Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
Sten
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1941–1945
Quantity
3,700,000
Unit Price (current)
$217.262↗ 1875% inflation · 1942→2025
Original Price
$11 (1942)
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · WORLD WAR II
20
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
96
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$217.262
Original: $11 (1942)
Inflation: +%1875
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1941
- Service Entry Year1941
- DesignerMajor Reginald V. Shepherd and Harold J. Turpin
- Weight (Empty)3.2 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersBritish and Commonwealth forces, resistance groups, Free French, French Resistance, Milice française, Danish resistance, Czechoslovak troops, Chinese communist forces, Cuban revolutionaries, Algerian forces, IRA, and others
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
- Calibre9 mm
- Case Length19 mm
- Calibre Classpistol
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesselective fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity32
- Cyclic Rate of Fire500
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typemanual safety (bolt lock)
◇Ballistics2MOD.2
- Muzzle Velocity365 m/s
- Effective Range (point)60 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length196 mm
- Sight Typefixed peep rear, post front
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelYes
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Receiver Materialsheet metal stamping
- Furniture Materialwood (early variants), metal (later variants)
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitylimited (barrel and stock variants)
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost5MOD.5
- Total Production3.7
- Production Start1941
- Production End1945
- Unit Cost2.3 USD
- Variants7
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1927First deployment: Chinese Civil War
- 1941Production started
- 1945Production ended
85
years in service
4
years in production
3,700,000
units produced
51
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
STEN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN16% win·16% loss
Total Conflicts
19
Victories
3
Ongoing
0
Losses
3
2011–2024Syrian Civil WarDecisive victory→2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→1975–2002Angolan Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1971Bangladesh Liberation War—→1962Sino-Indian War—→1961–Annexation of Goa—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→19581958 Lebanon crisis—→1956Suez CrisisTactical victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1954–1962Algerian War—→1950–1953Korean War—→1948–1960Malayan Emergency—→1948–19491948 Arab–Israeli War—→1946–1954First Indochina War—→1946–1949Greek Civil War—→1937–1945Second Sino-Japanese War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
151MACHINE PISTOLS20WORLD WAR II · MACHINE PISTOLS442UNITED KINGDOM · ALL WEAPONS10PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS977PRICE · ALL WEAPONS1PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE7terms
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
A pistol barrel with external helical grooves allowing the attachment of a suppressor or other muzzle devices.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources