Posted on 04/19/2013 1:05:31 PM PDT by marktwain
To wrap up our week of semi-mystery guns, we have today a Sten gun copy made by the Polish Resistance. The guns owner didnt have any details about its origin, and I have been unable to find any reference to it either. The gun is marked on the trigger housing and receiver endcap BATHAU 19412 TDM, and has no other visible markings.
(Excerpt) Read more at forgottenweapons.com ...
A little hairy to use and very inaccurate, because it fires from an open bolt, but certainly an easily built weapon. Magazine feed is a real problem (it sticks out sideways, people tend to grab it, and the lips of the magazine deform — plus it shows around cover) and it jams pretty easily as well. My dad served with the Brits and they hated the thing - called it the “stench gun” or the “plumber’s helper”.
So long as we're talkin in the hypothetical sense, you know.
Just sayin'...
Next to a single barrel muzzle loader, its the easiest type of gun to produce period.
Open bolt, fixed firing pin. A tube, a spring, a barrel, and a bolt with an extractor on it. People who can't purchase guns, set up and make full-auto weapons because of the ease.
I remember seeing a film about the anti-Nazi Norwegians making these jewels with nothing but hand tools.
You wicked piece of vicious tin!
Call you a gun? Don't make me grin.
You're just a bloated piece of pipe.
You couldn't hit a hunk of tripe.
But when you're with me in the night,
I'll tell you, pal, you're just alright!
Each day I wipe you free of dirt.
Your dratted corners tear my shirt.
I cuss at you and call you names,
You're much more trouble than my dames.
But, boy, do I love to hear you yammer
When you're spitting lead in a business manner.
You conceited pile of salvage junk.
I think this prowess talk is bunk.
Yet if I want a wall of lead
Thrown at some Jerry's head
It is to you I raise my hat;
You're a damn good pal... You silly gat!
- Gunner S.N. Teed
Poem first published The Maple Leaf', a newspaper printed for Canadian troops in Europe.
An Aussie squadie came up with a vastly improved version, the eponymous Owen SMG.
Diggers loved it in Burma and Malaya, IIRC
"No mate, it's YOUR turn to give it artificial respiration!"
A simple but not wholly reliable 9mm
Replicated by many countries
The subsequent Sterling is mo better and quite interesting in 7.62x51
Curious photo. The loader is wearing two stripes, the younger none. The younger one's kit is markedly newer, especially the boots almost without wear on the soles. Might guess him to be a young officer..
That young fellow does look like a freshly minted subaltern . . . even the nails in his tackety boots are nice and shiny!
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