Researching the MG 08/15

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Hey guys...

It's no secret that I've sold my MG-42 to a brother here on MG42.us, but as you all probably predicted, I'm keenly feeling the need to get another beltfed, but am in no financial position to do that at this time, perhaps for a year or two. Anyhow, much of the fun of owning historic machineguns is researching them. However, MG 08/15 website data on the internet is few and certainly lacking in detail, unlike our fine website here which is a warehouse full of MG-42 information.

What would you Maxim afficianados suggest as far as finding info in the MG-08/15 in preparation for owning one? I suspect I will be selling the MG-42 parts I have stockpiled to help pay for one in a year or two, most notably Yugo and some German barrels and recoil springs.

Why the MG 08/15? I have a small stockpile of Yugo and Romanian 8mm that would take too long to dump through a Mauser, and I didn't buy it to sell it. Also, being a reenactor, I want to branch out from just the machinegun to also getting the entire uniform and kit. It's all about accessorizing! Knowing what spare parts I should target is also needed. The plan is NOT to have a heavy sled rig, just a bipod, enough belts to use the gun, a few ammo cans, and to paint a cool blocky camo job on the water jacket. I would prefer buying a Spandau, because I like the sound of the name, no other reason. I don't care if they made more of them than DWM. The gun I'm looking for would not have to be all matching, but it should be functional, reliable, and parts WITHOUT rust pitting. It MUST have correct headspacing (no worn out locks!). I like the "restored, reblued, repainted" like-new look on my guns. My MG-42 and tripod looked LIKE NEW and it was AWESOME. If it needs cleaning and painting or even rebluing, so much the better, because I like gun projects! Expensive, like-new safe queens are not fun for me. They cost to much and the guilt of shooting a rare collectible hurts. That's the plan.

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Continued:

Question: does the new 2nd edition of Ffolke Myvang's book talk in detail about the MG 08/15 or just gloss over the basic stuff? If I'm going to spring for another Collector Grade Publications book, I want all the details a gunsmith should have for maintaining and repairing a gun, not a fancy picture book. Any help you guys can provide in getting me into this new area of collecting would be much appreciated (descriptions, pictures, advice, etc.)

Maybe in three years I'll have a nice MG 08/15 running at the 2016 Redwing Machinegun Shoot in Minnesota!

Here's what I'm aiming for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cfilOTq ... ure=relmfu[/video]

It's all about fun.

[IMBLITZVT]

However, MG 08/15 website data on the internet is few and certainly lacking in detail, unlike our fine website here which is a warehouse full of MG-42 information.

Yes there is not much on the internet concerning Maxims. Really we have one of the best sites here. There is a Yahoo group that has some old info but its pretty much dead. I have a website with serial number info. I planned to do more but time its hard to come by these days.

What would you Maxim afficianados suggest as far as finding info in the MG-08/15 in preparation for owning one?

Well, read every thread in this forum. Read "The Devils Paintbrush" by Goldsmith from front to back and some parts 2-3 times. The key I find it understanding how one works.

Why the MG 08/15? I... Also, being a reenactor, ..It's all about accessorizing! Knowing what spare parts I should target is also needed. The plan is NOT to have a heavy sled rig, just a bipod, enough belts to use the gun, a few ammo cans, and to paint a cool blocky camo job on the water jacket.

Well that 08/15 is still going to about as heavy as the MG42 with lafette! As far as reenacting, the dress looks pretty good. You can also paint your Helmet to match the MG. Also get the Helmet armor which should be fun to run in. There does not seem to be a lot of special stuff for the MG units. You can get a MG unit marked Luger and Bayonet. They will not be cheap but very cool additions. Also a Short entrenching tool. Other than that, its not that much stuff to go with a MG08/15.

[IMBLITZVT]

"I would prefer buying a Spandau, because I like the sound of the name, no other reason. I don't care if they made more of them than DWM. The gun I'm looking for would not have to be all matching, but it should be functional, reliable, and parts WITHOUT rust pitting."

Well I have lots of parts and top covers for sale. A Spandau top cover is not a hard thing at all. If you want to get on my parts list, email me a phiteshe@vt.edu. If its not matching, changing out top covers is very easy and since the sideplate is what is registered, does not cause any issues with the ATF.

It MUST have correct headspacing (no worn out locks!).

This is going to be hard to get a sure thing on a non-matching gun. The lock, barrel, recoil plates, crank...etc could be the problem, not just the lock. You just have to get a combo that works. There are ways around this issue if its really a problem. Most of these guns coming up for sale are not in out of the box, shooting condition. These guns are more like Clocks than guns. You better lock playing with them to tune them in and get them running well.

