Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · IV · 021

Lanchester Mk 1 & Mk 1*

Section IV: still an NFA firearm, also a curio or relic

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION IV · VERBATIM · PDF P. 82 ↗

British, Lanchester (Lancaster) Mk 1 and Mk 1, cal. 9mm, submachineguns mfd. in England, during World War II.

ATF repeats “Mk 1”; the second is presumably the Mk 1*. ATF lists cal. 9mm; this is the 9mm Parabellum (9×19mm) cartridge.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESMade or imported as stated: “mfd. in England”
  • ATF REQUIRESMade 1939–1945 (ATF’s dates)ATF: “during World War II”
  • INFOStill an NFA firearm; only registered examples transfer, with ATF approval (26 U.S.C. 5812, 5861).

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Sterling Armaments Co.; W. W. Greener; Boss & Co.²
Type
SMG
Action
Select-fire / auto
Caliber
9mm Parabellum
Made
1941–1945¹
Service
Military
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section IV · PDF p. 82 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: High · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “Lanchester submachine gun” ↗, years: assembled 1941–1945; ATF says "during World War II"
  2. Wikipedia, “Lanchester submachine gun” ↗, maker: Sterling Armament Company, W. W. Greener and Boss & Co
  3. Wikipedia, “Lanchester submachine gun” ↗, name: versions MkI, MkI* and MkI**
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
1 change · see below

Correction history

  1. Data-trust reviewMaker: Sterling Armaments Co. → Sterling Armaments Co.; W. W. Greener; Boss & Co.. Lanchester was assembled by Sterling, W. W. Greener and Boss & Co.

All corrections · How corrections work

Historical context

Lanchester Mk 1 & Mk 1*

Image: Wikimedia Commons, “Lanchester SMG Mk.1.jpg” by Rleoster, CC0. Retrieved October 2026.

Summary: Wikipedia, “Lanchester submachine gun”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The Lanchester is a submachine gun assembled by the Sterling Armament Company, W. W. Greener and Boss & Co between 1941 and 1945. It is an evolution of the MP28/II and was manufactured in three versions, the MkI, MkI* and the MkI**. The MkI had an adjustable tangent sight, the MkI* had a two position flip sight and the MkI** was the MkI* but fitted with a bolt safety stop fitted from 1944. It was primarily used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and to a lesser extent by the Royal Air Force Regiment for use in their training facilities. It was given the general designation of Lanchester after George Lanchester, who was charged with producing the weapon at the Sterling Armament Company.