This is a very scarce early WWII AUSTEN submachine gun as manufactured in 1942/43 in Australia. These weapons were developed by the Australian Government due to the shortage in acceptable submachine guns from the British Government and are actually based on two different weapons; the British STEN and German MP40 SMGs, with some manufacturing improvements from the Australians. Their name was derived from two words; "AUstralia" and "STEN", hence the name AUSTEN. With only approximately 20,000 in total made so they had a very small/limited production run and are considered very scarce today. The basic STEN parts are the receiver tube, barrel and locking collar, lower trigger housing/group, with the German designed parts being the folding MP40 style buttstock, the bolt and telescoping firing assembly. The Australian parts/designs are the one-piece cast aluminum magazine well and forward pistol grip assembly (vs. the stamped and welded British version) and the larger/more robust rear collar on the receiver tube. These SMGs use the standard STEN magazine and are considered to be one of the most reliable WWII SMGs. The top of the magazine housing has the cast in markings of an intertwined "WTC/AUSTEN MKI/No. C2999". It still retains its original matching barrel that is marked on the side "C2999/Australian Crown/Crossed Flags" with a very small old import mark on the front section. It is complete with one original magazine.

Very fine with 75% of the arsenal blue finish, which has browned out overall. The magazine well/forward pistol grip assembly was originally blackened and now retains 80% of a thinning black finish. A very nice example of a very rare and desirable WWII Australian SMG. NOTE: This weapon is a restricted, National Firearms Act (NFA) Class 3, Fully Automatic Weapon, that is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478. This weapon is currently registered as a "PRE-MAY 86 SALES SAMPLE" and as such can only be purchased by an FFL, with a Class 2 or Class 3 SOT License; individuals/companies without these types of Licenses, cannot purchase this weapon. Before bidding on this weapon is it the obligation and sole responsibility of the FFL holder to understand and comply with all the State and Federal transfer laws and restrictions that apply in their current place of residence.