Optical Sight For MG08 - Maschinengewehr 08 + MG34 AA Sight

[Wolf88]

Yes for sure the upper unit was made in Germany, no doubt! ---- The Germans proofed almost everthing. --- The lack of proofs on the base makes me think it may not be German but Bulgarian made dovetail unit.

It doesn't have any proofs on the ZF12 too.
At least I can't see any. Guess the Germans missed to stamp this one.

It looks a lot more like a genuine model than a mod. My guess is that it was not reworked but it was a part of a special order, made in Germany for the BG army.
I just spoke to the guy who provided me with this unit. He has been in possession of the unit for decades and he doesn't know exactly what kind of a scope it is but he says that it came from some sort of a machine. He explained it to me as some armored vehicle. Something like a small armored car. Makes things even more confusing, doesn't it?
I guess that thing had some sort of an on-board machine gun attached to it.

[IMBLITZVT]

It doesn't have any proofs on the ZF12 too.
At least I can't see any. Guess the Germans missed to stamp this one.

Germans never missed a stamp. However if it was for a foreign country, it would not have been stamped.

It looks a lot more like a genuine model than a mod. My guess is that it was not reworked but it was a part of a special order, made in Germany for the BG army.

Certainly could be. It would be hard to tell who actually did the work as it could have been done by either as both sides would have had very skilled gun manufacturers. The key would be to ID the knob on the base of the unit. If its a German style knob, I would agree with your theory. If not, I would guess Bulgarian rework. Being that it looks repainted and clearly not German paint, I am still going to guess Bulgarian work.

I just spoke to the guy ...has been in possession of the unit for decades an.... Something like a small armored car. Makes things even more confusing, ....an on-board machine gun attached to it.

Yeah I am sure its been years since its been in use. Yeah I have no idea what kind of vehicle would use it. Armored Train?

I would love to find a picture of it in use. However being that its likely only to be historically correct for a Bulgarian MG08, that really limits its collectablility as no one has a Bulgarian MG08... Oddly enough I just ran across a front Pintle for one... However I did not buy it for the same reason. Bulgaria seems to have done a fair amount of changing to the MG08 as you can see in TDPB. They put it on different mounts and even changed the mounting system. So I have no doubt they had the still to make the base of this sight.

[Wolf88]

Well, the guy says the vehicle was an armored car/truck, definitely not anything bigger. So I guess it wasn't a train.
Maybe there is info on German armored vehicles with MG08 on board? That would be interesting.

Anyway, in the end of the day we still don't know anything about this type of sight or its history. It's an unusual piece for sure.
I guess I will just list it for sale on eBay and on as many militaria forums as possible and see what people are willing to pay for it.

[Wolf88]

By the way, the MG34 AA Sight has been SOLD.
You can still get another one from me.

[IMBLITZVT]

Well, the guy says the vehicle was an armored car/truck, definitely not anything bigger. So I guess it wasn't a train.
Maybe there is info on German armored vehicles with MG08 on board? That would be interesting.

I am sure they were mounted on Armored Cars/Trucks. Also the one German Tank had a few.

I guess I will just list it for sale on eBay and on as many militaria forums as possible and see what people are willing to pay for it.

Please send me a link. I will bid it a bit.

[Wolf88]

Please send me a link. I will bid it a bit.

No problem, I'm sure that you would.

[dwmmg08]

Very interesting discussion here, I had thought the same thing as Matt, that this base was to attach the ZF12 sight to the MG34 lafitte, but apparently it's not, as Matt's already measured it. How very weird, I've no doubt it's a military mod, but for what??? Perhaps to upgrade the ZF12 with an 08 where you could move it side to side like the MG34 one? Good call on the paint!

[Matt]

anybody got pocs of the zf12 on the mg34 lafette? - matt

[Wolf88]

The sight is up for bids now.
Here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0784781399

[Wolf88]

SOLD!
Mods can delete the thread.