Sten MkI & MkI*: The Original Plumber's Nightmare

Published on May 22, 2024
Duration: 20:56

This guide details the field stripping process for the Sten MkI and MkI* submachine guns, as demonstrated by Ian McCollum on Forgotten Weapons. The process is simplified for cost-effectiveness, involving the removal of two screws to detach the barrel and then sliding the bolt out of the receiver tube. The video highlights the basic blowback operation and the fixed firing pin.

Quick Summary

The Sten MkI and MkI* submachine guns are field stripped by removing two screws at the receiver's front to detach the barrel, allowing the bolt assembly to be slid out of the receiver tube. This simplified process reflects the design's WWII-era imperative for rapid, low-cost production.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Sten Gun Series
  2. 00:41Designers: Turpin & Shepherd
  3. 02:30Development & T-40 Project
  4. 03:45Prototyping & Trials
  5. 06:31Singer Manufacturing
  6. 07:55MkI Technical Overview
  7. 10:21MkI Distinctive Features
  8. 13:31Field Stripping & Internals
  9. 16:47MkI* Simplification
  10. 19:07Production Totals

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main components of the Sten MkI and MkI* for field stripping?

The Sten MkI and MkI* field stripping involves separating the receiver tube, the bolt assembly (which includes the fixed firing pin and extractor), and the barrel. The process is simplified by removing two screws at the front to detach the barrel, allowing the bolt to be slid out of the receiver.

What was the primary reason for the Sten gun's simple design?

The Sten gun's extreme simplicity was driven by the urgent need for cheap, mass-producible firearms during World War II. Following the Dunkirk evacuation, Britain desperately needed to re-arm its forces quickly and affordably, leading to a design that prioritized ease of manufacture over refinement.

How did the Sten MkI differ from the Sten MkI* in terms of features?

The original Sten MkI featured a wooden handguard, a folding vertical wooden front grip, and a conical flash hider. The MkI* significantly simplified the design by removing the flash hider and grip, replacing the wooden handguard with a stamped metal shell to reduce production costs and time.

What operating principle does the Sten MkI and MkI* use?

The Sten MkI and MkI* submachine guns operate on a simple open bolt, blowback system. This design relies on the force of the expanding gases pushing the bolt rearward to cycle the action, eliminating the need for a complex locking mechanism.

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