Sten Gun assembly Video

Heathen. Mk.III Stens are the epitome of wartime expedience and so ugly they're special. Mk.III Stens were never made in Canada despite many who think they were because of the makers stamp 'L.B.' on them. This did not indicate Canada's Long Branch, it was the British manufacturer Line Brothers.
Luckily someone told that to the firearms experts at the FRT lab. The early versions of the disc around 2003 had an entry where it attributed the mk3 sten to LongBranch. They also had an entry for the C5 machine gun but couldn't provide a photo of the markings on the gun. That was because it didn't exist...the Cdn army went from the C1 GPMG to the C5A1....there was no C5.

One has to remember that the Sten replaced the 38 revolver. It is easy to hit a 12x12 plate again and again at 100 yards with a sten, and you would have a 32 round mag as well....sure beats a handgun with 6 shots.
 
Luckily someone told that to the firearms experts at the FRT lab. The early versions of the disc around 2003 had an entry where it attributed the mk3 sten to LongBranch. They also had an entry for the C5 machine gun but couldn't provide a photo of the markings on the gun. That was because it didn't exist...the Cdn army went from the C1 GPMG to the C5A1....there was no C5.

One has to remember that the Sten replaced the 38 revolver. It is easy to hit a 12x12 plate again and again at 100 yards with a sten, and you would have a 32 round mag as well....sure beats a handgun with 6 shots.

I got in #### with the Stirling when going for points on 'short bursts'. I quickly learned a 'short burst' went on target (first round), top of target (second round) and over the butts (3rd round). By a quick release of the trigger you went on target, on target, on target improving your performance immeasurably. Until you were caught.
 
I own a couple of Stens and a Canadian Sterling. Canadian Arsenals sold C1 SMGs for $99. That was new, with 30 rnd mags and a little 10 rounders. Sling and bayo.

They all shoot about the same. At 20 yards I can hit a pop can shooting single shot. Or, at least I could, in the old days when we were trusted to shoot our guns.
 
They are known from combat to have alot of accidental discharges. The troops liked them for being light and compact, but they had a problem with the open bolt slamming shut and firing, F/A. I read an incident of one going off by hanging on a tree by the sling. Scary and dangerous wartime firearm.

Yup, bolt forward, mag in position, fall and you're likely to trigger a round. That's why they put that hole in the forward position that the cocking handle pushes into. :) Even the Germans copied it.

Grizz
 
I own a couple of Stens and a Canadian Sterling. Canadian Arsenals sold C1 SMGs for $99.
Want to make a grand or two and sell it? Mind you, you won't like what will happen to it....


Having fired the Stens (including a semi auto I made and registered), the British Sterling (I have a police carbine that still goes to the ranges), and the C1 back in the day, I have to agree they are all comparable for accuracy.
 
..... In addition to all the "Marks" mentioned already, the Australians also had their own variant, the AUSTEN. The pistol grip and the folding stock were unashamedly copied from the Germans. Although never made and issued in really large numbers, as the OWEN offered superior performance (reliability) and accuracy. The OWEN saw frontline service beyond the jungles of the Pacific in WW2 and onto Korea, and right into Vietnam with the Australian Troops. Finally replaced by the F1. ....... David K
 
I got in #### with the Stirling when going for points on 'short bursts'. I quickly learned a 'short burst' went on target (first round), top of target (second round) and over the butts (3rd round). By a quick release of the trigger you went on target, on target, on target improving your performance immeasurably. Until you were caught.

From my short stint in the militia, I remember the butt in the belly and fire a burst scenario. Looked macho, but hardly practical. :rolleyes:


Grizz
 
The only fault I can find with the Sten once you get past the crude/workman like look of the SMG is the single round feed mag. The Mags are certainly stout and well made AND the gun will fire a (captured) MP40 mag and talking C1 SMG they will work with the Sten mag so there is you daily feed of UFI should you find yourself on TVs Cash Cab and get asked what mags work in what guns.
 
..... In addition to all the "Marks" mentioned already, the Australians also had their own variant, the AUSTEN. The pistol grip and the folding stock were unashamedly copied from the Germans. Although never made and issued in really large numbers, as the OWEN offered superior performance (reliability) and accuracy. The OWEN saw frontline service beyond the jungles of the Pacific in WW2 and onto Korea, and right into Vietnam with the Australian Troops. Finally replaced by the F1. ....... David K

You're confusing the Austen with the Owen;

"The Austen resembles the British Sten externally, internally it resembles the German MP 38 and MP 40. The Austen has the same telescoping type cover over it's recoil spring and firing pin assembly as do the MP 38 and MP 40." SAOTW

The Owen was the top fed Aussie SMG. It is mechanically different from the Sten:

"The Own has a top mounted barrel with a quick change barrel, but not intended for change in battle as are the quick change barrels of machine guns". SAOTW

C'mon guys, don't perpetuate the "everyone knows" gun myths. A quick check of "Small Arms of the World" or a video on "Forgotten Weapons" will clear up a lot of misinformation.
 
