🚀 go-pugleaf

Matt:

I will start out stating I am a class 01 and 02 dealer and rather familiar
with California and Federal law so you may wish to consider the following in
this context:

1. In California the concept of owning a title 2 or select fire weapon is
more restrictive than people imagine. Unless you are a movie studio and the
weapon has been chambered for a unique 8 mm blank cartidge, it will never
happen. There is a fee payable to the federal government if you wish to
pursue this venture of $2,000 as a firearms manufacturer (even for one of a
kind). Second there are the fees payable to the State whcih with a good
attorney to argue your need or case, will run another $3500 if in fact the
state will issue the permit. These costs are known to be representative due
to acquaintance with the prop studio that furnished firearms for the movie
Saving Private Ryan.

2. The bonded tubes used to construct a sten are with a bonded template,
drawn over a mandrel (dom) are preferred as it creates a perfectly round
tube. The bonded template provides a pattern for a milling machine to follow
to make the proper cuts into the tube for the ejector pin, bolt activation
knob channel , ejection port and fire control components from the lower
receiver. The possession of the tube, even though it has not been machined
and possession of a parts kit to assemble a select fire automatic is a
felony under state law. The ads you see in the shotgun news or gun list
offering these tubes in many cases are federal sting operations now that the
originators are for the most part out of business.

3. a Semi-automatic sten cannot be registered nor legally imported into the
state of California due to the assault rifle ban of 1991 and 2000. I saw a
semi-automatic sten in Nevada and while nicely made did not justify the $800
price tag. It was a closed bolt and none of the automatic fire control
components would operate in the pattern I was shown.

4. The welding that is required is for the barrel block that is used to
screw on the barrel. Best to MIG weld the tube to make it secure.  Currently
the part is salvaged if possible from the full auto parts kits, in most
cases it is trashed due to federal law governing automatic weapons under 27
CFR of the National Register.

You posed a valid question Matt, but leave it there, do not pursue it as it
only spells trouble especially in the anti-gun fever that prevails in
Sacramento.

Hope this helps

Bear


"Matt Karls" <karls@karlsnet.com> wrote in message
news:3A90CBED.9CFD45A9@karlsnet.com...
> Gunners,
>
>     I have spent the last few days reading about Stens and the different
> part kits for Stens.  I realize that the Sten is a select fire SMG (with
> a short barrel too), and thus makes it illegal to re-manufacture today
> in its original form.
>     But I was curious about some of these semi-automatic version Stens.
> Is this because of some special receiver or can the sear, and other
> parts be modified to make a Sten semi-auto (but how would you acquire a
> legal reciever then?).
>     I see all over Blank Receiver Tubes (some with bonded templates) and
> 80% Receivers, what are these (Receivers 80% finished), what is the
> difference?
>     Also I realize that the Sten is cheap, and easy to make, but if I
> wanted to make a non working Sten (or if I can make a legal working
> one), how much welding (or what) is involved?
>     Wouldn't the Sten be legal with a pistol grip (I have seen some to
> replace the T or skeleton buttstock) and the 7.5 inch barrel as a pistol
> (if you could make it operate in semi-auto only)?
>     Sorry I have a lot of questions about Stens, they seem to be very
> interesting (even if I can never own more than a bunch of parts and a
> blank receiver I'd still like to know as much about them as possible),
> any one recommend any good books (making, design, legality) about the
> Sten?  Thanks all.
>
> Matt Karls
> NRA Life Member
>