Anyone here have an "Erb" Stenling?

[nfafan]

If so, how do you like it and how has it run for you??

Reason I as is that I have an MG08/15 I'm trying to trade for a subby and I have someone interested in the trade - he has an Erb Stenling.
From the pic he sent me I see that it is only parkerized, no crackle - but looks kinda cool that way.

Thanks for the insight!

My Maxim;
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/nfafan/MG0815/

[Vegas SMG]

I've seen an Erb Stenling that looked rough. The welds were uneven and ugly.

I think you'd you'd have no problem finding a nice Sterling built with the correct DLO tube/cocking slot built by Andrewski in trade for your 08/15. I wouldn't settle for a lesser gun with the gun you have trade.

My opinion and YMMV.

[CLC]

I have an Erb Sterling. He converted my Sten Mk2 into a Sterling. Previous poster is right about the welds. Not horrible, but ugly. He welds the mag well on where the originals are brazed or soldered I believe. They may be ugly welds, but they are very strong. Pluses are that construction is very strong and the cocking slot is in the original Sterling position and it uses unmodified sterling parts. Minuses are the ugly welds and the parked only finish. I don't mind the parked finish because every sterling I saw with the krinkle finish was chipped and looked like crap. Also Erb is a jerk to deal with and stole a bunch of my sterling parts. I wouldn't have him do any work, but his products are solid.

[nfafan]

Thanks for he insight on the Stenlings! The few pics I seen don't show the mag-well welds, have yet to see it in person.

Since I am looking to do a straight-up trade, I have to see what folks will offer; Erb, Andrewski, Quinnel, whatever.

Funny the whole thing involves Erb. My MG08/15 is a Charlie Erb parts-re-man - picked it out from the "wall-o-Maxims" in his workshop back in the 80's.

Wandered thru his shop and grabbed the nicest 08 he had, he in turn did the final-finish to it and we worked the xfer. And yes, the welding and repair works he did on the Maxim was superb. The guy loves his Maxims and Vickers guns.

The day I went to take posession he dragged out a box of Maxim locks and we tried them one at a time - - in his backyard - - until we found one that purred like a, well, tiger. He has some understanding neighbors!

What was really interesting is that prior to the whole Maxim thing, I had a signed F4 (Allegheny Cty District Attorney himself!!) for a NIB MK760 I was buying from Erb.
While waiting for the DA to sign, Erb had invited me out to one of his "mini-KC" MG shoots to try the MK760 I was going to buy.

Well, once you see the steaming beltfeds on the line, you get taken in.

So - we ended up taking old-skool white-out in the bottle and brushed-out all the MK760 crap on the F4s, wrote in all the MG08/15 stuff - and to my astonishment - the F4 was approved.

So yeah, Charlie was OK by me. Guess everyone has their own Erb experiences.

In the end, if nothing turns up, I may end up just trying to sell the MG08/15 outright and hide the cash from the Dept of the Treasury, else she'll have it spent in no time at all.

'Course we all know what the state of the economy is, I don't hold hopes that someone wants an $8K or so beltfed anytime soon.

[Vegas SMG]

A properly built Sterling won't be tig welded like the Erb guns. I'd strongly suggest taking a look at the gun before you make a trade. Your 08/15 is worth more than any Sterling Mk4 regardless of the builder or in 100% condition. You're in the drivers seat with your gun and can afford to be picky and demand cash and/or a pile of mags, parts, and other accessories.

My Andrewski built Sterling Mk4 when near new. Notice the lack of obvious welding on the mag well and trigger pack. About as close to a factory build as you'll likely see IMHO.

[nfafan]

That's a gorgeous Sterling; has to be a Dagenham! Wow yowza!

And thanks for the kind words on what you think my Maxim is worth relative to the Erb Stenling...

Not to question your judgment; but could it possibly be that "out West" where you are, folks can appreciate shooting a big-bore-beltfed blaster moreso than an East Coaster can?

Reason I ask is that if you have an idea as to what I should try and trade for, or sell it outright for - I'd appreciate the opinions!

[sterlgrl]

WOW! That Andrewski is the maestro!

I'm gone


thank you

[chili17]

The Erb Sterlings I have seen are ugly and of the two one did not function for crap. I would put an Erb sterling on the bottom of the list just above PAWS

[Vegas SMG]

Originally Posted by nfafan

That's a gorgeous Sterling; has to be a Dagenham! Wow yowza!

And thanks for the kind words on what you think my Maxim is worth relative to the Erb Stenling...

Not to question your judgment; but could it possibly be that "out West" where you are, folks can appreciate shooting a big-bore-beltfed blaster more so than an East Coaster can?

Reason I ask is that if you have an idea as to what I should try and trade for, or sell it outright for - I'd appreciate the opinions!

That's an Andrewski Sterling and mine's no different than any other Andrewski you'll see. He's a master craftsman.

I'm sure others will disagree with me, but I see a minimum of 3K difference in the value of the two guns. I place a value of about 5.5K (at most), on the Erb Stenling and about 8.5 to 9K on your 08/15.

Look, you can buy a Sten Mk2 for 4K or less. Buy a complete Sterling parts kit for a few hundred bucks and have Erb will build the gun. I don't know what Charles is charging these days, but it's got to be less than the 1K+ that Andrewski charges. Andrewski Sterlings are being offered for a little over 6K, bu I don't know if they're selling for that price.

As you correctly noted, the market is down. I don't know that a beltfed weapon has more value "out west" but we do have more venues that afford long range shooting with few restrictions. I don't know that I'd own a crew served weapon if I could only shoot it a couple of times a year, but lots of people do exactly that.

If you have your heart set on a Sterling, I'd place several ads and try to sell your 08/15 outright or offer to trade for a proper narrow cocking slot DLO Sterling tube built by Andrewski plus 2-3 thousand in cash. You have a nice side plate gun and I wouldn't settle for an Erb Stenling based solely on your 87/15 ownership by the same manufacturer. You can do much better.

[emerz]

Originally Posted by Vegas SMG

You can do much better.

I agree with Vegas, wholeheartedly.

[Vegas SMG]

If you have a linker, extra parts kit, locks, barrels, etc., I'd be interested in talking about you about your MG08/15 for my Mk5.

http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27593

[Traveler]

Since I am looking to do a straight-up trade, I have to see what folks will offer; Erb, Andrewski, Quinnel, whatever.

You can't go wrong with Andrewski.

You might want to read this also.

[1096369fred]

I agree with what every one is telling you.... You Maxim is a damn nice piece!
Have you posted on Tom Bowers site? http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/
I have seen your gun somewhere... PAFOA.com classifieds? Or maybe just one like it.... the market sucks, but you have a really nice toy there! Don't let it go too much on the short side!

Maybe hit the commercial Class 3 sights, check shotgun news... (But hold on to your wallet!)

Good Luck!
Fred

[nfafan]

Yeah, had/have my gun on the PAFOA, Sturm. Bowers charges for ads; there are enough gunboards on the 'net that accept WTS ads.

Was pinged by a CL3 in PA that is now trying to snag a RR Uzi for me, Vector or Group I guess. Meanwhile, the Erb Stenling guy may have realized he was going to be dealing with a 30LB 4' long gun and decided not to bother.

[lumpylambert]

I have and Erb Sten and love it