Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive British WWII Sten MkIII inert display submachine gun assembled with original components around a BATF compliant solid aluminum dummy receiver. Complete with an original barrel, trigger mechanism, magazine housing assembly, T style butt stock, and magazine, it has the unmistakable stripped down appearance of one of Britain's most recognizable WWII weapons. The display gun is finished in the familiar black wartime style and presents extremely well, while retaining movable trigger and fire selector components for additional display interest.

INERT DISPLAY GUN: This example has been reconstructed using a BATF compliant solid aluminum dummy receiver with original parts. As configured, it is completely inert and cannot be restored to operating condition. It is sold solely as a historical display and collector item. The original bolt has been deactivated and welded in place. Federal, state, and local laws may vary, and the purchaser is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. The included magazine is supplied only where permissible by law. This item is not available for export outside the United States.

The Sten became one of the most recognizable British small arms of the Second World War and was used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces. Designed around simplicity, rapid manufacture, and economy of materials, the Sten provided Britain with a compact 9mm submachine gun that could be produced on an enormous scale at a time when wartime demand for automatic weapons was critical. Stens were used across numerous theaters and became especially associated with airborne troops, commandos, armored crews, and resistance forces supplied by Britain.

The MkIII represented an even greater emphasis on simplified wartime production. Developed for manufacture by Lines Brothers Ltd., a company better known before the war for its Tri-ang toys, the design made extensive use of pressed sheet steel construction. Production began in 1942, and the simplified construction allowed each gun to be manufactured considerably faster than earlier Sten variants.

One of the easiest ways to distinguish the MkIII from the better known MkII is its long sheet steel body and barrel jacket. Rather than using the MkII's removable barrel and separate perforated barrel sleeve, the MkIII has a body that extends forward around the barrel to the muzzle. The barrel was permanently installed, and the magazine housing was simplified and fixed in place rather than rotating as on the MkII. These changes reduced manufacturing time and helped make the MkIII a particularly economical wartime weapon.

The Sten family saw extensive Allied service during the Normandy campaign, including with British forces on D-Day and during the fighting that followed. Its compact dimensions and simple operation made it especially useful in the close quarters conditions encountered by airborne troops, commandos, vehicle crews, and assault formations.

This example has been reconstructed specifically as a non-firing display piece using an inert solid aluminum dummy receiver together with original Sten components. It includes an original barrel, trigger mechanism, original magazine housing assembly, and original T style butt stock.

There is also an original deactivated bolt welded permanently inside the assembly. The bolt is marked on its underside with serial number:

14657

The welded and deactivated condition of the bolt is an important part of the permanent inert configuration.

The original barrel remains installed. Examination of the bore shows that rifling is still present, although we have not determined whether the original chamber remains intact. Because this is a permanently inert display gun, no inference regarding functionality should be drawn from the surviving barrel features.

The trigger can still be pulled, and the fire selector continues to move back and forth. These movable controls give the display gun much of the handling character of an original Sten while having no effect on its permanently inert status.

The exterior is finished in black in the manner associated with British wartime Sten production, giving the piece a very convincing WWII display appearance. The characteristic fixed MkIII barrel jacket, side mounted magazine housing, simple T stock, and minimalist stamped construction give it the unmistakable silhouette that made the Sten an icon of British wartime small arms.

A functional magazine is included where possession is permissible by law. Magazine restrictions vary by jurisdiction, and purchasers are responsible for confirming that the magazine may legally be possessed at their location.

With its distinctive MkIII configuration, original barrel and trigger components, original magazine housing, T style stock, deactivated original bolt, wartime style black finish, and included magazine, this is an excellent display representation of one of Britain's most famous WWII submachine guns. It would make a particularly strong addition to a British WWII weapons display, D-Day or Normandy collection, airborne or commando grouping, or a broader collection illustrating the inexpensive mass produced small arms that became synonymous with the Second World War.

The STEN (or Sten gun) was a family of British submachine guns chambered in 9×19mm and used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They were notable for having a simple design and very low production cost making them effective insurgency weapons for resistance groups.

STEN is an acronym, from the names of the weapon's chief designers, Major Reginald V. Shepherd and Harold Turpin, and EN for Enfield. Over four million Stens in various versions were made in the 1940s.

Mark III
This simple design was the next most commonly produced after the Mark II. It was a simplification of the Mk I made both in Canada and the UK. Lines Bros Ltd was the largest manufacturer. The biggest difference from the Mark II was the unification of the receiver, ejection port, and barrel shroud that now extended farther up the barrel. The barrel was fixed and the body was welded shut along the centre of the top. Captured Sten Mk IIIs in German possession were designated MP 750(e).