Are there still Sterling tubes out there

[Slaine777]

The title pretty much says it all. DLO used to sell them through ads on SubGuns, but that site is no more and I don't even know if DLO still does business.

 

[jimdoc]

I got two from Stenparts.com, and they show them in stock.

 

[Slaine777]

Sorry, I meant registered tubes

 

[ferndog1]

Why were there "Sterling" tubes made 10 years before part kits were available?

 

[TheColtCollector]

Because Doug made all kinds of cool stuff. He lives near me

 

[Super Dak©]

I got my first DLO tube in '09 (for my MK-IV build). Got my second in '13 (for my MK-V build) and asked to get as close a S/N as I could to my first tube, and Linda said they were almost out of them. IIRC they sold out shortly after, around 2014? FWIW my tubes S/N are 35 apart, but I don't know if they sold them in any specific order or just randomly.

 

[Slaine777]

Dang, I guess I should be used to being years too late with almost everything in the machine gun world.

 

[sniperdoc]

Any clue what such Tubes cost vs an assembled Sterling?

 

[Super Dak©]

Any clue what such Tubes cost vs an assembled Sterling?

Both of my DLO tubes were $5200. Add in a parts kit (about $400), tax stamps, and the build cost, and IIRC my Andrewski MK-IV came in under $7K, and the MK-V about $9K.

 

[arch stanton]

At this time un-built tubes are selling for $8-10k

 

[Battering ram NIB]

Another option is buying a paws zx7 and using the tube to make a sterling. It’s a true sterling tube and can be had at $6500-7500. My conversion cost me $9990 including zx7, sterling kit and Andrewski’s gun smithing . I was able to sell the zx7 parts kit for $500

 

[Slaine777]

Who has un-built tubes for sale?

 

[arch stanton]

Who has un-built tubes for sale?

Nobody is actively selling an inventory of tubes you have to place a wanted to buy ad

 

[rrrgcy]

Almost 20 years ago when I visited Doug he said he had 55 remaining, minus one. First visit, scanned me up-and-down like a threat for a long time. But I was treated to quite a tour, maybe four X M60's, dozen+ AKs hanging from ceiling on coat hangers like grapes, lottsa M1919A4s (numerous I believed were built by DGS) and stories galore. Gentle-man and maybe with a hint of the fiesty still underneath from his younger years? TOTALLY reminded me of Steve McQueen. Great memory. I wonder today what in the way of MGs or plates he still has in inventory. I would think most have been sold since then. I might imagine he's pushing 80+ or older? Definitely a treasure.

About those with inventories like that - at that time I nearly picked up an S&H HK sear from a fellow up in Orlando FL area. He wanted $12k for one, had to pass. He admitted he kept them in a bag and had 24 still remaining!!

 

[sniperdoc]

Almost 20 years ago when I visited Doug he said he had 55 remaining, minus one. First visit, scanned me up-and-down like a threat for a long time. But I was treated to quite a tour, maybe four X M60's, dozen+ AKs hanging from ceiling on coat hangers like grapes, lottsa M1919A4s (numerous I believed were built by DGS) and stories galore. Gentle-man and maybe with a hint of the fiesty still underneath from his younger years? TOTALLY reminded me of Steve McQueen. Great memory. I wonder today what in the way of MGs or plates he still has in inventory. I would think most have been sold since then. I might imagine he's pushing 80+ or older? Definitely a treasure.

About those with inventories like that - at that time I nearly picked up an S&H HK sear from a fellow up in Orlando FL area. He wanted $12k for one, had to pass. He admitted he kept them in a bag and had 24 still remaining!!

Awesome story

 

[mattnh]

I talked with Doug about year ago when I was buying some barrels from him.
At the time, he was selling Winchester BAR serial #1