[ravenrob]

I will be starting my Mk III build shortly and have a few questions. First, could anyone provide the dimensions for the original front sight (height and length of the blade as well as the height of the rib formed by the seam)? Also, does anyone know where I can find pictures of original Sten Mk III engraving?

 

[kevin]

Sight rail

The overall height of the front sight is .532 and height of the rail itself is .266 as far as engravings I havent seen anything other than what was on the mag well and a few armorers marks. If you are planning on an original style you can easily rivet the barrel trunnions in. What I did was drill .125 rivet holes and if you look at the demilled kits you will find that the front trunnion is silver soldered in place. I put my rear trunnion welds under the finger guard and then installed rivets and solder into place and the front trunnion I plug welded under the sight rail and underside so they wouldnt be visable.
hths
kevin

 

[ravenrob]

That helps a bunch Kevin. I want to build it to resemble an original as closely as possible (except for the 16" barrel). If I have the money later, I'll apply for the tax stamp and cut the barrel down if I get approved.

 

[kevin]

build

personally I would be as a pistol and send the stock to a family member to hold onto for you, or you can install a block into the lower receiver to prevent it being able to install the stock. I drilled a small hole in the trigger housing installed round roll pin and blind welded pin in place. Then just mill a slot into the pistol grip (dremel if you dont have a mill)
it keeps the gun looking good and one less thing you have to worry about...

 

[kevin]

oh and by the way...there is a gentlemen on the yahoo sten site that sells the sight rails for around 25.00 his name is ken wolf. they look original and you can't hardly make them for that price....

 

[kevin]

now if I could only get everything into one post one thing that I have considered on my next build is instead of welding on the sight rail, is brazing it on. It would fill the gap between the rail nicely has less distoration and would be easier to do with less clean up.... humm....any thoughts?

 

[ravenrob]

I was thinking silver solder for the sight, but I'm not sure yet. I was originally thinking about making my own sight out of two pieces of sheet steel to replicate the original. I was going to slot the front of the tube and have a tab on the bottom of the sight rail that would slide into the slot. I was then going to peen the tab over and spot weld it on the inside of the tube before final assembly. The rest of the rail would have been silver soldered. It's a lot of work, I know, but it would never fall off and it would look correct.

 

[sdk1968]

ok my turn ....

Kevin has some great tips there.

and the sten board at yahhoo is great.

if you really want it to look correct heres 2 things that will help you....

1. as mentioned do the pistol and pin the grip (see picture, yes i skipped the rail)

2. buy the new tube thats out there with the rail already on it. its made just like the original tube! you squeeze it around the trunnions and weld it together at the rail just like the original.

the guy now has them in original and reduced diameter ... i'll go find his thread and link it in a bit later for you.

 

[ravenrob]

I already bought a tube, but if the one you're talking about is made like the original and not seamless tubing, I would MUCH rather use it instead! By all means, post the link.

 

[sdk1968]

yep its identical to the original tube stamped and rolls around and seams toegether to make the sight rail and you squeeze it into place and then spot or seam weld it and rivet it up...

http://www.gunco.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33057&highlight=sten+tubes

he says he now send it with the template for teh magwell and so on.. but he has raised the price a bit.

see what you think.

 

[kevin]

sten tubes

Guys there has never been a parts kit that got more people in trouble than the sten. If this guy does not have a approval letter for these from the ATF then you dont want anything to do with them

 

[kevin]

ATF classification

When the atf makes a classification on a semiauto. they exam everything from deminisions to materials used in fabrication. If you change any of these it requires a resummital to the ATF. This is why there have been issues with manufacturers because changes have been done from the original delta arms design and a prototype was never summited.

 

[ravenrob]

What about the Prexis kits? That's what I have on order right now.

 

[sdk1968]

hold on there Kevin...

thats not quite correct: if the ATF is approving a build for a company to sell it gets really picky. and if you say yours is a copy of that approved gun, yes.

BUT, if its a homebuild and still subject to all home build rules, it doesnt have to be an approved design, it just has to meet the restrictions they set. those are pretty easy to meet. if your doing it as a pistol it is not even subject to 922r either, making it even easier to do.

all that it is when you buy a tube is: a piece of pipe.... period

same thing for a "flat" that is not bent... its a piece of metal.

no different for this guys half way rolled piece of metal.... its not even a tube yet. just a piece of metal.

the atf compliance letter for stens out lines building principles and preferred techniques........there are actually very few restrictions in it... just the usual stuff..... 16" barrel for rifles with 922r compliance or pistols must have a stock blocking set up".

they say nothing about the tube/flat other than it either has to be a reduced diameter or have a blocking(denial rail is their term) rail. he has reduced diameter if you want and a blocking rail is not a big deal to insert.

there is nothing said about who's you can buy or not buy... although i buy from everyone.

ive built stens with tubes from Prexxis.com,sten parts.com,akparts.com,stenlovers.com and even my own from the hardware store..... its never been an issue.

the compliance letter is here on the site and if its gone, ive got it posted at shoot1919.com as well.

im not trying to get anyone to buy from this fellow, i dont care for the site rails myself.... like the smooth tube builds. but if he was wanting an "original style build", thats the closer to it way to go.

 

[sdk1968]

guys i dont want anyone to think i would steer them wrong intentionally so here is the link to the actual compliance letter.....

http://www.shoot1919a4.com/img/letter/sten1.pdf

 

[kevin]

not trying to ruffle feather here

An additional example of a combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled is a STEN submachinegun “parts kit” possessed with a length of metal tube to be used as a replacement receiver and instructions for assembling the parts into a functional machinegun. The parts kit as sold does not contain a firearm receiver although remnants of the destroyed receiver may be present. A machinegun parts kit in this condition is not subject to the GCA or the NFA. Unfinished receiver tubes with instructions and/or templates for use in the assembly of a functional machinegun are also commercially available. These tubes with instructions/templates, in and of themselves, are not subject to the GCA or NFA. When the parts kit is possessed in conjunction with the above described unfinished receiver tube, a combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled exists and is a machinegun as defined.

Taken from chap 2 page 11 from the ATF NFA laws and regs book. GUYS I am not looking to argue over this just be careful. Its better to make damn sure your backside is covered than to pay an attorney to prove your case!

 

[kevin]

SDK,

For some reason the link doesnt seem to work and I would like to take a look at the approval letter. Is this the one with the SAS kit or a different one?
thanks
kevin

 

[ravenrob]

Taken from chap 2 page 11 from the ATF NFA laws and regs book. GUYS I am not looking to argue over this just be careful. Its better to make damn sure your backside is covered than to pay an attorney to prove your case!

I spent 14 years or so building custom bolt action rifles and custom pistols I am relatively new to home builds. I never had to worry about most of these regulations. I appreciate this info. The last thing I need is time in the Iron Bar Motel being traded for smokes!

 

[sdk1968]

Kevin,

i never felt that you were trying to ruffle anyones feathers or anything else.

we are still allowed to talk to each other and debate various things... thats how i took it. so all is well.

its always good to look at this stuff from several different points of view anyway!

as to the letter on the sten: that is a direct link to it, and you dont even have to be a member to see it. im not sure whats going on there.. but im at work and cant DL it and repost it here.

try going to the www.shoot1919a4.com main page and then click on the compliance letter box and scroll down. its in a PDF format.

maybe i can copy and paste it here??? will try that.

it wont let me C7P that without losing all the format and so on..... you'll just have to go there and see it.