Original British WWII Lanchester MK.I* Display SMG Serial 57654 with 50 Round Magazine & Sling Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased from a private collection, this is a very nice British Lanchester Inert Display Sub Machine Gun, built from all original parts on an original BATF approved re-welded display receiver. It has properly had a portion replaced entirely with solid steel bar stock, and the original barrel deactivated by welding up the chamber. The original deactivated bolt has been welded into the forward position inside the demilled receiver. The trigger still pulls, and the magazine catch works perfectly. The firing pin was not used while constructing the display gun, so it is included as well.

One of the best quality British SMGs of WWII, the Lanchester has a full wood buttstock with brass butt plate. A heavy bronze magazine housing and ventilated barrel jacket complete with bayonet lug and support. (Takes Enfield 1907, 1943/44 series bayonets, advertised separately.)

This example is offered in very good condition, and unlike almost all other examples we have had, it is built on an original re-welded inert receiver, not an aluminum dummy. It still has original dispersal codes and other markings stamped into the steel.

It is nicely marked on the brass magazine housing:

LANCHESTER
MK.I *
57654
M/34
C F 72

There is also code S230 stamped on the top of the receiver, and various other proof marks elsewhere. This example has the correct Mk.1* Flip sight, and does not look to have ever had the very early selector on the bottom of the receiver. Also included is a rare 50 round magazine (deactivated where required), as well as a correct brass fitted web sling to complete the look!

A very nice example, complete with a magazine and sling. Ready to display!

The Lanchester is a submachine gun (SMG) manufactured by the Sterling Armaments Company between 1941 and 1945. It is a copy of the German MP28/II and was manufactured in two versions, Mk.1 and Mk.1*; the latter was a simplified version of the original Mk.1, with no fire selector and simplified sights. It was primarily used by the British Royal Navy during the Second World War, and to a lesser extent by the Royal Air Force Regiment (for airfield protection). It was given the general designation of Lanchester after George Herbert Lanchester, who was charged with producing the weapon at the Sterling Armaments Company.

Following the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, the Royal Air Force decided it required a submachine gun for airfield defence. With no time available for the usual research and development of a new weapon, it was decided to create a direct copy of the German MP 28. The British Admiralty decided to join with the RAF in adopting the new weapon, and played a key role in its design. Ultimately, it was within the Royal Navy that most of the Lanchesters that were produced went into service.

The British copy of the MP28 was given the general designation of Lanchester after George Herbert Lanchester, who was charged with producing the weapon at the Sterling Armaments Company, the same company that later produced the Sterling submachine gun.

The Lanchester was envisioned as a weapon used for guarding prisoners and accompanying naval landing and assault parties. It was a very solid, well-made submachine gun of high-quality materials, in many ways the complete opposite of its direct contemporary, the Sten.

The Lanchester had a heavy wooden butt and stock, a machined-steel action and breech block, a magazine housing made from solid brass[3] (later steel) and a mounting on the muzzle for use of a long-bladed 1907 bayonet. The rifling differed from the German original in details to accommodate various lots of 9mm ammunition then being acquired for service use.

Produced in two versions, Mk.1 and Mk.1*. The Mk.1* was a simplified version of the original Mk.1, which omitted the fire mode selector (full automatic only) and used simplified sights.