Grips of DEATH ! German Machine Guns...

[Chris Boonzaier]

The MG08/15 is very likely (I would say 90% or more) to have been captured by the Canadian 8th battalion in Hatchet Wood, an action that resulted in 3 VCs...

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/vcwinners/alexander-brereton

So.... how is that for a huge stroke of luck.... getting info like that!!!!!

[Mervyn Mitton]

Chris - you are an inspiration to us - everyone with a woodpile will now want his own machinegun !

Beautifully maintained and restored weapons - and they must be valuable ? Are you able to insure weapons such as these ? What is the leather case for in #8 - is it for the sights?

[IrishGunner]

Chris, can you share the story of the stroke of luck that brought you such valuable information? Just how do you keep getting so lucky?

[Harvey]

Quite an impressive display Chris!

One of these days I'm going to have to schedule a visit to view your collection in person - and maybe sample a few of those beers you keep posting pictures of!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris, can you share the story of the stroke of luck that brought you such valuable information? Just how do you keep getting so lucky?

There is a list of "trophy weapons" that were brought to Canada. For the most part it tells where these weapons were sent to and with a portion, where they were captured.

For the MG08 there is just one of these with its number in Canada.

For the MG08/15 there are 2 guns with the number, one was sent to a university in Nova Scotia, the other to a town in Manitoba. from where it came from it is a pretty sure bet it is the Manitoba gun. I would give it 90% chances.

Best

Chris

[Les]

There is a list of "trophy weapons" that were brought to Canada. For the most part it tells where these weapons were sent to and with a portion, where they were captured.

If anyone is interested, the list and related details can be found at this link:

http://cefresearch.com/matrix/Utilities/War%20Trophies/

A comment made on that site mentions there was a Commission established in 1920, to organize the distribution of war trophies to various communities. The Commisssion stated that any/all such trophies were Crown Property and communities being assigned trophies were required to keep them in good order, and had no legal authority to dispose of them. I don't know if that clause is still in effect or not... :speechless1:

[Michael Johnson]

Certainly Oakville Ontario's gun is gone. I have a postcard of the Park and Memorial which shows it, but I suspect it went for scrap 1939-45.

[MG1918]

For viewing but if different angles needed please ask.

I love Chris's outdoor shots which is something I am unable to do just now.

Mark

My link

[kapten_windu]

beautiful..

is it still "life"?:whistle:

[Glenn R]

How do you find the MG08 on driven partridge? I tend to find they're a bit tiring under the arm on a long day's shooting myself! :D

[MG1918]

For partridge it is not so bad, I have a boy who adopts a suitable position in order to place the MG on his back. It is a ittle annoying and inconvenient at times though as he cannot get his hands/arms competely around to keep the dam thing slipping off. When he is successful I find he tends to suffocate a little with his face submerged in the dirt. Clearly more training required.

Mark

[MG1918]

Latest success.

[Chris Boonzaier]

This is a scarce box.... for belted MG Ammo... takes 8 wooden boxes of 250 rounds each... so 2000 belted rounds....

[MG1918]

Standard 250 rd ammo belt (DWM) for the MG08

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a MG08/15 drum box....

[Chris Boonzaier]

The newly painted one was a barn find, inside was fine, but the outside had a rust that stripped all paint off it....

[Chris Boonzaier]

What was really cool.... the cloth belt was just the rmains, but it had its full amount of rounds, and they were in perfect shape, all 1918 dated.... They are the rounds in the drum today (with new belt of course)

All rounds emptied using an armourors hammer thingy and heads back in tight as a drum...

[Chris Boonzaier]

A friend in France just landed me this... I have yet to find one of the older round ones in an acceptable condition...

[Chip]

Chris,

What does that ammo box have printed on the lid? It's difficult to see it all. I can make out "....für,,,,,,M.G. Munition ". The first and third words are unclear.

Thanks,

Chip.

[Hoss]

Chris.... Each time i pass by a certain street I find myself thinking of you... Agreed... barf barf!!! But i thought that if I'd send you a pic I might exorcise this demon....so here goes...

IMAGE_00087.jpg

Yes I know its through the window and yes I also know that there are way too many reflections. But you have a keen eye so I thought why not.

Now... having a chat with its owner, he says its Swiss circa 1911. Does not mean much to me but maybe it does to you. He also said something about CHF2,500 but then again, I do not know if he was speaking about this baby or some other baby! We were speaking french and his french was rustier than mine...... the other option was german.... mine is non existant So misunderstandings could happen!

Hope u like it anyways ..... and if u can tell me something more about it (apart from "I want it!!") I'd appreciate.

Jim

Wonderful

Jim the gun appears to be a Bern Arsenal made MG11 as you say displayed with the Swiss optic. The weapon is mounted on a commercial DWM tripod unfortunately for us its displayed the wrong way round would be nice to see the fusee spring cover, go back and tell the person to turn it about its difficult through a glared plate glass window Lol!

Swiss Maxims are gob drool for us mg nutters the most beautiful ever made.

Regards

Eric

Edited December 18, 2012 by Hoss

[Chris Boonzaier]

Gob drool? Can i use that or is there a copyright on thst ? :-)

[Chris Boonzaier]

Anyone have an idea what IAK XV can mean? I Armee Korps 15? sounds unlikely on a MG item....

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

What does that ammo box have printed on the lid? It's difficult to see it all. I can make out "....für,,,,,,M.G. Munition ". The first and third words are unclear.

Thanks,

Chip.

Hi Chip..

Kolli für gegurtete M.G. Munition

[Chip]

Chris,

No wonder I couldn't read it. What the heck is a Kolli? It's not in my 1950s German dictionary. Wiki says it's baggage or luggage and that it is plural. I'm surmising that it is something akin to "containers". I didn't think that was the term for the Mg08/15 drums.

Chip

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi

Maybe it has same roots as French Colis for package? I guess it could be read as "Packaged belted Machine Gun Ammo" with the big box being the package. Ot does not take the 08/15 drims, but rather the regular 250 round belts in their boxes.

Best

Chris