Airsoft Sten MkIII

I’ve both seen and built quite a lot of different models of Stens. From the original Sten MkI, to the obscure Sten MkIV and the frankly weird Cornershot Mk5 I’ve built a few.

One thing I have never seen is an airsoft Sten MkIII: These were quite common in the Northern Europe campaign and were as simple as British-built Stens ever got. With the exception of the trigger group, bolt and barrel parts, these were entirely stamped steel; making them ideal for mass-production, though presented some difficulty in reproducing in my workshop as a result.

The base parts for this build came from an AGM Sten MkII, the gearbox and modified hop unit.

Inside the receiver the hop unit had to be turned down on the lathe to fit the narrower tube.

The top bar on the original, which holds the foresight, is a seam which is spot welded. On this build this is a separate part welded onto the tube as this is far easier to make without a press-brake.

The receiver has been made from 40mm ERW tube, I milled out the feed port, ejection port and operating handle slot. I used the original lower reciever and buttstock as these were pretty suitable already.

The back-cap is a modified MkII cap. I ground it down to give it the rounded look of the stamped piece and moved the rear sight to the front of it. I have fitted it with a flat locking screw to replicate the button on the real thing.

Finally, I made the front barrel bushing and cocking handle on the lathe and oil finished the other steel parts. I left most of the welds quite rough-looking to try and carry over the overall feel of the originals.

 

If you are interested in this build you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy VA products on the website where this will be available.

Sten Mk5: Folding stock experimental model

On a Facebook group a few months ago, someone shared a picture of something I had never seen before. As time has gone by, it has become rare for this to happen to me in the world of firearms.

Yes, that is a Sten Mk5. Yes he is shooting it around a corner using a folding stock.

Although it’s not really practical for airsoft, where shooting without looking (blind fire) is a banned practice, it was such a distinctive and interesting idea it had to happen. This is what a Cornershot carbine looks like in the late 1940s.

At first glance, it looks like a standard Sten Mk5. I turned down the barrel to make it slimmer and more shaped like the original.

From the side, you can see the slightly longer joint for the buttstock.

The wood pattern is pretty much identical.

The swivel function is controlled with the silver button. This is depressed, the stock is swivelled 90º one way or another and the spring-loaded button locks into place. At the same time, the foregrip is loosened with the thumbscrew, moved into place and tightened down. This is one area where I have deviated from the original which used a hex nut: carrying a spanner around in the field wouldn’t be practical.

You will notice that there is no prism sight on this. I looked into getting a pentaprism as used by the original, but the cost would have nigh-on tripled the price of the build.

To round off: a couple of views of it folded different ways.

 

So far as I can tell these were never properly trialled beyond the one prototype. I imagine that managing recoil and maintaining a sight picture would have been tricky, the prism would have been expensive and limited the soldier’s field of view.

If any reader has any information on these carbines, better quality original photos or recognises the magazine the snippets above have been taken from I would be very much obliged if you would get in touch on the email below.

If you are interested in this build you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy VA products on the website where this will be available. 

Vintage Airsoft Update April 2019

It’s been an intense few years, Vintage Airsoft has been growing bit by bit, step by step.

As many of my long-term followers no doubt know, last year was a long and arduous one for me personally, causing me to struggle with keeping on top of orders. In spite of that I managed to dispatch more items than every before, develop a number of new products and produce a number of custom builds.

I am now, finally, in my own premises. These are the biggest I have had so far and being my own I can really organise them as I would like. This means I am starting to build up quantities of stock on some products and components which will in due course help to speed up dispatch.

 

I have also started stocking BBs from The Draft Club. This British based company makes lovely BBs, the heavier weights are what I use in my rifles and I highly recommend them.

 

You can find them on the WEBSITE! I’ve had this a couple of months but haven’t promoted it while I find my way around. If you want to support Vintage Airsoft then this is the place to buy as I pay the lowest fees here.

 

This year I’ll be making changes to the way I take orders for custom builds, reducing the number I take on so that I can undertake strict testing of new designs before release. 

I would like to thank my wonderful customers for their patience through the rather messy and prolonged move.

Dom

The DeLisle Commando Carbine: Complete

This project is one I’ve been wanting to do since forever and the outcome is very satisfying.

This VSR based carbine should be a very nice balance of practical and handsome. The receiver has been left quite plain, at some point I would like to do another with the receiver all milled out like the original. This will have to wait for now as it will require extensive modifications to make it secure.

As you can see, the bolt handle has been dropped down around the right location. The bolt back cap on this one has been 3D printed, but I am likely going to replace this with a milled one for strength and durability.

The foresight, which is adjustable for windage to a limited extent.

The 3D printed front cap. You can also see the barrel poking out. Although I could have made it shorter than this, it would have ended up being incredibly short and every millimetre helps with a barrel of this length.

The rear sight, adjustable for elevation. The hop adjustment is under this, a TDC screw modification.

