MG1918

I am not an expert but whilst I am sure there are many bits of kit that were used in WWI, that still we do not know of, or experimentation, or field armoured modifications. I do not see this square ‘thing’ as a recoil device. The point of the booster is to re-channel some of the forces and gases in order to assist the recoil process. This simply looks like something that the barrel protrudes through but fixed to the barrel. Is it some strange armour or flash hider I do not know. Is there better photo definition. I would like to see the tangent sight too as that might give a clue. It also looks to me that the RH gun also has a canvas/cloth barrel jacket sleeve. Furthermore the LH gun has a variant of an AA sight too not seen before?

They could well be 8mm Naval MG08s but it is difficult to see from the photo. Attached a naval MG08 where you can see certain key features for zeppelin use. However there are certainly 'extra bits' on these guns which warrant more study. Attached a well known photo of a 'front piece instrument'

I think we may be getting confused with vocabulary . Do you mean flash hider? or Blank Firing Attachment or just the normal Muzzle booster? There are some other period images with a very large/device' on the muzzle of an 08 which again has caused much discussion from 'fortress armour' to exotic flash hider !.

Can the Moderator remove all the photobucket posts here please, I cannot edit them.