Lanchester SMG Numbers

[Sienaguns]

Anyone have any idea how many pre-sample Lanchester Mk 1's or MK 1*'s might have been imported? I know many, if not most were sold off by the Brits in lage lots to other countries and many were destroyed.  Anyway, if anyone has an idea please advise.

 

 

[johnsonlmg41]

Never heard of a pre-may yet.  Most everything that came in was transferable and anything after 68 was probably fitted with a registered tube making it transferable as well.  The value and hassle of importing a pre-may vs. just getting the parts kit and putting it on a tube would not be very economical.   Never seen a pre-may sten either, but I'd guess someone has one or both by coincidence or brought one in at someone's request.

[Sienaguns]

Hmm ok. Ive actually seen mostly pre-may's and one transferrable C&R. Of course there are a bunch of tube guns out there

[mike todd]

believe it or not but the lanchester is one of the few british machine guns that was offered openly on the world market with out destroying a huge quantity in the process. I personally viewed crates stacked to the ceiling on one of our trips. I believe $23.00 U.S was the number. they were secondary as the german G-1 was the business at hand. everything i touched was NOS and heavy grease. its one of the few  subguns i found original examples just as often as tube rebuilds for sale, but that has slowed down the last 5 years. also most offered appear to be almost perfect .