Sten MK II

[Nick_90]

I am a collector of WWII guns and am looking for a Sten MK II full auto. I have been proposed one in good condition for USD 400. Does that seem a fair deal to you (taking into account that in Switzerland where I live, guns are more expensive than in the US).
Moreover, do any of you know what to especially check when buying a Sten?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

By U.S. standards that is an incredible deal as the supply of full-auto guns that can be legally owned is artificially restricted by legislation. A Sten gun here would run several thousand dollars, even though they probably only represent a few hundred dollars in materials and labor.

 

[Badger Arms]

The MK II is the better made gun, but it is not the better gun. The MK III was cheaper to make but since it had a one-piece receiver, it held together much better. It also was not as likely to rattle or jam because everything was solid.

Price, Stens in good condition are going for $3,000 here for the transferable ones. $400 or so for the dealer samples is about right. I'd buy it. Magazines are cheap enough that if you get one that's unreliable, throw it away.

Advantages: Low rate of fire makes it easy to get the second or third shot on target and hold them there throughout the burst. One can shoot decent full-auto groups with this gun. The MP-5 might be inherintly more accurate, but the Sten is more controllable in my experience.

My advice would be to buy a 'loop' stock as the standard 'T' stock is uncomfortable. In the picture below, the Loop is on top (upside down) and the "T" is below.

 

[Nick_90]

Thank you very much for your kind advice...

 

[only1asterisk]

Nick has access to even better toys than the Sten! One look at a Swiss gun rag would make the stongest of us weep!



David

 

[MrMurphy]

I must agree on the skeleton loop stock. I've handled half a dozen Stens, either working or decommissioned/nonfiring models, and the T stock designer should have been shot. The loop stock is MUCH more comfortable to actually hold and/or shoot with from what I've been told (holding is all I've gotten to do with one, but it makes sense).

The T stock barely qualifies as one.

 

[Lone Star]

As to the initial cost of a Sten to the British govt., I've read that Canadian production was down to some $12-13 per gun in 1943-44. I suppose that was in Canadian currency at the time. The UK- made ones must not have cost much, if any, more.

Lone Star

 

[albanian]

I'm moving to Switzerland!

I thought America had liberal gun laws until I heard about Finland, Switzerland, Israel and several other countries that were much better in that regard. All I want is a Sten, a MP5, a Uzi and a folding stock AK. Is that really so much to ask?

If the AWB doesn't die, someone is going to get voted out of office.

 

[444]

I own a Sten Mk. II that I paid $3250 USD for within the last two years.