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FULLY TRANSFERABLE MAXIM MG08/15 WATER COOLED MG

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
FULLY TRANSFERABLE MAXIM MG08/15 WATER COOLED MG

Cal. 8mm, S# 1104. Bbl. 26" Manufactured as a more portable variant of the famous Maschinengewehr 08, or MG08, Germany’s standard machine gun in World War I. Both are direct evolutions of Sir Hiram Maxim's original 1884 Maxim gun. The MG08-15 utilizes a shoulder stock and forward mounted pistol grip & trigger for firing prone from a bipod. While retaining a similar water jacket, fusee cover and knuckle-buster charging system to Sir Hiram Maxim’s original design, it has a much smaller receiver signature and is intended to be fired in a similar fashion to a traditional rifle, without the necessity of a heavy mount. Feeding was aided by a circular box, presented at the right side of the feed mechanism, to support a loaded belt without the necessity of an A-Gunner. This example was originally manufactured by S&H Berlin, 1917 & while the left sideplate retains the original German markings, it’s also stamped with the “Charles Erb” bullet logo in the lower right corner. BATFE paperwork states the manufacturer as “S&H Berlin, Germany”. Much of it still retains matching numbers including the top cover, left sideplate, fusee cover, & external charging mechanism. Easily serviced and upgraded parts at the armory level have been changed and display different numbers, such as the feed block, bearing #531 and the bolt, bearing #8130A, which was common. Finish on the receiver is blued, matching the top cover well. Markings are clear and strong throughout. The water jacket has been painted green, while the muzzle booster retains is original bluing. Hardwood shoulder stock and checkered pistol grip. Bipod is also painted a darker shade of green. Tan drum magazine interfaces with a hanger that attaches to the gun below the feed block, with painted, raised lettering reading “Feuer!” (Fire) in red, and “Kurbelhuch” (Crank) in white. MAGS: 1 Cloth belt App 8 feet in length with brass tab stamped “Charles Erb” in bullet logo. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 1 spare barrel. CONDITION: Blued finish on receiver and fusee cover enjoys fairly full coverage with areas of thinning, while the top cover and feed block finish is much thinner, turned typical brown in areas. All possess clear, legible stampings in several areas. Water jacket, bipod and drum each possess their own shade of paint, chipped and thinned during their journey spanning 105 years, traveling from Berlin, Germany to Fairfield, Maine. Wooden shoulder stock has several typical impressions and a few light cracks, though nothing appears to have affected the structural integrity. Pistol grip is checkered with only a few impressions. Bore on mounted barrel is quite dark but still retains descent rifling, while spare barrel is quite bright with strong rifling. Fire control mechanism appears to function correctly when cycled by hand. NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-1558/JZ). MODERN CLASS III. $6500-$8500