Favorite WWII SMG

4

4V50

Retired Screen Name
As a kid who grew up going to 50 cent Saturday cinemas, I loved westerns and war movies. Back then, I wanted a MP-38 to play with. With the folding stock, barrel nut which gracefully tapered to its deadly barrel and long magazine which always used as a foregrip, they were always the coolest and best looking guns a soldier could carry. I also liked the business appearance of the Sten MK II. Depicted on the silver screen, they were easy to handle and looked sinister because of the side feeding magazine. But between the two, it was always the MP-38 which caught my heart.

I'm sure you guys had your favorite as kids. What gun was yours and why?
 
Sten. I liked the sinister side mag. It was also frequently used with modifications in Sci-Fi movies and TV shows, most notably Star Wars.

I don't have one though.
 
Amend that last comment of mine....just noticed we're talking SMG's.

Was I too old when John Wayne introduced us to the Mac-10 in McHue(sp)?
Rich
 
You can never be too old (or young) for a John Wayne movie. McQ was a good flick. Nice Trans Am also.
 
The Storm Trooper weapons used in Star Wars was based on the Sterling smg. I've an acquaintence who is a police Lt.. As a collector of movie props, he contacted the fellow who made the guns. Since he's acquired a dummy Sterling, I'm now in the market for two S&W pistol hammers for him. Forgot what type of AA sight was used on it. I'll take Hans Solo's Broomhandle Mauser instead.
 
The Stirling was an updated STEN, designed by the same guy. The Sterling is also still used.
The Sterling has my vote for favorite WWII SMGs. I still want one, after many a 2:30AM episode of Rat Patrol!
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Didn't know a handgrenade could take out a PANZER!

I am also a big fan of Movie Guns... If you guys have a spare M-41A (Aliens) let me know
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Kodiak,

Per the Lieutenant, that gun in Aliens costs about $4k to build and only 14 were built for the movie. The fellow I've mentioned earlier is also having the M41 built and figures it as an investment. Anyway, Aliens' M41 is a composite of the Thompson (85% completed receiver), Rem 870 (deactivated) and the Franchi Spas. Only two of the guns seen in the movie could actually fire. The prop man building it is suppose to be ex-SFPD; so they do have something to brag about besides Dirty Harry. If you're really interested, I'll get the name for you.

Uhh, have we strayed from Kirby's BAR?

You're right in that the Sterling SMG was influenced by the Sten. Sterlings shared the same receiver tube (different cut outs of course), cocking handle angle and early Sterlings even used Sten mags and modified Sten bolt carriers. The Sten was developed by R. Shepard & H. Turpin and their design influenced Patchett who developed the Sterling.

4V50

[This message has been edited by 4V50 Gary (edited 11-02-98).]
 
YES! PLEASE!
I have found a place on the internet that sells a prop replica - be the thing is a solid resin cast. No I dont want to pay 400 bucks for a "Rubber Ducky" NEXT!

My goal is to get a "PARTS KIT" That would allow me to "Dress up" a semi auto Thompson... and keep it shootable.
Heck of a thing to take to the local range Eh? I dont care about a functioning underbarreled device... But the rest... heck - I'ld have to get back into LE just for the chance to clear buildings with it... just for fun
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Amazing that the M1A1 Thompson only got 1 vote. I personally like the earlier M1928A1 with the ineffectual Blish lock, milled adjustable sight and ambidextrious cocking handle.

Kodiac, check your email.

Gary
 
4V50,

Please confirm and/or refresh my fading memory. Wasn't the blish lock modifed in the '28 to interact with a cyclic rate reducer? I seem to recall the earlier 23/24 versions had a much higher cyclic rate and were favored for use with L & C drum. Unfortunately there were fragilities in the works...
 
Hey guys, ever here of the OWEN gun ? The Aussie version of your much sought after Sten. Drop it in mud/sand etc & it still came out firin'..The Twin Lewis gun on S.A.S Willys jeeps gets a special 2 thumbs up from me. Afterall, what's better than 1 gun ?...TWO firing together !!...grin... :)
















[This message has been edited by HS (edited 12-12-98).]
 
Gadfry!! You guys are really playing rock and roll trivia aren't you? The so-called 'Blish effect' was supposed to be caused by the friction between opposed wedges of dissimilar metals; steel and brass as I recall.

It really had no effect, and was eliminated on the M1 version.

I believe the cyclic rate reduction in the M1928 was achieved by some method other than the blish effect, but the actual details escape me. American Rifleman had an article on Thompsons about 5 years ago. Walt
 
Owen Austen? Wasn't that the lead in recent belch & grin movie about another stumble-bum secret agent in the late '60s? err or somthin similar?

[This message has been edited by Mykl (edited 12-13-98).]
 
Leave it to an Aussie to mention an Aussie smg. Welcome HS2000.

The Austen resembled a very refined Sten and internally was based on the MP38 & MP40. The Owen appears rather awkward with its top feeding magazine. I know that the Owen gave the Patchett a run for the money and ultimately it was adopted by the Australian Army.

Gary
 
Gary, and it kicked serious Jap butt in New Guinea and surrounding islands in WWII!..Fal 308 - the Owen was much like the Sten but had the mag inserted on top of the reciever offset on the l/h side so you could still see the sights, just to be difficult I suppose ! Maybe the design was for JUNGLE warfare - think about it...having the mag on TOP would be a lot better for the theatre we were operating in ! Versions did have the NICE finger foregrip handle like the earlier Thompson did.
So WE stole a few designs and IMPROVED them - Aussie inventiveness...grin ;)
 
hehheee I might be (? ;) ) repeating myself but Suomi M-31 again...

One can read the reasons in
here:
http://home.sprynet.com/interserv/tazio/7dSuomu.htm

Given the necessary patience to go thru the whole article.
 
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