Sten Guns and M3's

[airbolt]

Of the " utility " sub machine Guns the Allies used , which one had the poorest reputation among users?

I'm thinking of the British Sten and the US M3 " GreaseGun "

I know from my late father that the Sten used to fire if dropped.

[greenrook]

I was only ever issued with the Mk 3 Sten, and they tended to vary in reliability, the design being so basic. I used the same weapon for over 2 years and never had a magazine stoppage. My sergeant at the time told me to underload the magazine to give the spring a better chance and he also impressed on me the need to keep the gun scrupulously clean and if possible keep it covered when not in use, since the machining left bloody great gaps everywhere for muck to get in. The sights were crap too, not zeroed-in or anything, but you got used to your particular gun and developed a sort of 'feel', so after a time you could pretty well put your rounds where you wanted them to go. Accidental discharges we used to hear about all the time, especially if you dropped your Sten. A pal of mine was in Kenya during the Mau Mau uproar, and told me he was in the back of a 15 cwt and dying for a pee so yelled to the driver to stop. When he did, my mate jumped out and ran over to a tree, fished out his old man and dropped his Sten butt first on the ground, still holding the barrel shroud. He reckons a round tore through his shirt and flattened his cap badge. He used to flash the badge round as 'proof' but he was always a lying sod.

[greenrook]

Sorry, all that rambling didn't answer your question, did it? The Sten was cursed and derided by my mob, but held in some affection, I think.

[MustafaTickl]

During my time you could easily tell if somebody had been in prolonged action with a Sten if the top of his left hand little finger was missing. The guard was so tiny that often this bit of finger popped into the breech and was shot away.

[airbolt]

Thanks for your answers. It sounds like the Sten had to be handled with care.

[chadad]

The original stens were manufactured at three for a quid.
Does that answer your question?
chadad.