Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition British WWII STEN Mk V inert display submachine gun, assembled from an original parts set on a newly manufactured aluminum dummy receiver and complete with its original style wooden stock and pistol grip, magazine, and web sling. The magazine housing is serial numbered 63016 and retains numerous wartime British markings, including M/78, RTL, the overlapping SV marking, STEN MKV, and British Broad Arrow property mark. With its substantial original components and handsome black finish, it has excellent appearance as a complete late war British STEN display.

The display gun is built from an original parts set and constructed on a legal non-firing BATF compliant aluminum dummy receiver, making this a 100% legal display Sub-Machine gun. As the receiver is a complete inert fabricated aluminum piece, this display gun is totally legal to own without a license of any kind.

Introduced in 1944, the Mk V was essentially a better-quality, more elaborate version of the Mk 2. Changes included a wooden pistol grip, a vertical wooden fore grip (only on early versions), a wooden stock, and a bayonet mount. There was a No4 Lee–Enfield foresight and the weapon was of better quality manufacture and finish than the Mk2 and Mk3. The Sten bandolier issued to paratroopers held seven full magazines.

Another variant of the Mk V had a swivel stock and rear sight mirror intended for firing around corners in urban warfare, similar to the Krummlauf developed by the Germans for the StG 44.

This example constructed from original parts on a new made solid aluminum dummy receiver, is fully BATF compliant as a non-gun and exactly duplicates the feel and appearance of the original. It has a lovely correct "stove black" finish on the receiver and most of the other components. The condition, including the original wooden stock and pistol grip, is very good. The trigger still pulls, however the fire selector does not move at all. The barrel is original, however it cannot currently be removed from the display gun, so we have no way to inspect the chamber. It is not plugged, and still has very good rifling, so we believe it to be live. It is fitted with the correct front sight, and retains the lugs for attachment of an Enfield No.4 bayonet.

The upper side of the magazine housing is marked in the center with M/78, the dispersal code for the Elkington Company, a known maker of Sten machine guns during the war. It is marked in the upper left corner with RTL, a subcontractor marking, and at the bottom is the overlapping "SV" marking used on the Sten MkV over serial number 63016. the bottom of the magazine well is clearly marked STEN MKV along with the correct British BROAD ARROW marking. There are additional markings and broad arrow proofs on other parts of the display gun, including the mounting for the buttstock, which is marked with two different struck through serial numbers.

The Mk V is generally considered to be the best of the Sten family, and was most extensively issued to airborne troops. It is widely represented in British hands in the film A Bridge Too Far. Combat photographs of British airborne troops show how extensive the use of the Mk V was.

An original magazine is included, which has had brass "rails" fitted on the inside for desert use, as this kept sand from preventing the cartridges from feeding, though it did reduce magazine capacity. The display is also fitted with a modified Pattern 1937 web equipment strap serving as a sling. It fits the gun well and appears to have been adapted some time ago, although without provenance we cannot establish when that modification was made. The standard STEN had its own purpose designed web sling, while the Mk V is also encountered in period airborne use with sling arrangements suited to its wooden stock and forward attachment. We therefore describe this example simply as a modified P37 web strap rather than asserting that the alteration was definitely wartime.

Overall condition is excellent for an inert display assembled from original wartime parts. The strong black finish, very good wooden furniture, serial numbered and well marked magazine housing, British property and inspection markings, original magazine, bayonet mounting features, and modified web sling give the piece excellent visual presence. For the British airborne, WWII small arms, or STEN collector, serial number 63016 is a particularly attractive example of the refined Mk V pattern.

NOTE: Magazine will be deactivated if shipped to a state where they are prohibited.