What is the difference between the sterling And the sten ?

[banksy]

Is the sterling a post war sten ?

Kind regards
Alex

[lithgow]

No-the Patchett as the Stirling was originally named is a new design, developed during the war-pre production batches were used by the Paras at Arnhem in 1944 but due to the large numbers of Stens available it was some time after the war before the Stirling was adopted as replacement SMG by the British army and then the Imperial Stormtroopers (as seen in 'Starwars' in 1977).

[m3bobby]

The Sterling (Not Stirling) is a much better SMG than the STEN, there are many varients and 2 major manufacturers. The Police were issued a semi only version called the Police carbine and these are so marked. The Sterling made guns had a crinkle paint finish whereas the British issue guns were finished in Suncorite.

[ian]

the mane diferences are external
the internal diference is the triger mech
the sterling is selective fire and very complicated compared to the sten
also the barrel of the sterling is held in place by 2 allen bolts
not by a barrel screw as with the sten
a new re assertion design of spring all so was fitted
the bolt is asentualy the same
extractor allso prety much th same
trigger mech and pistol grip were moved to about half way down the body
a folding stock was fitted
allso the triger mech has its own safety
which the sten didnt have


as lithgow has stated its esntualy a diferent firearm
with very little actualy in comen ,other than mabe the bolt

i do hope ive answered your initial questions
cheers ian
sorted

[Panzer 3]

Hi,
Love the old Sterling SMG, great for house clearence ect, but you still couldnt drop it or you would have to learn to dance fast.lol.

[ian]

9 years of using the sterling
ive never ever seen that problem
the trigger mech would not allow that to happen
even off safe it could not fire a round by droping i
the sten yes ,, but not the sterling

[ian]

the bolts return point to triger lock is less than 1/10" from picking up a round from the mag
the sten is 1/4" with no triger lock ??
allso with the better design of reasertion spring
bang it on the but on the ground
i assure you the bolt will only move 1/2" at best
it has to move a min of 4.1/2 " to even think about picing up a round from the mag

[ian]

every soldier who ever used a sterling will tel you ,,it never stops (unless your using cheep indian 9mm)
its great in the jungle
it requires minimum maintanence
does not nead oil
will fire even after being under water
sa80 short carbine for tank crews
give us back our smg,s

[davejb]

Fired about a dozen Sterlings on a range in Germany all day long, must have put a few thousand rounds through them, not one stoppage or problem with any of them, marvelous smg

[ian]

one last coment here
i assure you bang a sterling on the ground ,but first ,or anyway you choose
it will never miss load or miss fire a round let alone multipal rounds
the trigger mech sees to that
it will only fire if you plull the triger
if your not daft inof to have the safety on
YES i know i was that soldier