Sten Gun Pouches

[Gary Jucha]

A question concerning the rarity of Sten Gun pouches ..

I have been offered a matching pair of Me.Co 1941 sten gun pouches.
They are the type that look like the standard P37 grenadge pouches but are slightly longer, and have the seperate "three hole" section for the sten gun magazines ..

How rare are the items, and would is the current going rate for a matched pair ?

Regards

Gary J.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Gary, they are fairly hard to find nowadays. I have not got a clue on prices today. My came from a junk stall at a vintage vehicle rally many years ago. I think I paid £5 for 5.


Cheers, Ade.

[lnijherald]

Gary,

Aren't these the same as the Lanchaster SMG pouches we discussed earlier on this forum?

Luc

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Luc, Lanchester pouches are much longer


Cheers, Ade.

[lnijherald]

Thanks Ade,

I don't believe I ever saw these before.

Luc

[Viktor]

Sten gun pouches can be cut down Lanchester Pouches, 30 round mag v a 50 round stick mag, also one of the Lanchester pouchs has a small pocket on the front of it to take a reloading tool.

[Jurryt]

I have those Lancaster pouches as well (stengun (Mk1) pouches, 1942) These are quite rare, you barely see those. I've bought them for only 30 euro's!! (40 dollar, 17 pound, or something like that) very cheap and in great condition. If you make a complet stengunner, I would suggest to buy such lancaster pouches.

Here's a photo of my pouches:

[Jurryt]

Sten gun pouches can be cut down Lanchester Pouches, 30 round mag v a 50 round stick mag, also one of the Lanchester pouchs has a small pocket on the front of it to take a reloading tool.

No, not every lanchester pouch had a small pocket on the front, here's a photo withouth small pocket (These are rare, as far as I know)

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is one of my Sten ammo pouches. These are converted from standard ammo pouches into three pocket magazine pouches. They are dated 1941 if I recall correctly?

Cheers, Ade.

[Jurryt]

Never saw small stengun pouches before. I prefer the long version.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Jurry, there is not such thing as the "long version". Your pouches are for the Lanchester. These 50 round mags and pouches were not issued with the Sten gun. They are incorrectly listed in one book as being so.

The Lanchester SMG was only issued to the RN and RAF, not the Army.

On your display I would change one of the pouches to one without the magazine loading pouch as these were issued in pairs. No one would carry two loaders


Cheers, Ade.

[lnijherald]

Hi Jurryt,

Welcome aboard!
The small pocket will hold the loading tool, so it would be a little more acurate I believe to have just one of such pouches per person on display.
Cheers, Luc

[Jurryt]

I never knew that (RN thing) Doesn't the commando's wear such pouches as well? Or the Airborne? If I'm right a saw 1 (original) photo of a British Infantry man with these pouches. I don't know where I saw it....

You've said that those pouches wasn't called "stengun" pouches, but why do many people say it is called like that? And do you have some photo's with soldiers wearing this part of equipment?

If those pouches were only wearing by the Royal Navy, then I think I'm going to sell/trade them....

/EDIT: And what about the Airborne? Did they used it too?
//EDIT:

Produced in UK mostly for NAVY.

///EDIT:

[Viktor]

I never knew that (RN thing) Doesn't the commando's wear such pouches as well? Or the Airborne? If I'm right a saw 1 (original) photo of a British Infantry man with these pouches. I don't know where I saw it....

You've said that those pouches wasn't called "stengun" pouches, but why do many people say it is called like that? And do you have some photo's with soldiers wearing this part of equipment?

If those pouches were only wearing by the Royal Navy, then I think I'm going to sell/trade them....

/EDIT: And what about the Airborne? Did they used it too?


//EDIT:




///EDIT:

The Commandos used a lot of non standard gear in regard to army scale of issue, Vickers K LMG for example, so using a Naval issue SMG is very likely in the early days .
The Paratroopers are more likely to follow army scales of issue, sten pouches were issued as Normal Bren pouches are a bit short for easy carrying of sten mags, but they can do it if necessary.

[Jurryt]

So Paratroopers MIGHT have wearing those pouches, the Commando's did, the RN did. But you all sure that the British infantry did not? No exceptions?

If someone here has photo's of soldiers with those pouches, then please post them.