The only fault I can find with the Sten once you get past the crude/workman like look of the SMG is the single round feed mag. The Mags are certainly stout and well made AND the gun will fire a (captured) MP40 mag and talking C1 SMG they will work with the Sten mag so there is you daily feed of UFI should you find yourself on TVs Cash Cab and get asked what mags work in what guns.

While it would make sense from a logistical point of view for SMGs to use captured magazines, are you sure about that? I've owned an MP 40 that came with a Sten mag for display purposes. It certainly did not function with the MP 40, so I doubt that reverse would be true. I know that Sten mags do not function with a Sterling or vice versa.
 
You're confusing the Austen with the Owen;

"The Austen resembles the British Sten externally, internally it resembles the German MP 38 and MP 40. The Austen has the same telescoping type cover over it's recoil spring and firing pin assembly as do the MP 38 and MP 40." SAOTW

The Owen was the top fed Aussie SMG. It is mechanically different from the Sten:

"The Own has a top mounted barrel with a quick change barrel, but not intended for change in battle as are the quick change barrels of machine guns". SAOTW

C'mon guys, don't perpetuate the "everyone knows" gun myths. A quick check of "Small Arms of the World" or a video on "Forgotten Weapons" will clear up a lot of misinformation.
..... Not really, as two of the schools I attended had very active and well equipped Cadet Corps, one had a couple of Austens on inventory, and the other had half a dozen Owens. Although I never got to fire either gun, I did get to handle both, admittedly a long time ago. .....
 
What part of "the Austen is NOT a variant of the Sten" do you not understand? It had a shared external similarity, but after that it owed more to the MP 38/40.
 
While it would make sense from a logistical point of view for SMGs to use captured magazines, are you sure about that? I've owned an MP 40 that came with a Sten mag for display purposes. It certainly did not function with the MP 40, so I doubt that reverse would be true. I know that Sten mags do not function with a Sterling or vice versa.

I am, 110% sure that what I state is correct, a MP40 mag fits in the Sten and a Sten mag does not fit in the MP40.........full stop. The C1 SMG WILL feed and fire from a Sten mag, been there and done it with no issues. There is no way in gods green earth a Sten mag fits into a MP40 as it (Sten mag) is a good 1/8th inch greater in the front to rear dimension. How do I know you ask ? I am sitting here with two Stens and a BNZ 43 MP40 and a couple of mags for them. The ONLY thing I cannot state as fact is if a MP40 mag would function in the C1 SMG, but in theory it could.
 
I know that Sten mags do not function with a Sterling or vice versa.
Sterling intentionally made the Sterling SMG accept the sten mag, but not the other way around. Sterling's intent was to use that as a selling feature for their new SMG. The last thing they wanted to do was cure the weakness of the sten (the single column magazines) and get relegated to just selling magazines. And I can guarantee you that sten mags work in my sterling police carbine without any modification to gun or magazine. I do it all the time. Sten mags are a lot cheaper and plentiful that Sterling mags.

The interchange of the magazines is described in "The guns of Dagenham", a collectors grade publication.
 
While it would make sense from a logistical point of view for SMGs to use captured magazines, are you sure about that? I've owned an MP 40 that came with a Sten mag for display purposes. It certainly did not function with the MP 40, so I doubt that reverse would be true. I know that Sten mags do not function with a Sterling or vice versa.

Wrong. Sten mags function just fine in the C1 SMG. I used to supplement my meagre 2 or 3 issued 30-rd C1 SMG mags witn Sten mags all the time on exercise in the early 1980s. The reverse was not true, and C1 SMG mags would not function in a Sten. More UFI for today's entertainment.

Oh, and this thread lacks pics. C 'mon all you guys out there sittjng and fondling Stens and Sterlings and C1 SMGs and MP40s! Here are mine:


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I hope you’re not saying what I think you’re saying... but I know you are :( I feel sad.

Yes I am. In fact, I managed to purchase a SMG C1 about 3 weeks back from collectors source. Still live so it was shipped directly to my gunsmiths for neutering. Should be ready for pickup any day now I suspect.

Below is a photo I salvaged from my photobucket just to keep the thread more interesting.
 

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