Comments by "geodkyt" (@geodkyt) on "Vigneron M2: Belgium's Little-Known Post-War SMG" video.

  1. Here's an example of smart guys doing smart things - Israeli Mk2 Stens. The Mk2 Stenhas a barrel where orientation doesn't really matter - the front sight is dovetailed and welded to the front of the receiver. So the Mk2 Sten barrel is a total lathe job, at least until it needs to be rifled. The later Mk5 was based on the Mk2, but with upgrades. One of those upgrades is the front end of the barrel is profiled like the No4 Mk1 rifle, using the same front sight assembly and bayonet lugs. So a Mk5 has a marginally longer sight radius, a better front sight (not that it makes any real practical difference on a Sten gun), and can take the same.bayonets as a No4 rifle. Unfortunately, this requires a locating mechanism - sonthe Brits put a locating pin in the barrel at the rear at top dead center, and a matching notch in the barrel trunion. The Mk5 will still accept a Mk2 barrel, only you won't have any front sight. This also means a Mk5 barrel doesn't fit in a Mk2 (and if you cut the notch in the trunk on for it, would interfere with the front sight, because the No4 sight assembly is in the way of your view of the target). Israel decided they wanted to be able to support their Mk2s in an emergency, regardless of whether they had Mk2 or Mk5 barrels handy. So, they cut the barrel pin notch in their Mk2 guns... but at the *bottom*, so a Mk5 barrel would fit upside down and not interfere with the Mk2 sights. And would still take a No4 rifle's bayonet.
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