“And now for something completely different” was a Monty Python film and I recall growing up hearing that line on television and the radio. As I’m sitting here writing, in my head I can hear the voice of John Cleese saying that phrase. Well, you already looked at the photos, so you probaly guessed that what we have for you here is something completely different.
The Current Impetus
As for the current impetus for this review, last week DuraCoat Firearm Finishes announced their inaugural 1st Annual Unique Build Contest. According to their press release . . .
The contest celebrates outstanding application, creativity, and craftsmanship. Submit your project and required information to contest@duracoatfinishes.com! We can’t wait to see all of your submissions! Required submission materials include: Completed Submission Information/Business Info, High quality photographs (3-5 images), Project description paragraph (200-400 words). Entries must be original work and not previously entered in other DuraCoat contests. Don’t wait! Submissions will close on August 31st, 2026 at 11:59pm. Questions? Contact us at contest@duracoatfinishes.com or call us at 1-800-830-6677 for more information.
I first saw the announcement on Instagram and the post showed a uniquely finished firearm that I instantly recognized. Like Obi Wan Kenobi said, “Well, of course I know him, he’s me!” Of course I recognized that gun…it’s mine.
I immediately sent a copy of the DuraCoat post to our esteemed editor and asked, “Do you want a review of that gun?” You know what the answer was.
The Original Impetus
For the origin of this story, we need to go back fifteen years or so, to the dark times when comrade Barry Soetoro was pillaging the federal coffers and pushing socialism on the nation. Century Arms was still shipping out glossy colored catalogs and sales flyers.
I was on the list and looked forward to seeing what unique items they had come up with. Before the gun world fell into the all rifles are ARs and all pistols are GLOCK-clones default, Century Arms was scouring the world for WWII and Cold War era guns to import and offer under the draconian AFT rules.
Amongst the interesting guns was the Sterling Type II 9mm carbine; an AFT-approved semi-auto with a 16.25 inch barrel so it would not be a Class III item. From midway back, the gun looked like the famous Sterling submachine-guns that just missed service for WWII, but did see service during the Cold War.
Many readers will know that the Sterling was an improved version of the Sten submachine gun. The Sten looked like it was built in a bicycle shop, the Sterling, with its vented barrel shroud and underfolding stock was sexier. The Century Arms Sterling Type I and Type II carbines were assembled by Wise Lite Arms and Masterpiece Arms, with a small number put together in Georgia, Vermont by Century. Some of the Sterling carbines had partial barrel shrouds and some had the full version, seen here.
Built of all steel, the Sterling Type II was a heavy girl, tipping the scales at 7.5 pounds loaded. The underfolding stock, famous in movies and TV, was genuine Sterling and the gun could be fired with the stock open or closed. Magazines for the gun were the OG Sterling sub gun magazines which hold 34 rounds of 9x19mm NATO.
The Century Arms Sterling Type II carbine was all black. When I got it, I took a look at it and thought it would be the perfect canvas for a Duracoat camo finish job, but which one?
At that time I was a military contractor and living in Biloxi, Mississippi. One morning, I heard a scream from the front porch. I passed my wife as she was coming in the front door and I was going out. “Snake! Snake on my chair!” was all the information she was able to provide. Out on the porch, I saw the offender, a three-foot long, prairie kingsnake had indeed crawled up onto my wife’s chair. I trapped it and took a couple of photos, before sending it back into the woods to catch mice.
That encounter gave me an idea. Before the day was through, I fired off an email to my friend, Steve Lauer, founder of DuraCoat. The gist was, if I ship you a gun, could you put that snake pattern on it? Photos were attached. Steve, never one to back down from a challenge, assured me that he and his team could most certainly replicate the snake pattern as a DuraCoat finish.
The Sterling Type II was packed and shipped to DuraCoat soon thereafter. I moved on with other projects and waited. It might have been about six weeks later when the gun returned and it was definitely something different. Steve and his team created a template pattern and dubbed it the “Southern Viper” and, unbeknownst to me, planned to add that Camo Kit to their upcoming catalog for SHOT Show. That Camo Kit pattern remains in the DuraCoat catalog to this day and you can order it and do it yourself.
Range Fun
As mentioned, the all-steel construction provided ample weight to tame the 9mm recoil, no comps or porting necessary. The action is a straight-blowback with a serious recoil spring backing up the bolt. Unlike early Cold War sub guns, the semi-auto Sterling Type II fires from a closed bolt. There is a big paddle safety lever on the left side for your right thumb to operate. Other than the trigger and the charging handle on the bolt, that is all the controls you’ll find on the gun. No bolt-catches or forward assists. The bolt closes on an empty mag.
Of all the sub gun magazines that I have loaded over the years, the Sterling magazines were likely the easiest to load by hand. This is likely due to the genius of the rolling follower design and the slight curve in the magazine. Straight sub gun mags, such as those for Colt and Uzi can be quite the bear to load minus a dedicated loading tool. It had been a while since I took the Snake Gun to the range. I loaded up the mags with 9mm FMJ and went to work. I never had problems before and I did not for this updated review, just a lot of fun shooting.
Prizes
The Grand Prize winner for the DuraCoat contest gets $500 store credit for DuraCoat products and dinner for two with the DuraCoat management team at a premier Las Vegas dining experience during the 2027 SHOT Show. Additional prizes for runner’s up will be announced. Of course, the coolest prize of all will be getting to brag to your buddies that your gun won. Are you creative? Do you have the skills? If so, get cracking, the contest closes on August 31, 2026.
Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student of the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.
I like the paint job.