STEN wooden foregrip

[skoda]

My latest project. There's no really good way to hold a STEN in front. The barrel nut is small, the magazine housing is poor and can affect functioning. A MkV front grip is decent but can cause the barrel nut to turn so I took a piece of wood and with my milling machine made a 'Thompson-esque' horizontal front grip. I welded a nut to the bottom of the magazine housing. It's from a Winchester Model 70 . I used that because it's longer and looks better than a regular nut. I also use the two cover screws on the side so I have three points of attachment which is very solid. Because the receiver tube is 1.5" OD and the housing is over that it makes for a wide grip at about 2" but it's still comfortable and easier to hold than the other ways.

I also have a self made suppressor. I have a repro horse hair and canvas cover for it but that obscures the front sight picture. With this grip I have a clear view of the sight.

It looks a bit chunky but I'm liking it. Yet another fun project for my STEN. This gun has given me more pleasure just from doing things to make it better and different. I just need to find 10-32 side screws that don't have Phillips heads.

 

[strobro32]

Nice.

 

[KickStand]

Not bad.
Seems like you’re the only guy doing Sten stuff.

 

[ericthered]

That looks pretty good! I like how much you were able to get the wood to match! What was your wood treatment?

 

[skoda]

That looks pretty good! I like how much you were able to get the wood to match! What was your wood treatment?

The wood is European beech that I had laying around. It's a fine and tight grain, for the most part, and it machined really well. But it's fairly blonde in color. To get the redish color I watered down some Fiebing's dark brown leather dye with alcohol and applied that. To get the darkness I used some weird stuff that I got out of Finland. It's actually some kind of 'tree bark syrup' that is used on horse hoofs. It's mentioned as a stock stain on the Finnish Mosin Nagant forum at Gunboards. It doesn't penetrate the wood so much like stain or the leather dye does so I expect it to moderate and get a little bit of sheen like the butt stock over time and handling. I'm sure that something else would probably be better but I like to used what I have on hand if possible.

 

[skoda]

Not bad.
Seems like you’re the only guy doing Sten stuff.

I'm pretty much out of ideas at this point. It's been fun.

I don't want to do anything that affects the registered tube and I'm not interested in making it more modern with things like red dots or Picatinny rails. Maybe I'll move onto my MACs.

 

[StenAtopia]

My latest project. There's no really good way to hold a STEN in front. The barrel nut is small, the magazine housing is poor and can affect functioning. A MkV front grip is decent but can cause the barrel nut to turn so I took a piece of wood and with my milling machine made a 'Thompson-esque' horizontal front grip. I welded a nut to the bottom of the magazine housing. It's from a Winchester Model 70 . I used that because it's longer and looks better than a regular nut. I also use the two cover screws on the side so I have three points of attachment which is very solid. Because the receiver tube is 1.5" OD and the housing is over that it makes for a wide grip at about 2" but it's still comfortable and easier to hold than the other ways.

I also have a self made suppressor. I have a repro horse hair and canvas cover for it but that obscures the front sight picture. With this grip I have a clear view of the sight.

It looks a bit chunky but I'm liking it. Yet another fun project for my STEN. This gun has given me more pleasure just from doing things to make it better and different. I just need to find 10-32 side screws that don't have Phillips heads.

View attachment 40664View attachment 40665

Came out fantastic!!!

 

[StenAtopia]

Not bad.
Seems like you’re the only guy doing Sten stuff.

Yes he is, he does a fantastic job!

 

[saxon]

looking good

 

[ericthered]

The wood is European beech that I had laying around. It's a fine and tight grain, for the most part, and it machined really well. But it's fairly blonde in color. To get the redish color I watered down some Fiebing's dark brown leather dye with alcohol and applied that. To get the darkness I used some weird stuff that I got out of Finland. It's actually some kind of 'tree bark syrup' that is used on horse hoofs. It's mentioned as a stock stain on the Finnish Mosin Nagant forum at Gunboards. It doesn't penetrate the wood so much like stain or the leather dye does so I expect it to moderate and get a little bit of sheen like the butt stock over time and handling. I'm sure that something else would probably be better but I like to used what I have on hand of possible.

Very cool! I have used coffee grounds and oil to get a dark tone before. Looks like the hoof dressing is available to me locally. Might give that a shot. I really like wood on guns, so much classier then plastic. And I like your square edges, as it fits with the whole sten design

 

[skoda]

Yes he is, he does a fantastic job!

Thank you. I like to share what I do if only to give others ideas and encouragement to do their own. I have gotten a lot out of doing these modifications. I know you made the wooden butt stock that I did. I was happy to see that.

 

[skoda]

Very cool! I have used coffee grounds and oil to get a dark tone before. Looks like the hoof dressing is available to me locally. Might give that a shot. I really like wood on guns, so much classier then plastic. And I like your square edges, as it fits with the whole sten design

I tried to keep the look to something from that period. I considered other shapes but didn't come up with anything better. I considered the STEN Mk1 wooden forearm with the folding vertical grip but I didn't like it. Since the British also used Thompsons they would have been familiar with that style of forearm.

 

[brenbuilds]

Very cool. Reminiscent of the Mk. I