Original Item: Only One Available. These have become very hard to find. This original German WW1 MG 08 water-cooled Maxim machine gun was The Grim Reaper” of the First World War.
This fine example is totally inert having been rebuilt to BATF specifications. Marked on the top cover:
47516
M.G.08.
D.W.M.
BERLIN
1918
This Maxim has survived because it did not see much service in WWI being made in the final year of the conflict. It comes with an original optical scope mount to the left side (no optics) and comes mounted on an original tripod mount marked:
AuTomoto
St. Etienne
AuTomoto of St. Etienne, France manufactured this tripod in 1919 when the Allies delivered this western front gun to Turkey as post war military aid.
It is the centenary year in 2014 of the outbreak of WWI that lasted 4 terrible years and destroyed the manhood of Europe. It only concluded after the entry of the United States in 1917 to tip the scales into the Allies favor ending at the 11th Hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
Water jacket has a small dent on topside no doubt from hostile action but otherwise in great display condition. MG 08 Maxim MG Complete with tripod, the entire display.