Quarterbore.Net Forums

WhisperFan · #1 09-26-2007, 12:43 PM

I just got an order in from Tactical Innovations of STEN mags. When bought in quantity they are just 3.49 each. I got 25 and I found that about 5 of them are such that I will save them for spare parts (or refinish them) 5 are in really nice shape, and the other 15 are 'pretty nice'.

While I was cleaning the cosmoline off, I found my mind drifting, as it often does as I get older. I wondered if the mag in my hands was used by some Canadian or Brit in WWII to defend a postion, or on a raid. I wished the mags could talk to me ..... but I digress -

One thing I did find was that many were stamped in a variety of ways. One of the most interesting one to me was marked "CAL 9" and under that was "D.R.P. SCHMEISSER" Did the Germans ever make a STEN or STEN copy? BTW - this mag was one of the nicest of the bunch. It looked too new to be WWII surplus.

Is there is website that shows the different variations of STEN mags that anyone knows about?

ShuckersFan · #2 09-27-2007, 11:04 PM

I think you have an MP-28, MP-34, or an MP-40 magazine there. If so, it's probably worth more then the other 24 combined. Try looking on the net for mags for those guns and see if the pics are the same as what you have.

WhisperFan · #3 09-28-2007, 10:03 PM

This is a photo of the mag I got with the Sten mags.

It is in really great shape to be as old as it is.

WhisperFan · #4 09-28-2007, 10:05 PM

And these are some of the other ones ........

amafrank · #5 01-06-2008, 11:09 PM

That is indeed an MP28 mag. The germans didn't copy the sten mag it was actually the other way around. The limeys copied the MP28 (without paying for or receiving any sort of license) and they also copied the mags for the Lanchester submachinegun. The sten was a simplification of the lanchester program which was too complex and expensive. The mags were carried on from the lanchester to the sten and thats why the MP28 mags look so much like them. MP28 mags are not too common and if that one is nice its probably worth enough to cover more than your costs on the sten mags. Prices run anywhere from $50 to $100 per mag depending on condition and whether there are any sten mag parts inside...

Good find.

Frank