Got 08 out this weekend....

[dwmmg08]

And had some fun with it! We went to a WWI re-enactment in Kansas, US, as a MG08 crew, and had a good time. The only thing we were really sorely lacking was the dragging straps. Haven't found any of those to buy anywhere, especially repros. Not sure if anyone has ever reproduced them?

Anyway, a pic!

[IMBLITZVT]

Looks pretty cool! Were you firing blanks?

What year was the belt. I just got a nice 1915 belt.

[dwmmg08]

Ah, yes, we were firing blanks, I actually have a .30-06 conversion in the gun, not that you can see that, but I was using the long Israeli .30-06 blanks. They worked well, as usual.

Wow! I got this one from a guy in AZ, it's a Pre-war DWM made belt, but it's probably made for Turkey, as the stamps on it for the rounds are in the old Turkish script. It's in really good shape, I'm kind of trying to be gentle with it, but I think it's good to use it now and again.

Where did you find a 1915 belt??? Is it brass tabbed or steel? I keep seeing rusted hunks of the old steel tab belts, but not much of the prewar brass ones, except once (and not useable either) for far more $$ than I was willing to pay. Have not found a really useable German belt, either, most I've seen have been really destroyed by rust and time/mice/doughboys/whatever.

[IMBLITZVT]

Its brass tabbed. I also got a brass tabbed 08/15 belt missing the wide starter tab. I got them out of France. I also got a 50rd brass tabbed section from Canada. I also picked up a 1917 Vickers belt in ok shape.

[dwmmg08]

a few more!

[dwmmg08]

Fun with 08/15

and a few more pics...

[dwmmg08]

and an artillery barrage!

[MarkFinneran]

Great images - could almost be fooled into thinking fine period photo shots!

On the subject of ammo belts has anyone been able to identify exactly the types of ammo belts used by German MG08s? Brass tabbed early and steel tabbed later. On Ebay recent seller had German maxim belt for sale which looked rather Russian to me?

Like most I am in the market for a good brass tabbed German version, but would be interested to know what is the value of WWI British vickers ammo belts - just in case I want to trade/sell mine

[alpencorps]

Hallo Mark,
the belt you mean in ebay,
it's a russinan one,
and it's mutch mutch money for an russian type.
Greetings
Alpencorps

[dwmmg08]

One of the belts we used at the event was an 18 dated Vickers belt, which I got years and years ago from IMA, If I remember correctly. Neat piece. Worked just fine in my German gun from 1918!