The Sten Gun, Its Name and the Men Behind It

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching! Check out our accompanying blog for this first installment of the STEN Gun series here - armourersbench.com/2020/05/17/the-sten-gun-its-name-and-the-men-behind-it/

[@matthayward7889]

I always believe the EN stood for Enfield, but as you say, you have to follow the primary sources. And if the gentlemen who invented it thought it stood for ‘England’, who am I to argue?

[@vickersmg]

Well done. Nice to go back to the primary sources to test common concepts. Now to search for the Ordnance Board Memorandum!

[@TheArmourersBench]

Everyone donate to the Vicker's MG Association's patreon so Rich copies all the Ordnance Board Memos for us! haha. Thanks mate.

[@vickersmg]

@@TheArmourersBench Willingly! Thanks for the promo: www.patreon.com/vickersmg

[@535tony]

I have owned a Fazakerly Sten MKII since 1991. Superb SMG. Smooth shooting and more accurate they you would think.

[@lrs2319]

Pretty interesting ! I'm glad that you're making this series.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks you, thanks for watching!

[@markserbu]

Great stuff, thank you!

[@hendriktonisson2915]

I recently found some photos on the web of rare STEN Mk II with strut type stock with integrated metallic skeleton pistol grip. One page which I can not find anymore claimed that it was of US manifacture but I have never heard about STEN manifacture in the US during the war.

[@TheArmourersBench]

There's a hell of a lot of interesting stock variations out there!

[@itsclearasmud7718]

At about 2 minutes in you have an image of the original sketch on vellum. Do you have any source information about that sketch? Did you find it possible to acquire a jpg or a copy?

[@EnkaMexi]

i was looking for infos on the history of the Sten Gun, thank you, that was very interessting!

[@TheArmourersBench]

Glad you enjoyed it, be sure to subscribe, the Sten series is ongoing!

[@EnkaMexi]

@@TheArmourersBench 😉👍

[@azkrouzreimertz9784]

The More You Know, great video!

[@NRJenzenJones]

A fantastic introduction.

[@briankerr4512]

I'll go for England. Just because that is what I thought it may be.

[@victuff9765]

OK, now I'm going to throw a stinking kipper into the mix.... explain the thinking behind the naming of the AUSTEN 🤣😂🤣😂 AUS - Australian S- Shepherd T - Turpin EN - England

[@TheArmourersBench]

Hahah oh god

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Already subbed, liked. Thanks for the video. I think the previous Bren gun naming had a big influence on the name Sten and due to possible legal rights they skirted the Enfield name officially. There may have been some 'herrumphing' from Enfield about using their name, so England was introduced to avoid any issues. Either way an interesting discussion. I bet alot of servicemen wished they held a Lanchester rather than a Sten but practical minds won out.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks Nick, glad you enjoyed it. You may be right, certainly a fascinating little detail to look at.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@TheArmourersBench who really knows, as you say. The Sten was a reliable, practical tool when it was most needed. A horrific period of history. Lest we forget. Thanks again for the video.

[@JaykPuten]

This is why I love this channel, great amount of detail, amazing pictures, about history of something Id always wondered, and made and done on such an amazingly presented way Ill have to check the article on the site In my mind, the EN in sten stands for england, but since it doesn't matter in the end, if someone wants to say its a nod to enfield just because, ill still consider that right Esp if they have a fully registered automatic STEN, if they take me to give one a try, Id be inclined to not argue my opinion 😉 lol

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Great stuff guys.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

About 2 minutes in you show an original design sketch on vellum. Do you have by any chance the source information in that sketch? Did you acquire a copy or a jpg? I would really like to get one for my collection.

[@liammeech3702]

Did the MkI see any combat use?

[@LukeD-k7e]

I think it stood for England but with the success of the bren, one of the best LMGs of WW2 (miracle they got it to worked with rimmed .303 cordite so reliably and a 30 round mag) it made this cheap, sharp and uncomfortable SMG sound better, by the folding forgrip you can see it was designed to have one as holdong the mag caused jams and no room on the shroud. Invested a tiny bit more into cheap wood or bakelite for real furniture and adjustable sights, I don't blame them going with single feed mags or an open base ot as most would take German MP38/40 mags. Since they could have produced any caliber they wanted, for not much extra they could have made a SMG that fired on a closed bolt with a double stack double feed mag, that and good furniture with sights and chambered in 7.63x25 Mauser would have gave it alot more range and accuracy but double the cost. Still I think they should have went with a folding stock and a double feed mag for 1 pound extra. The sterling was very reliable and it still has one of the most reliable SMG mags ever made, it's easy to develop an open bolt SMG but a reliable magazine is much harder.

[@oklahomaman7632]

Always thought EN=Enfield, appears I've always been wrong. lol btw, I've always loved STENs!

[@tomsmith2209]

I've always hard it stood for Enfield. It would be patriotic if it stood for England (unless you happen to be NI, Scottish or Welsh). The name is less important than the firearm itself as we desperately needed it at the time, but still it's good to learn something new even after all this time. Every day's a school day, thanks.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching Matthew, glad you found it interesting!

[@shamfilmpresents6309]

England

[@roboosh]

always thought it was from Enfield. original built using gas pipe.. (hope thats right..)

[@roboosh]

Cheshunt... WAYHAY..

[@TheArmourersBench]

Local man Rob?

[@debbienorris2867]

The great thing about the sten is that its basically an ikea gun, any schmuck with a couple of tools could build one

[@philstothard8333]

@@cuchidesoto2686 Dangerous to Germans for sure , and junk that kills and is on hand beats the best weapon that you cant have until next week .

[@andysanger7723]

Enfield

[@indigohammer5732]

It's Enfield. They gladly took credit where none was due. An example of this was the ROF ripping off Webley's MKIV .38. It would also suit the naming of other "EN" weapons, BREN, POLSTEN, RARDEN etc. My father used a MK2 & MK£ in Cyprus in the '50's. Hated it! A nasty, dangerous weapon. I'm still surprised it even got to a MK3. The proverbial polishing a turd. Thanks.

[@rubennasser6907]

Great video! Thanks.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Very glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.