Quote History Quoted:
Lines Bro's
without getting into anything that will reveal too much info - a criminal had it on him (in a bag) walking the street
View Quote
Was "Lines Bros" marked on the mag well? That company would be the maker of the original Sten.
I'm sure you have checked, but are there ***any other markings on the receiver tube***, especially around the rear sight?
If you see anything like the following on the tube:
CATCO
Charles Erb
DLO Mfg
FAKTS
Fleming Firearms
Interport
John Stemple
Pearl Mfg
Qualified Mfg
Rubin
S&H Arms
Silver Bullet (York)
Specialty Weapons
Taylor Manufacturing
Wilson Arms
York Arms
(source:
STENS OF THE WORLD, PART 2: U.S. STENS - Small Arms Defense Journal)
These were U.S. manufacturers of Sten receiver tubes, and imported Sten parts kits were used to build "tube" guns (from 1968 to 1986) after transferable foreign MGs could not be imported after 1968.
They had their own U.S. serial numbers, for example, my Taylor Manufacturing Sten MkII has "BT xx" for a serial number (where "xx" are two digits) on the tube just next to the rear sight.
If there are absolutely no markings on the tube, then it may be a pretty rare C&R Sten, imported or brought into the U.S. before 1968.
+1 to checking with NFA Branch, and to running the serial number(s) to see if it's been reported stolen.
Somewhere out there, there may be a poor guy pining for his stolen puppy, I mean Sten gun...
[ETA] By checking, I mean the LE agency who now has possession of the MG should do the checking, not you (unless you're an LEO).