Sten Mk III
Lines Brothers Ltd. (Triang Toys) · Submachine Gun · Out Of Production · 1943
Also known as: Carbine, Machine, Sten Mk III, Sten Mark III
Overview
The Sten Mk III was a wartime-simplified variant of the Sten submachine gun, designed for cheaper and faster mass production than the Mk II. Its receiver and barrel shroud were formed from a single piece of welded sheet-steel tube, and the magazine housing was fixed (non-removable). The Mk III used 48 parts compared to the Mk II's 69, and Lines Brothers' Merton Works in south-west London produced over 876,000 units between 1942 and 1943, peaking at 70,000 guns per month.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3200 g (112.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Barrel Length | 196 mm (7.72") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 366 m/s (1201 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 499 J (368 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Locking Notch
- Features: Single Piece Sheet Steel Receiver, Fixed Magazine Housing, Side Mounted Magazine, Skeleton Stock, Finger Guard, Open Bolt Operation, Selective Fire
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1943 · as Carbine, Machine, Sten Mk III
- British Home Guard · adopted 1943
- Special Operations Executive · adopted 1943
- French Resistance · adopted 1943
- Polish Home Army · adopted 1943
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 876,886 · Production years: 1942-1943
Manufactured almost exclusively by Lines Brothers Ltd. (Triang Toys) at the Merton Works in south-west London, peaking at 70,000 units per month
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Walter Lines
Discontinued: 1943
Notes
The Mk III's fixed barrel and magazine housing improved reliability but eliminated the Mk II's quick-change features. Production ended in 1943 because the simpler Mk II remained adequate and the British Army shifted resources to other priorities.
Background
Lines Brothers, better known as Triang Toys, were Britain's largest toy manufacturer before the war. When converted to munitions production, the same machines that had stamped out tin soldiers, dolls' prams and pedal cars churned out hundreds of thousands of Sten guns for the Allied war effort.