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I just received my MG08 sled mount and thought I would share some pics. I am still waiting for the MG08 to transfer and will post pics after I get it. I am new to the MG08 and have just begun to read the Devils Paintbrush. I hope to learn a great deal from the book and the members of this forum.

very nice

Very nice Sled. 1916 Unit marked it looks like?

Nicely repainted. I see you are also missing your rear traverse locking lug handle. I need one too.

Have any pictures of the gun?

I see you are also missing your rear traverse locking lug handle. I need one too.

Where does the rear traverse locking lug handle go and what does one look like? I am still waiting for the gun to transfer, but will post pics as soon as I get it.

Sweet. The 08 is one of my favorite guns. I have a 1916 spandau that is c&r but not matching numbers on a sled, and I just bought a 1917 dwm that is all matching except for the unnumbered lock. I have not figured out how the barrel could be numbered to the gun but the lock not, but oh well. It belonged to a friend and I had drooled over it for years. It is on transfer also so Im in the same boat as you. Keep us posted.
The traverse lock is a lever that locks the traverse adjustment so the gun does not shift left to right.

jmann wrote: I have not figured out how the barrel could be numbered to the gun but the lock not, but oh well. It belonged to a friend and I had drooled over it for years.

That makes sense, I have seen this a fair amount. Probably brought in by the Government. Removed lock and broke lower feed arm and shipped it out. So the barrel is original but check the lower feedarm! I bet its replaced or repaired. If so you have a standard US army post war demil.

Here is a picture of how the traverse lug should look.

IMBLITZVT wrote: That makes sense, I have seen this a fair amount. Probably brought in by the Government. Removed lock and broke lower feed arm and shipped it out. So the barrel is original but check the lower feedarm! I bet its replaced or repaired. If so you have a standard US army post war demil.

That makes perfect sense. That would also explain the condition of the gun as it would have been new when given away. This one diefintely went to someone that kept it dusted and oiled and out of the weather.

There is a nice part of the Devils paintbrush that tells about this and how they thought about converting all the Captured MG08s to 30-06.

As far as the condition, it might have gone to an individual that liked it and kept good care of it. Lots went to VFW and other Halls and many got stuck up in attics and well kept. Of course most of these were not registered... which I know yours is.

Is the lower feedarm broken/repaired/replaced? Thats an almost sure sign its from the US Government! I would say 90% of the feedblocks are that are in the US. Barrels that are not matching I think tend to be from Germany that way. Most people in the US would keep the matching barrel with the gun even if shot out (hopefully). From what I have seen, matching barrels is not that rare. Unbroken feedarms are much much more uncommon. Matching locks are very rare.

Azdskin - a lovely sled mount you have. Some ''nutters'' on here, of which I include myself, take great interest in the colour schemes on the kit. Is this a copy of some other paint scheme you have come across or a match to any existing paint?

With regards the traversing lock - the pin shown I believe to be not the original although still perfectly suitable, and even maybe a period replacement. The locking mechanism, complete are difficult to track down and very popular!

Good hunting.

Mark

Is this a copy of some other paint scheme you have come across or a match to any existing paint?

The paint is just how I bought it. The MG08 has its original finish on. I am hoping to have it in a week or two.