nut and barrel nut catch allowing the barrel to be unwittingly unscrewed during firing followed by a breech explosion. All well laid out in "the book" of the mechanics that came about to see the little gun blow up. Obviously the British Stens where coming to the end of there service life and no doubt well worn and the tack welds just a means to keep them in service and safe .
 
Last edited:
Another sign perhaps that the Canadian stens may have been a little superior over the British stens. The book also discusses the drooping magwells, which the british corrected by ring punching around the hole. Again, I have never seen that on a Cdn example. However, many of the Cdn used stens were of British manufacture, so perhaps some of it comes down to how the countries used, maintained, and trained with them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom