Heip with MG08

[Radar]

Hi all , Im new to the site and and was needing some help with a MG08 that we have at local Museum, im restoring it for display. I would like to find a couple of things that are missing, a flashhider and plate,plugs for the end of the water jacket and a cap for the right hand grip (we have the one with the brush ). Also what paint do you use on the water jacket and mount ? I beadblasted it clean ( it was found in a barn after many years of setting there ) and painted it a light bluegrey primer which matched close to the paint that was on the sled mount,the waterjacket was grey with a light coat of a green over it,i left it grey but the smallarms comm. chairman has a problem with that ( its not military green ) What would you suggest ? Thanks

[JBaum]

Not that there aren't a few guys on here who have an MG08, but THE place to be for that particular gun would be:

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/maximmg/

Sign up and ask your questions. Many of the best guys in the country for the MG08 are members of that group.

[dwmmg08]

hey, wow, where are you at in Kansas? I'm just to the south of you in OK, and I've got an 08, perhaps you'd like to see one working?

What year or maker is your 08? Can you post some pictures of it??? We're always interested in seeing more of them, it helps the knowledge base!

[Radar]

It says 94xx serial no. all parts have same no.or last 3. MG08,DWM Berlin 1918. its in great shape other than it was in a barn for a lot of years. The sled mount is also very nice but the 2 rear pads need new leather on them , cant figure out how to replace them yet. I would love too see one in action some time ! Does yours have original finish on it if so what color is the waterjacket or what color did you paint it. The Museum is the Museum of the Kansas National Guard in Topeka,really nice you have to see it if you ever get up this way. I get to OK once in awhile on my way to Texoma to go fishing. I havent figured out how to do the picture thing yet ,im computer dumb. Thanks

[dwmmg08]

Mine's a DWM 1918 gun, and is painted a light green/grey color on the waterjacket and the fusee spring housing. Not many are painted on the Fusee Spring housing, but some are, and the paint was done so long ago, I wasn't sure if it was original or not. The main paint job on the waterjackets of these was a field grey color, exactly the same as an original WWI German helmet would be painted. (Not a belt buckle, they are often a much ligher color) I'll be at the OFASTS shoot in June, it's near Miami, OK, with the Maxim, and a friend of mine who has an 08 as well- we should have 2 08's and 2 08/15's there, shooting, come out and see!

And change Kansas's idiotic law on MG's while you're at it, OK?

[dwmmg08]

And some more pics! These are from the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot & Trade Show, near Miami, OK-

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

WOW that's a nice gun!

[KATZBALGER]

I have an old plug I believe is for an 08.

You'll have to be a bit more specific about which "plug" your referring to... as there are more than one.

The one I have is brass, imperial proofed and measures approximately 17.5 mm dia x 20 TPI. I'd say... in fair condition.

Find out if those measurements fit the hole your looking to fill.

If it fits, I'll donate it to the museum.

[Radar]

Thanks ! The plugs we need are at the muzzle end where the hose goes and im not sure what goes in the other one. I will check it tomarrow and see if that is the right size or does anyone here know ? Thanks

[IMBLITZVT]

Hey! Welcome.

Yeah pictures would help. Many of the parts you are looking for are very hard to come by now days. Your best bet for the grip cap is to find a MG08/15 wood stock and get the oil cap off that. I am pretty sure they are the same?



IMA has these are repros:
http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/1038

[IMBLITZVT]

"flashhider and plate"
Do you need the whole booster or just the tip cone shaped part. When you say plate, you mean the circle part? If so they are easy to find repro. NOW if you gun didn't come with it, a lot of times they used a Muzzle Gland and no booster. They screw in its place but offer no help for recoil.



I have this one for sale if you are interested. Original Flash hiders/boosters and plates are very hard to find and usually cost a lot.

"plugs for the end of the water jacket"
Which plugs exactly?

"Also what paint do you use..."
I would paint them what ever was originally on it? Some were camo, some black... just depends.

http://www.glennhyatt.com/usmcguns/max_08g.htm

[Radar]

Thanks : The water jacket has 2 holes at the muzzle end, 1 on bottom, 1 just off the top ,looks like the hose setup from IMA would go into 1 of them but im not sure what goes in the other. As for the flash hider and flash plate all i have is the end of the barrel with the threads on it. For paint i painted the sled mount a primer grey that matches the old paint great,blue grey. The waterjacket was also a grey with a pale thin coat of a med. green on it, you could kind of see thru it to the grey.They wanted it painted green so i had some paint left from my M38 jeep and used that, i hate it and they want the mount painted green also,im going to take it to them the way it is and tell them they can do it im done. ( Maybe i will go ahead and get the parts it needs ) They spent too many years in the U.S. Army !

[Bil]

If this is for a museum,it should be the corect color,not what someone 'thinks' it should be! Stick to it,make sure they do it right! That reminds me of the ads you see for old cars,says'restored' with a Chevy 350 in a Model A ! ---bil

[IMBLITZVT]

Well in the case I suggest the muzzle gland rather then the booster. It will be correct and a LOT less money. Here is a picture of how they were used. Its more like the 1917 browning front but if the gun was shooting fast, they removed the booster and used the gland like you see. Lots of guns came back that way.

Is the other hole at the front end in the front cap of the gun? If so this is for the gas tube that you must be missing.

[Radar]

Ok , that looks like the end of ours. What is the thing on the end of the chain for, ours must be missing a little rubber or something on it as it looks like it is missing something compared to yours , it looks to have a nice tapper to it. Thanks for the picture !

[IMBLITZVT]

I wish that was mine. Its from the USMC Maxim collection.

http://www.glennhyatt.com/usmcguns/mgartl1.htm

Yeah, then I would just leave it like that. Boosters are a lot of money and if your gun came that its more original to leave it how it is.

The little thing on the chain is a plug for when the water hose is not in use. I would not worry about it.

You need to get yourself a copy of The Devils Paintbrush by Goldsmith. Its the Bible of Maxims... and worth double what you pay.