stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Some of you who have been on this board for more than a couple years may recall my dilemna in trying to get a semi-auto sten registered. I built one of the US kits found at www.semiautosten.com . When I had it to the point that it would fire, I had my firearms officer over to verify it, and submitted the application. Several months later I received a call from one of the techs at the CFC wanting to know what I had built. I told him, and described the kit. He later got back to me and told me that the RCMP lab considered the magwell the registered part of the sten, and therefore it was considered a converted auto/prohibited gun. He also told me that the CFC considered the trigger housing as the registered part of a sten, and therefore it was a converted auto.
I pointed out that I could fire the gun without the magwell, so it wasn't a particularily important part of the gun. I also pointed out that if you were to remove the trigger housing off a F/A or C/A sten, that upon releasing the bolt it would fire until the magazine was empty, so really the trigger housing wasn't particularily important either. As well, the trigger housing was never really a replaceable part of the sten, as it came as part of the receiver weldment. I made my point that the tube is the critical part of the sten, and should be considered the receiver. This is the view of the BATF in the US. I also told them that when they decided what constituted the prohibited part of this gun, to let me know and I would build a brand new one.
After a year, I contacted the CFC again, wanting to know what was going on. At that point I was told the RCMP lab was still considering the origional sten magwell made it a prohibited gun, and that an individual could not make a firearm for his own use without a manufacturers liscence.
Anyway, today I receive a couple of registration certificates from the RCMP, and lo and behold, there is one for my semi-auto sten. Just in time for it's second birthday, I might add.
I don't know what changed their minds, but I guess if I ever meet George, the CFC tech, I will owe him a beer.
It is registered as a commercial version, and is classed as restricted. I'll add the FRT # to this thread once I have it.
This kit features a closed bolt, using an AR-15 firing pin. There are some issues with the cheapo springs that come with the kit, but I will work through these issues. The origional kit was meant for a mk3, but I modified the kit into mk2 configuration. It's a little more work, but a nicer looking gun in my opinion. Sorry, no photos for now, as I took the gun apart back when these issues first came up, in case they came to collect it. But as soon as I have time next week, I'll finish it up and get some photos on this thread. I'll also post a range report next week once I run it to the range and try it out.
See, good things can happen when you are really patient.
Edited to add: found some old photos stashed in my photobucket. Here they are:
The partially completed gun. It still needs the front sight dovetailed in and beadblasting/bluing.
A view of the left side. The cocking slot is indexed at a different position of the casing to prevent the installation of a turned down F/A bolt.
Here is a photo of the internals. A bit crude, but I'll get them to work.
I pointed out that I could fire the gun without the magwell, so it wasn't a particularily important part of the gun. I also pointed out that if you were to remove the trigger housing off a F/A or C/A sten, that upon releasing the bolt it would fire until the magazine was empty, so really the trigger housing wasn't particularily important either. As well, the trigger housing was never really a replaceable part of the sten, as it came as part of the receiver weldment. I made my point that the tube is the critical part of the sten, and should be considered the receiver. This is the view of the BATF in the US. I also told them that when they decided what constituted the prohibited part of this gun, to let me know and I would build a brand new one.
After a year, I contacted the CFC again, wanting to know what was going on. At that point I was told the RCMP lab was still considering the origional sten magwell made it a prohibited gun, and that an individual could not make a firearm for his own use without a manufacturers liscence.
Anyway, today I receive a couple of registration certificates from the RCMP, and lo and behold, there is one for my semi-auto sten. Just in time for it's second birthday, I might add.
I don't know what changed their minds, but I guess if I ever meet George, the CFC tech, I will owe him a beer.It is registered as a commercial version, and is classed as restricted. I'll add the FRT # to this thread once I have it.
This kit features a closed bolt, using an AR-15 firing pin. There are some issues with the cheapo springs that come with the kit, but I will work through these issues. The origional kit was meant for a mk3, but I modified the kit into mk2 configuration. It's a little more work, but a nicer looking gun in my opinion. Sorry, no photos for now, as I took the gun apart back when these issues first came up, in case they came to collect it. But as soon as I have time next week, I'll finish it up and get some photos on this thread. I'll also post a range report next week once I run it to the range and try it out.
See, good things can happen when you are really patient.
Edited to add: found some old photos stashed in my photobucket. Here they are:
The partially completed gun. It still needs the front sight dovetailed in and beadblasting/bluing.
A view of the left side. The cocking slot is indexed at a different position of the casing to prevent the installation of a turned down F/A bolt.
Here is a photo of the internals. A bit crude, but I'll get them to work.
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