Thanks to Airsoft-news.eu for posting up this movie side-show of a visual comparison of the VIVA (expensive) versus the AGM (cheapsoft) replicas of the STEN Mk. II. The music had me in stitches...

I guess this was perhaps not the most useful video in the world really as all it really proved was that AGM have cloned the VIVA model well. What would have been more useful was a video review showing exactly how the LiPo battery was installed an the impressions about using the LiPo format.

Those people I know who have expressed an interest in the STEN (of either manufacture) - which is practically every British airsofter I have talked to! - are all concerned about the safety and practicality of LiPo batteries. Because of this there perhaps has not been the huge sales of the STEN AEGs in the UK that VIVA or AGM might have expected.

However, VIVA at least seem to feel that there is a market and so have produced a variant of the Mk. II - the legendary Silenced Mk. II. This model was used by numerous special forces units, from the British Commandoes of WW2 to the US Green Berets during the Vietnam War. So it offers a wide range of loadout possibilities.

Above: Source photos Airsoft-News.EU

As you can see in these photos VIVA has also opted for a strange pistol grip modification as well. I am not familiar with this modification and am not sure whether it is a historically authentic variation. It certainly fits in with the STENs cheap and not-so-cheerful design, but I would be interested to find out whether it was an original wartime accessory.

Airsoft World (UK) currently has the AGM version in stock for £195 - but do suggest that you replace the cheap LiPo battery/charger with a more reputable make - which doesn't fill me with confidence.

The AGM model has no hop-up (!) and accepts MP40 mags and is apparently running at about 320fps using 0.2g BBs. It is suggested that you use 0.25g BBs to counteract the no-hopup propensity to shoot the BBs rising.