Sten MkII - finish?

[m3bobby]

E & Co only made that component, the gun would have been assembled at one of the ROFs and the serial would help pin that down. No STENs left the factory with paint except the mk5 guns, these used the then new process of phosphating with an oil based paint too coat (suncorite). Any other STEN would have left the factory with a browned finish. The bodies could later be repaired by painting but this was stipulated by EMER.

[m3bobby]

And to add, the gun looks to be post mid 42 assembled as it has the clip on trigger housing cover.