British Sten MkII Dummy Submachine Gun Original Items

Original Item: Think of The Bridge on the River Qwai. William Holden holding his Mk II Sten and looking very grim. And how many other other war movies do we remember where we remember the Mk II Sten but not the actors? Probably a good many. Not only was the Sten ubiquitous in movies and among Allied troops, but the German Army, of all people, eventually made numerous copies of it. Earlier, Otto Skorzeny, the famous head of Germany’s equivalent of Britain’s Commandos, tried hard to get permission to use the silenced version of the Sten for his troops, but his request was rejected on grounds of national—read that as National Socialist—arrogance.

This dummy Sten Mk II is made up of all original parts on a solid receiver and duplicates the feel and appearance of the original Sten Mk II Machine Carbine. It is finished in the stove black used on most British small arms of the Second World War. The condition is excellent. The area of the dummy receiver inside the ejection port has been left bright to simulate the surface of the bolt.

The Mk II was the most widely distributed of the various Sten models, and was featured in numerous motion pictures, including the marquee poster for the great The Bridge On The River Kwai. This sample has the popular No. 3 Mk. 1 loop butt stock, fitted with the Sten cleaning rod in spring clips, and also has the original cocking handle with the protective flange but without the safety projection.

The magazine housing is marked STEN MK II and fe 56719. The “f” indicates manufacture at Royal Ordnance Factory (6) at Fazakerley, and the serial itself is e56719. This piece includes an original unissued Sling, Carbine, Sten, Mk 2, and a replica Mk II Sten bayonet with original scabbard. It also includes a set of the original internal parts, including the Mk II bolt, recoil spring, recoil spring guide, and recoil spring cap.

The Mk II Sten is an icon of the Second World War and should be part of any WW2 collection or display.