The faux magazine is 3D printed and quite solid. If this model proves popular I may make it in black hard rubber instead. 

The buttplate is a rubber cast, as originals are getting prohibitively rare and expensive.

Finally a quick bottom view, the VSR magazine well in the foregrip and cut out re-enforcing band. The grain on these bits of wood are particularly lovely and you can see them in this picture.

 

If you are interested in this build you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

 

Australian SMLE Carbine VSR

When I saw this pattern of experimental SMLE on Forgotten Weapons (see the video here) I knew I just had to make one. I used this as an opportunity to try out some of my new techniques for SMLE builds.

This carbine was conceived as a way to make the SMLE shorter and lighter, the project being run in parallel with similar programmes in Ishapore (India) and Enfield (GB), the latter of which used the No.4 as the starting point and resulted in the No.5 MkI.

This is an impression of the first shortened Australian pattern. In time I hope to replicate quite a few of the others.

It is, in essence, just a short SMLE. The only real effort to make the rifle lighter at this stage was in shortening the barrel and woodwork.

This does however make for a very handy rifle!

This was one of my first rifles to use my rubber cast buttplates. The originals used metal plates, I use rubber simply because metal plates are very hard to get presently.

Possibly the best feature of this conversion is the use of this rear-mounted aperture sight. On the original rifle, this had two settings for range, on mine I have gone for a simple zeroing elevation adjustment. 

Having used this rifle in-game I can say confidently that this is an excellent sight, far superior to a regular SMLE notch. The narrower aperture is in my opinion better than the No.4 sight, at least in daylight.

As with the original, I have put a large draft on the front of the aperture to gather the maximum light possible.

As with my other Enfield builds, I have used my custom Enfield trigger.

 

I got to use this in-game in October. The shorter, lighter version of the SMLE make this extremely handy on its own, add in the rear aperture and it’s extremely quick to bring to bear as well. As an airsoft version, I can’t comment on how comfortable it would be to shoot the original, but I suspect it would be rather brutal on recoil and have a rather blinding flash.

Although this was never adopted, I’m glad to have made my own version and can confirm it is going to a very good home.

If you like this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

Don’t forget you can buy many of our complete products via The website.

 

MP28: New 2018 Pattern

A while ago I finished the first of a new pattern of MP28. There are a few differences between this and the previous versions.

Firstly, I have used a new hung-back trigger, which reproduces the trigger location more realistically than previous versions. The stock wrist is also slightly thicker to allow a wire to run to a battery compartment in the stock.

I have formalised the battery compartment cover, accessed by loosening one screw and levering up the cover.

The rear sight is now a simpler, non-windage-adjustable pattern. Elevation is still adjustable via the sight leaf.

The magazine well is an all new pattern. This allows me to produce a more accurate magazine well and adds in details I couldn’t possibly do by hand. I think all will agree that these markings really do look the part and really add to the replica.

The new buttplate pattern, slightly slimmer than its predecessor.

 

If you are interested in the history or would like to see the first build you can find them here.

If you like this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

Don’t forget you can buy many of our complete products via The website.

 

Enfield No.4 VSR: Complete

Some heads up on this No.4 in the aim of full disclosure!

Firstly, this is a custom build for Sniper Mechanic, using one of his base rifles. As a result the trigger group and internals are different to the standard. As he is a sniper chiefly, the way I have mounted the scope is different to the way I would do for a British WWII/Cold War Airsofter with the focus on stability rather than authenticity. I have also performed a minor heresy in producing shall we say… a non-standard accessory for it (more of that later).

Although in due course I hope to produce a No.32 scope mount that is both authentic and very stable it will require more work (though for the record the one I have made previously is fine, just not as stable as I would like for a high-powered sniper rifle). Watch this space for more news on that.

The Rifle

Right side.

Left side

The buttplate, a rubber cast copy as originals are becoming very difficult to source.

The foresight and muzzle. Dimensioned to take accessories. Note the original front band.

Top view of the receiver: from here you can see the hop-up adjustment screw in the top handguard. You can also see some of the modifications I have made to the receiver to fit the scope. As this is an older designed receiver I have used some Polymorph to add material to the structure.

The VSR magazine well. This is the newer MkII version.

Scoped

This replica uses my No.32 scope option. Although I tried using modern pattern scopes, alas they just don’t look right on Enfields. The No.32 scope is a very distinctive shape, which really changes the silhouette when mounted.

Side view showing the more modern scope mounts. As you can see, with these mounts it is necessary to fold the rear sight back to fit them.

Rear view.

 

Spike Bayonet

Although I have shared pictures before, I thought it would be nice to share a picture of it mounted on the rifle.

 

Suppressor

And finally, the heresy. Dan (Sniper Mechanic) wanted a way to mount a suppressor. I at first thought about making a screw mount adaptor, but this custom suppressor suits the rifle rather well, attaches to the bayonet lugs and keeps the tube out the way of this sights.

