STUNNING CURIO & RELIC RECREATION OF A STEN MK I “MACHINE CARBINE” WITH TRANSIT CHEST & ACCESSORIES

STUNNING CURIO & RELIC RECREATION OF A STEN MK I “MACHINE CARBINE” WITH TRANSIT CHEST & ACCESSORIES

03-2194 |  Cal. 9mm (9x19mm Parabellum). | S# BT39375. | Bbl. 7 3/4″.

Britain, in dire need of small arms, was in between a rock and a hard place, especially after a sizeable loss of weaponry as a result of the disastrous evacuation of Dunkirk. While Britain had already recognized the significance and effectiveness of the submachine (then considered the “Machine Carbine”) on the battlefield due to encounters with the German MP40, they had no domestic design in production of their own outside of the Lanchester (which while useable, was already obsolete), instead relying heavily on the United States for the Thompson submachine gun, which could not fulfill the ever increasing shortage and were notably expensive. With a German invasion of England looming on the horizon, and the U.S.’s official entry into the Second World War, Enfield was commissioned to produce a new submachine gun to rapidly equip Britain’s military. Major Reginald V. Shepard and Harold J. Turpin (Draughtsman in the Design Department at the Royal Small Arms Factory) proposed a new design with ease of production taking to the forefront, relying on pressed steel stampings and the minimal amount of parts, which ultimately culminating in the Sten Mk I. Rather quickly, the Mk I was further simplified as the Mk I* and again as the Mk II (as well as further iterations), which most are familiar with today. This example, originally mfg. as a Sten Mk II, was beautifully modified into a Sten Mk I configuration, and is the first example of a Sten Mk I (original or recreation) that this cataloger has ever encountered. The left side of the receiver tube is marked with the S# “BT39375” beneath the wood forearm assembly. The top of the mag. well is marked with a faint “STEN MK II”, with a “C/ 960”, and a “B&T” (Broadhurst & Thompson) mfg. mark present on the underside. Left side of the trigger housing is marked “B S” marking and British proofs on the left, with an apparent “M/107” mfg. marking on the underside of the trigger guard. Metal components exhibit a professionally reapplied phosphate finished overall, save for on the buttstock, which exhibits a black enamel type finish, as well as the flash hider, which exhibits a blue finish. Proper Mk I pattern conical flash hider (marked “TOP/ 16”), handguard, nicely figured wood trigger housing cover with folding wood vertical foregrip. Proper Sten Mk I pattern post front sight (with protective “ears”) and fixed aperture rear sight. NFA registry indicates “UNKNOWN” in the mfg. block and “MK2” in the model block. MAGS: x3 32-rd. mags. housed within a Danish khaki canvas mag. pouch, marked with a Crown/HTK in black ink on the interior of the closure flap. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: unmarked contemporary wood transit crate. Interior of lid exhibits a packing slip (appears to be dated “1957”) for a Sten Mk I that is affixed to the lid via adhesive. containing a Hotel de Paris advertising card, an Unarmed Combat New Edition No. 12 hand to hang combat manual, a 1942 dated British Small Arms Training, Vol. I, Pamphlet No. 22 Sten Machine Carbine manual, a “CARBINES, MACHINE, STEN, 9mm. Mks. I, II & III” illustrated identification list, as well as a Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife. Knife features a polished blade etched with Wilkinson’s logo on one side and “THE/ F-S/ FIGHTING KNIFE” on the reverse. Blued steel guard with knurled rnd. brass handle. Knife is accompanied by a brown leather scabbard with a brass drag and green canvas frog marked with an apparent “P.M (BROARD ARROW) 1943” in black ink on the rear.  PROVENANCE: Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost, Hooksett NH. FULLY TRANSFERABLE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT SMG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. STATUS: CURIO. CLASS III.