Original Item: Only one available. Made up of original parts on a solid receiver, this nongun duplicates the feel and appearance of the original. It is finished in gun blue and in the stove black used on most British small arms of the Second World War. The condition, including the original wooden stock, is good.
The upper side of the magazine housing is marked M/78, with a Broad Arrow to indicate Royal Ordnance acceptance. M/78 is the manufacturer code for the Elkington Company, which made the housing. The underside of the housing is marked SV 150228. SV is short for Sten Mk V.
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.
The Mk V was designed to use an Enfield rifle sling so that it could be supported with the sling around the soldier’s neck as was developed for the early Thompson Lend-Lease deliveries to Britain. This in fact represents the origin of the “assault sling” configuration, which is used almost universally today.
A fine original display gun fully approved by BATF to be non-functional and totally legal without any type of license.