Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
FULLY TRANSFERABLE MAXIM MG08/15 WATER COOLED MG
03-1558
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.
NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE.
STATUS: MODERN CLASS III