Front view.

Keeping the suppressor off-centre from the barrel means it is quite nicely in line with the rest of the rifle.

To remove it, it has the same system as the bayonet catch.

Pushing the button in allows it to be twisted and pulled off.

 

If you like this build you can see other complete projects here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

 

New pattern K98k and K98k scoped

Most of the previous model of VSR K98k has been carried over to the new design, the only major change is the magazine well.

But I never pass up the opportunity to share more pictures of pretty pewsticks.

 

The rear sight unit and, concealed beneath the leaf, the hop adjustment grub screw for the TDC.

The 3D printed foresight block and oil-finished barrel.

The new VSR magazine well (MkII, printed) is far neater and more intuitive to use than its predecessor.

Sniper Variant

Loosely based on the ZF39 mounted rifles, this was an inexpensive workaround to buying and fitting an original or repro scope and mounting system. While that is something I would like to do, this is good for the player who wants to snipe in style on a bit more of a budget.

The sight hood is included with the standard K98ks as well, but suits the scoped rifles particularly well.

The scope mounts have been modified to look slightly less modern. Square edges have been rounded off, hex screws replaced with oil-finished slotted screws and the chunky thumbscrew replaced with nuts.

The buttplate has been chequered for extra grip. This could be neater, unfortunately the buttplate curved across its face as well as down the length which I didn’t expect and this threw me off.

Several of the K98k stocks I have received recently have had shorter-than standard hand guards. In order to ensure a secure fit I have made a polymorph hand guard retaining piece.

And last but not least, a custom reticle for the scope. You can’t have a German Sniper rifle without a German Post. This is a prototype, I’m looking to get some laser cut for a sharper profile.

If you are interested in the history of the K98k, you can check out the introduction article here, or see the whole build process here.

If you like this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

Don’t forget you can buy many of our complete products via The website.

No.32 Scope model

Producing as I have been airsoft replicas of the No.4 and L42A1 rifles, I had need to mount a scope. Unfortunately, the British issue No.32 was a very distinctive optic, even for the time when such scopes looked very different to modern ones. I tried mounting normal modern scopes but they just didn’t look right and ruined the lines of the rifle.

While a very nice replica can be acquired from the Far East, the cost is quite high once import duty has been added, so a lower cost alternative is in order.

This 3D printed shell fits around a small and inexpensive scope. It gives the profile of the No.32 and still gives access to the adjustment for zeroing the scope.

My hope is, in the longer term, to also change the reticule so that it too is correct.

P.S.: Since I wrote the rest of this article, I have been experimenting with reticle modification and construction. This is very far from perfect but it’s a start.

If you like this build you can see other complete projects here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

 

Vintage Airsoft August 2018 update

It’s been quite a year at Vintage Airsoft.

For those that haven’t read the ‘about’ page, VA is a one-man-band. As a result, the whole operation is reliant on my own health, personal life and organisation all living in harmony. As many of my followers will know, this year they have not been so and as a result of personal life (bereavements), poor weather in the winter, illness and a short notice workshop move, my organisation has suffered.

At last, things have been on a relatively even keel for a bit (one hopes it remains so). There are some exciting developments which I’m going to share here and some changes to how VA is run to make everything run more smoothly.

Item 1: Duplicating jig

This is exciting. I’ve had this in the works since I started VA and the rails have moved house and workshop with me since I started in my parents’ garage.

This device is at about the MkIII stage, there are still some improvements to make to make it easier to use, but for now this is a major improvement over making every single stock by hand.

Things like this SMLE nose cap go from being hours of intense work, focus and swearing to get right down to around a half hour.

Item 2: Batch manufacture

Making items in batches is far more efficient in terms of time, materials and logistics. As a result, I will be making most items in batches from now on. This will apply to anything I have made in the past that isn’t too weird and wonderful (I’ll never be asked by four people at the same time to make an LMG25 for example), but for things like SMLEs, K98ks etc… I’ll make a batch or two per year or as suits demand.

3. Custom builds

I’m going to formalise my builds waiting list so that there is a specific order for projects to start. Otherwise these projects will be spread between batches and overlapping with one another as they do presently.

4. Foreign shipping

I can now ship abroad (outside the UK) using a specialist courier. It’s very, very expensive for single rifles but I can bring the costs down if I send multiple rifles to a central distributor in a country. I have a man in the US who will process delivery for me at that end as I have many order requests from there, there are several other countries that I may put feelers out to as well if the quantities are high enough.

5. The Site

I have recently been offered an airsoft site and, as a dream opportunity, I have accepted. This is an entirely separate venture to VA, but there will naturally be some crossover.

It’s almost a blank canvas, but the group of us involved have already made a strong start.

 

You can join the C3 group here if you want to come and play with us in Monmouthshire, UK. 

 

That’s all for now, back to building airsoft guns!