Broken STEN cocking handle

[skoda]

I was out shooting my STEN the other day, when I reached down to pull the bolt back I noticed that the top of the handle was missing. From the look of it it is obviously a stress fracture from going back and forth umpteen billion times (exaggeration for dramatic effect). Has anyone ever had this failure?

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[skoda]

Why won't my pictures show up?

It's because of the browser that I was using........

 

[brenbuilds]

STEN cocking handles are typically pretty strong, as I believe they were made from bar stock. Some of the Indian versions were cast, and I have had the safety tail break off on that cast example. Were you using the knob or ball end type?

 

[skoda]

It's the knob. I tried to post some pics but no go. I got them posted on the MG Board sister site

The metal looks rather grainy like it was cast but I can see machining marks on it. It might be cast and then final machined. The 'safety tail' was broken off long before I got it.

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[brenbuilds]

That does look like it could be a cast metal version. I've never seen the top portion break like that, but I would be certain it was due to metal fatigue. I recently had the safety tail break on what I believe is an Indian "ball end" style cocking knob; it was very clearly cast.

https://imgur.com/a/7Weoa3S

 

[Commander bond]

I have an earlier knurled cocking handle with the small safety tip like the middle one.