The Sten Gun

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Jet_Black_Dan, Apr 26, 2005.

  1. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    First one supposedly a custom made Sten „partizan“ with M16 grip

    second one as far as I know some kind of custom made crossover of a Sten and a Suomi sMG – in different versions:
    4689754.jpg 4689756.jpg
     
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  2. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    I have once sunk into the depths of my archive
    Basis for the conversion was this:
    https://www.brpguns.com/content/StempleSuomi.pdf
    I dare to say that a Suomi MP can be counted among the earliest predecessors of today's SAW.
    Somewhere along the line, someone put the DNA of a Sten SMG on this gun.
    Not the dumbest idea, considering the contemporary level.
    Will look at times, how the story continues
     
  3. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    STEN vs Stemple

    In short, a homemade hybrid of two of the acknowledged best SMG's of their time....just real gunsmith porn :cool:
     
  4. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Due to its construction based on the KISS principle, the Sten was a popular object for clandestine replication for many resistance organisations on the continent.
    A few years ago, we once built a non-firing replica in our forge from scratch without any machines: 48 man-hours are enough. However, we didn't have the SD/Gestapo/randombunchofNaziassholes breathing down our necks either.
    Also and especially in Poland an almost unmanageable number of knock-offs were built here. Here are a few of the better known (without claiming to be complete)

    Polski Sten
    In occupied Poland, clandestine production of Stens was undertaken in at least 23 workshops. The first units (58) were produced in Suchedniów at the FUT factory (the only 'Suchedniów' Sten can be seen in the White Eagle Museum in Skarżysko). They were produced in Warsaw under the direction of engineer Ryszard Białostocki. The Polish Stens had English marks and numbers (conspiracy), but could be recognised by the left-hand thread of the barrel (the originals had a right-hand thread). The finish of these Stens was superior to the English originals.
    pistolet-maszynowy-sten-mk-1.jpg


    A commemorative plaque at the site of the former bed and hospital equipment factory "Konrad Jarnuszkiewicz i S-ka " in Grzybowska Street
    In the years 1942-1944, about 180 Polish "stens" were produced under clandestine conditions. They were characterised by very careful workmanship material.
    STen pol.png


    "Błyskawica"
    constructed by Wacław Zawrotny and Seweryn Wielanier on the basis of the British Sten and the German MP-40.
    The semi-finished products manufactured in various workshops, semi-finished products manufactured in various workshops were assembled in the net factory located at the back of the church at 3/5 Grzybowski Square in Warsaw
    Blyskawica.jpg


    KIS
    The maximally simplified Sten was the result of the work of pre-war employees of the Starachowice Mining and Smelting Works: Polikarp Rybicki "Konar",
    Witold Szafranski "Igo" and Stanislaw Skorupka "Smreka". The submachine guns were called KIS from their pseudonyms
    It was possible to attach to them both magazines from English Sten, as well as German MP-40
    PM KIS.jpg
    KIS prod.png


    KOP-PAL
    The gun was developed at the end of 1941 by Michał Adamowicz and Stefan Engler. It was produced from 1943 in the workshop headed by Edward Włoczkowski and Stefan Nawrocki.
    PM KOP.jpg

    Krakowa
    A replica of the STEN submachine gun produced in the Kraków "Insurance Company" (the code name for the Conspiratorial Production Headquarters of the Kraków Home Army District). It was produced in workshops located in Mogilska Street. The replica shows an example from the first series with a triangular shaped buttplate made of flat bars and a tube. The Krakow STENs also had a sight recessed into the front of the breech chamber, a barrel of the same diameter throughout its entire length and were equipped with a safety catch in the front position.
    Krakowa.jpg

    Main sources used:
    Repliki broni - kolekcje i zbiory w tej kategorii w MyViMu.com
    REPLIKI BRONI KONSPIRACYJNEJ POLSKIEJ PRODUKCJI. w MyViMu.com
    https://forum.odkrywca.pl/topic/698739-partyzancka-bro%C5%84/
    http://www.kuznica-suchedniow.com/pliki/plik/historia-suchedniowskiego-stena-1491330114.pdf
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
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  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I was very impressed with the volume of the MkII(S):

     
  6. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    Sten guns vs. MG 42's - who's gonna win?

    Sten.jpg

    From the 1st Ox & Bucks war diary for 1945.
     
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  7. ceolredmonger

    ceolredmonger Member

    That 'Polski Sten' in the photo is a Mk.1. The British ones were a close copy of the prototype except without the awkward wooden fore-grip. Despite the concept, they were made with a relatively high degree of engineering so considered superior to the 'value engineered' mass produced Mks. Apart from trials most British produced Mk.1s seem to have ended up with the Home Guard. I'd be interested to know if the Polish producers were supplied with drawings or 'reverse engineered' from an actual example, which implies SOE access.
     
  8. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    This is quite a comprehensive page on the Polish Sten versions:
    Firearm Technical Trivia, October 2000
    If I interpret this correctly, from 1943 onwards Sten were delivered by "airmail" and then served as templates for reverse engineering or modified creations (for which own construction plans were created).

    The Sten are really wonderfully simple in construction. As already mentioned, we built a dummy from material lying around and basic tools - with a little craftsmanship it is no problem at all.
     
  9. ceolredmonger

    ceolredmonger Member

    For clarification, is the photoraph of the Sten Mk.1., with the blue background, definately a Polish produced one?
    I know Stens. The Mk.1 whilst not being 'gunsmith' quality still had an 'engineering workshop' feel. The later marks only specific components (e.g. receiver, barrel) needed skilled machining/assembly with some of the pressings and such clearly being mass produced with 'big' tooling. Often with guns copied in small workshops it is the latter parts which are hard to replicate hence use of stock shapes or welding in place of stamping. (I.e. the other photos). Thus producing a faithful replica Mk1 may have been easiest however not the most effective for those simply needing working guns based on the principle. I'm intrigued.
     
  10. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

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  11. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Anyone have a copy of picture of the Israeli improvised anti-aircraft gun that featured approximately ten or twelve Stens ganged together?
     
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

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