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Somewhat snipery STEN

buffalowinter

buffalowinter

Freer of the Oppressed
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    • Mar 17, 2014
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    Llano, TX
    OK, not snipery at all...just sorta cool. My latest project is a STEN MK II built from a de-watted parts kit. I used to carry a suppressed STEN in SF and decided to make a copy, but with a faux suppressor to hide the 16 inch barrel. Sort of on a quest to re-create all the weapons I used in SF, but in semi-auto.

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    Don't see the pics.

    I always wanted to do a Sten kit too. Never did though. A grease gun would be pretty cool too.
     
    When I was in my 20s they were the cheapest class III you could buy. My girlfriend’s dad had one and he would let me shoot it at their cabin. That’s the first full auto I ever shot. It was an early (1942?) one and the welds on it, especially the skeleton stock, were rough. The whole thing looked pretty crude. It’s cyclic rate wasn’t very fast, and with regular 9mm it was really easy to control. No muzzle rise or anything. Just a fun little hose. The only smg I thought was easier to shoot was a Thompson, which is heavier fires even slower...
     
    Alright damnit, now you've resurrected my Sten aspirations. So where'd you get the parts, where do you recommend? And for the receiver tube/prints? No full auto for me either but I can sure as shit form 1 a suppressor. I really like the version you're building with the wire stock too, that's the one I like. These are still super cheap to build, right?
     
    You can get a MK II STEN kit from Apex gun parts, Numrich, Desert Fox, Atlantic Firearms,or Sarco inc. Some Kits come with barrels, some not. Expect to pay around $170 for one without a barrel and having a T stock, to $260 for one with 16" barrel and a skeleton stock. I bought a kit without barrel and then paid $54 for an 8 inch barrel and welded an extension to it...it's hidden by the suppressor. Then you have to buy a tube, and semi-auto parts kit for around $260...I recommend https://www.indianapolisordnance.com. You want to build a MK2 STEN...it has the most readily available parts. Then you have to buy some mags...anywhere from $10 to $20. Plus, for the suppressor, you'll have to buy a barrel nut and have it threaded...$35 for the nut. So it's not cheap, everyone is drawn by the $161 "parts kit" but there is a little more to it, with a lot of machining and welding. Not for a beginner. On the other hand, it appears semi-auto STEN's sell for around $1400.
     
    buffalowinter said:
    You can get a MK II STEN kit from Apex gun parts, Numrich, Desert Fox, Atlantic Firearms,or Sarco inc. Some Kits come with barrels, some not. Expect to pay around $170 for one without a barrel and having a T stock, to $260 for one with 16" barrel and a skeleton stock. I bought a kit without barrel and then paid $54 for an 8 inch barrel and welded an extension to it...it's hidden by the suppressor. Then you have to buy a tube, and semi-auto parts kit for around $260...I recommend https://www.indianapolisordnance.com. You want to build a MK2 STEN...it has the most readily available parts. Then you have to buy some mags...anywhere from $10 to $20. Plus, for the suppressor, you'll have to buy a barrel nut and have it threaded...$35 for the nut. So it's not cheap, everyone is drawn by the $161 "parts kit" but there is a little more to it, with a lot of machining and welding. Not for a beginner. On the other hand, it appears semi-auto STEN's sell for around $1400.
    Click to expand...
    These guys do very nice work. I purchased a MP40 barrel from them to save my original, as finding a barrel by itself without a 2k parts kit is getting very difficult
     
    Finally finished and got it running. An incredible amount of work...lathe, milling machine, welding...lot's of welding. Everything went well until the test firing. The bolt kept running over the sear and I could not figure it out. So first I went through three sets of springs thinking the bolt wasn't travelling back far enough. A piece of tape over the bolt way finally proved that wrong. Then I figured the 70 year old sear was worn...even though it held when cocked for the first shot. So of course I ground, re-welded, and then ground and re-welded and ground and re-welded the sear. No joy. Finally called the folks at Indianapolis Ord and they returned my call and were very helpful...turns out the dis-connector was a few thousandths too short...so back to the welder to add metal. Finally success! Runs pretty well shooting cheap Tul 9mm.
    Below is the finished product. I applied a Cerakote battle-worn finish which I really like and have put on a couple of guns. The nice part about a battle-worn finish is it's nearly impossible to screw up in both application and use. I still have to make a copy of the canvas and felt suppressor cover. The Sten is sitting on a dug relic Fallshirmjager helmet found at Monte Casino, Italy.

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    I didn't always carry a Sten. Normally we stuck with the M16A2 or Romanian AK. Our Stens were suppressed. They don't break, they were a common caliber, they were a naturally pointable weapon, and you pretty much only hear the bolt moving when you fired it. We carried whatever the mission required. We had the then new M16A2, 1911, Beretta M9, and an AK for every person on the team. Our Cold War mission was a deep penetration (300 plus miles behind enemy lines) for Strategic Reconnaissance with a follow on mission of conducting guerrilla warfare with indigenous local anti-communists. We had a huge arms room which included all kinds of various weapons from around the world. Procured by the CIA...from German sporting rifles, to Swedish K's, double barrel shotguns, RPG's, Thompsons, Uzi's, H&K's and so on. It was an all day job for the monthly 100% inventory.

    My buddy Joel with a Sterling, after SF he was a PMC

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    I was always jealous of the flexibility that the Bravos had in outfitting their teams.
    BTW, that first pic looks a lot like the ranges up at Ft Lewis?
     
    SF armsrooms aren't like infantry arms rooms. And they have a gunsmithing dept. and those guys REALLY know their shit and can fix or one off anything. I got to play with the SAGE M14 long before it came out (I was told there were 3 stocks in existence, and I was holding the 3rd). So yeah, they got toys.

    But almost every one of them just used an M4 99% of the time.

    Thanks for the info, I'd looked at Sarco before, didn't know who had the best. I know with big guns like M2's and such, you can get anything from awesome to missing and rusted parts for the same price. So never hurts to ask.

    What was the hardest part for you in building and working out bugs?

    It really turned out awesome, hats off!
     
    A/3/10 SFG (A) Ft Devens, MA in the first pic. Strykervet. The biggest problem I had was the sear not resetting/catching mentioned above. Only took a quick tack weld to fix, but figuring out what it was took days. Cutting out the old tube takes care and a hammer. You need to be able to weld. You can cut the tube with drill press or a dremel...that appears to be the most daunting but is really pretty easy. Getting all the pieces lined up correctly before welding can be tricky...especially if some of your surplus parts are bent. Having built one, I could do another in 1/3 the time.
     
    We had Romanian AK Underfolders. Note the gloves...this is before hi-speed mechanix gloves. We were issued "fuel handler" anti-contact gloves. These were thin cotton spandex with thin leather palms and fingers.
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    Nice build BW! When I get home, I'll send you pix of the semi that I did. I think yours is better looking. And I still need to do a cover.

    Did you Form 1 on the suppressor? I wish I had done that.

    The original suppressed STEN's are the quietest FA ever made. Amazing guns.

    If anyone wants it (and if I can find it!) I have an SA set and barrel for a Sterling I never got around to. Assuming I can find it, free to anyone who wants it. I'd just like to see it used.

    Where did you get your cover, BW?

    Cheers,

    Sirhr
     
    SirH: I'll take the Sterling if you don't mind. I can send you some bucks for postage etc. The suppressor is fake...it's an empty aluminum tube I fabricated...of course, throw some fiber washers in there and voila...it's real. I made the suppressor cover. Researched it, made a pattern and then made it...you can't believe how hard it is to get asbestos these days. Just kidding, used regular felt.
     
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