The British army did not have any submachine guns manufactured in the UK and what few US Thompson M1928 purchased from the USA were nearly all lost at Dunkirk. There was a desperate need for a submachine gun for the army, navy and RAF. So the race was on to produce one made in England. It was decided to copy the German MP 28 with modifications. The name Lanchester, after George Lanchester who was in charge of production at the Sterling Armament Company of Dagenham. A soundly engineered weapon with all the arts of the gunsmith employed the Lanchester was the last of its era. Issued only to the Royal Navy it was very useful to boarding parties, especially when fitted with its sword bayonet. This example is stamped as the Mk 1 version which had a single shot selector on the trigger guard, and a tangent sight. Most, including this one, were converted to the full auto only Mk1*, however the early sight is retained.
Marks and Stamps: (top of Mag housing) LANCHESTER MK. 1. SA Serial no C F| Accession Number: 80 | Period of Use: |
| Type: Machine pistol/SMG | War Zones: |
| Country of Origin: UK | Type Date: 1941 |
| Manufacturer: Sterling Armaments Company, Dagenham | Serial Number: 10300 A |
| Manufacture Date: Unknown | Calibre/Ammunition: 9mm Parabellum |
| Weight: 4340g | Length Overall: 815mm |
| Cyclic Rate: 600rpm | Length Barrel: 203mm |
| Deactivation Certificate Number: DA 5498 |