Sten MkI & MkI*: The Original Plumber's Nightmare (Ad-free)
Added 2024-05-22 12:00:01 +0000 UTCThe Sten gun was designed by RSAF Senior Draftsman (sorry, Draughtsman) Harold Turpin in December, 1940. He sketched out a simple trigger mechanism on December 2, showed it to Major Reginald Shepherd the next day, and then finished out the rest of the submachine gun design that week. The first prototype gun was completed on January 8, 1941 and it was tested by the Small Arms School that same month. The design was approved for production (alongside the Lanchester) March 7th, 1941 and the first of 300,000 Sten MkI guns was delivered to the British military on October 21, 1941. The MkI and MkI* Stens were all manufactured by the Singer sewing machine company in Glasgow, with three contracts for 100,000 guns each issued in 1941.
The Sten was the British response to a dire need for a large number of cheap infantry weapons, and it served that purpose well. The MkI was quickly followed by a somewhat simplified MkI*, which discarded the unnecessary flash cone and the wooden front grip. An even simpler MkII optimized for mass production followed, along with a MkIII. As the end of the war approached the MkV was introduced which had much improved handling, and it would remain in service until the 1950s, when it was finally supplanted by the Sterling.
Many thanks to the Royal Armouries for allowing me to film and disassemble these rare submachine guns! The NFC collection there - perhaps the best military small arms collection in Western Europe - is available by appointment to researchers:
https://royalarmouries.org/research/national-firearms-centre/
You can browse the various Armouries collections online here:
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/
Comments
The Sten Gun sure is a fun gun: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96241812?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
Christian D. Orr
2024-05-28 17:25:18 +0000 UTCGreat video, looking forward to more in the series.
Glenn Miller
2024-05-25 11:46:16 +0000 UTCyou know it’s just gets me how much better the madsen is in design, can’t believe the brit’s didn’t think of the clam shell idea
Reed Gregory
2024-05-25 04:15:44 +0000 UTCIs it true that the Sten was chambered in 9mm to utilise captured German Ammunition?
Paul Ancill
2024-05-24 02:48:28 +0000 UTCThis is a great presentation. Thank you!
Ed McEneney
2024-05-23 23:01:40 +0000 UTCExcellent presentation, thanks. Looking forward to rest of series. I have seen scores of war movies with STENs but knew the story behind them.
Robert Beattie
2024-05-23 04:45:21 +0000 UTCThe gun doesn't kill the enemy. The bullet does. If the gun will throw the bullet 5,000 times before it falls apart, let's use them.
WayneWiiki
2024-05-22 22:38:55 +0000 UTCReally liked this one! I think that you couldn't adjust headspace from the flash hider end. Either mill the ridge on the chamber end (or add a washer type shim) OR change the length of the bolt which is what they probably did when an round wouldn't chamber or failure to eject due to an excessively expanded case. Alternatively, they might have had barrels with various length dimensions.
Thomas Batha
2024-05-22 19:01:08 +0000 UTCVery interested in the series as I have (my very first MG) a STEN MKII that was made in Canada (Longbranch) in 1944 for the Chinese to help them drive the Japanese out of China in WWII. I have let many people shoot it as my way to help in educating them that machineguns are as safe as any other firearm if the proper safe practices are used. I have never had a person who did not enjoy the experience. I fact one of the regular shooter of this gun has purchased a STEN MKV and is waiting for his paperwork to be approved.
Steven E
2024-05-22 18:09:40 +0000 UTCthat stock is... a little more complicated but also looks damn sturdy! close what is simpler. later sten or greasegun A1.
Guido Schriewer
2024-05-22 16:43:31 +0000 UTCstill. it did the job at hand.I cuss at you and call you names. You’re much more trouble than my dames. But boy, do I love to hear you yammer, when you spit lead in a business manner. You conceited pile of salvage junk, I think this prowess talk is bunk. Yet, if I want a wall of lead thrown at some Jerry’s head, it is to you I raise my hat. You’re a damn good pal, you silly gat!
Guido Schriewer
2024-05-22 16:37:04 +0000 UTC
