FULLY TRANSFERABLE, ORIGINAL BRITISH MKV STEN BROUGHT HOME BY S/SGT. CLIENCE SUTHERLAND OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE

FULLY TRANSFERABLE, ORIGINAL BRITISH MKV STEN BROUGHT HOME BY S/SGT. CLIENCE SUTHERLAND OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE

03-1845
Cal. 9mm
S# 26414

Bbl. 8″. A beautiful piece of history brought home from WWII by S/Sgt. Clience Southerland, a member of the 101st Airborne’s 401st Glider Infantry Regiment. He received decorations & citations from his time including the following, as listed; “Distinguished Unit Badge, American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars & 1 Bronze Arrow Head”. The STEN was the standard SMG of the British armed forces during WWII & remained in service until the late 1950s. A simple select-fire, open bolt, blowback operated design with a very slow cyclic rate, & few moving parts. It has unique silhouette and is easily recognizable due to its left side magazine placement, directly across from the ejection port. Selector is located in front of trigger, marked w/ “A” for full auto and an “R” for semiautomatic fire. This particular example is an original, brought home from WWII & registered by S/Sgt. Clience Southerland of the 101st Airborne, 401st Glider Infantry. Accompanying this amazing firearm are several original pieces of correspondence between S/Sgt Sotherland & his future wife, Miss Pearl Sykes. It also includes his original military separation report, the original letter from the IRS explaining they would be assigning an agent to investigate weather his guns necessitated registration with the BATF under provisions of the National Firearms Act, and the original form 6 used to register this unique firearm. One of the envelopes mailed to his wife includes the original World War II-era propaganda cartoon titled “Stamp ‘Em Out!” It depicts caricatures of Axis leaders Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tojo, and Benito Mussolini being stomped on by a boot symbolizing the Allied forces. Also included w/ this lot is a piece of a parachute he picked up in Normandy, during the war, which he sent home for his wife to make curtains & a photo of him sitting down w/ a rifle, in uniform, w/ those same curtains in the background. Unlike the MKII, which used a crude loop or “T” style metal shoulder stock, the Sten MK V utilizes a fixed wooden shoulder stock, w/ brass trap door butt plate, & matching front & rear wood pistol grips. The MKV was introduced in 1944 as an attempt to overcome the crude appearance of the MKII. Black painted finish on exposed metal surfaces. Protected blade front sight & traditional rear peep sight. Stamped on top side of Magazine well “STEN MKV”, w/ “26414”. On bottom side it is marked “M/78” & “RTL”. Currently sporting tan, canvas sling on left side. MAGS: 2 steel 30 rd.

UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Several original documents & items including the following; cloth square of battlefield pickup parachute sent home by S/Sgt., a photo of him in uniform in front of curtains made from parachute material, several letters written to his future wife, Miss Pearl Sykes, letter from IRS inquiring about firearms brought home, original Form 6 registering is as a souvenir & original copy of S/Sgt. Southerland’s Enlisted Record & Report of Separation. MODERN. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT SMG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. CURIO. CLASS III