I like the "restored, reblued, repainted" like-new look on my guns. My MG-42 and tripod looked LIKE NEW and it was AWESOME. If it needs cleaning and painting or even rebluing, so much the better, because I like gun projects! Expensive, like-new safe queens are not fun for me. They cost to much and the guilt of shooting a rare collectible hurts. That's the plan.

I understand, its just a matter of waiting for the right gun to come along. You should remember that while the MG08/15 is the cheapest belt fed to buy, its one of the more expensive to get parts for. Getting key parts, like good fusee covers, steam port covers, good bareels and locks are key to keepign down the costs.

[IMBLITZVT]

Question: does the new 2nd edition of Ffolke Myvang's book talk in detail about the MG 08/15 or just gloss over the basic stuff? If I'm going to spring for another Collector Grade Publications book, I want all the details a gunsmith should have for maintaining and repairing a gun, not a fancy picture book. Any help you guys can provide in getting me into this new area of collecting would be much appreciated (descriptions, pictures, advice, etc.)

The 2nd edition is more about covering the post WWI Maxim related stuff leading to the MG34. Its more like a supplemental Text to Dolf's book. Very good and worth getting but not all you will need. TDPB is the bible of Maxims. You have not said if you own that book yet but if not, buy it asap! Hands down the best, nothing close.

Here's what I'm aiming for:... video...It's all about fun. :mg

Yeah I do like shooting mine. I am about to convert it to 7.62x54r. Hopefully a bit cheap to shoot. I am also looking to do a 100rd mag dump at some point soon. Its a cool gun and will draw a crowd at any range. Its also kind of cool that you can use it for WWII reenactments too as they used them WWII. There is a famous picture of a well worn one captured by the Brits escaping to Dunkirk.

[bmg17a1]

Musgrave's German Machineguns is a worthwhile read. There is no better book on the German Maxims than Dolf 's volumes and Folke's book is about Maxims very superficially. Ask your questions here when you have them as this is the best resource around.

Bob Naess

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Thanks so much for getting me started, IMBLITZVT. I'll get The Devil's Paintbrush.

Hey Bob! You remember that MP-44 you had in your shop for around a year? We got it RUNNING and running well. If I have any specific questions about the MG 08/15 when the time comes buy one, I'll post them here. Nice to know you guys can help me out! Thanks a bunch!

[bmg17a1]

Darius writes:
Hey Bob! You remember that MP-44 you had in your shop for around a year? We got it RUNNING and running well.

Yes, good for you. This is the second time you have post this comment in this forum, in what now feels to me to be an insinuating manner, and I am not sure what you are trying to suggest here.....Are you just bragging or trying to make me look bad, or what? Do you have a problem with me or how I run my business? You don't know me, never been to my shop, or even corresponded with me, so what is your point? I may be wrong, but I feel you are being presumptuous and disparaging in making this comment, twice now. I do not know why, but that is enough.
In the course of any year 50 to 75 MGs pass through my shop for repair, maintainance, upgrade, plus I weld and build post samples, semi-MGs, make caliber conversions and other parts, buy, sell, broker MGs, and tend to many other endeavors in a one man busniess that keep the schedule extremely full and at most times I am more than a half a year behind the work. Oh, yeah, there is the family life, too....

Bob Naess

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

I am just happy that the thing is working, and thought you might feel the same way. No slight is intended! As a matter of fact, I have publicly recommended you and Black River Militaria in several posts to fellows looking for gun repair, especially the MG-42. We did have a phone conversation once a long while back. I continue to recommend your business to other gun enthusiasts.

[1851NAVY]

I did things a bit backwards - started buying the parts for an 08 from IMBLITZ - THEN bought Dolfs book. If you're looking for info - TDPB is the bible.

I am HIGHLY recommending the services of IMBLITZ in locating parts. He has been extremely helpful in guiding me towards the parts I need to build a specific gun (pictures to follow in a separate thread). Although my wallet has thinned out quite a bit since we started communicating.......hmmmmm...... go figure.

[Blanksguy]

DA,
From my "WWI" reenacting-days, the accessories and/or parts that I have seen used and/or in the Field at a WWI reenactment would be (try to use and/or make reproduction of these):
1: Leather-sling.
2: Spare-Lock and tool-pouch for belt with min.-tools like cartridge-tongs, wrench, etc..(See Devils Paintbrush).
3: Water-steam condesing-can, hose and fitting for more permanent positions.
4: Steel earlier type Ammo-Cans for 250-rds.
5: Covert 500-rd. ammo-cans with inner-partition (usually find these as post-WWI late 1930s dated.).
6: Assault-Drum.
7: Assault-Drun-Box that holds two assault-drums.
8: Blank-Firing-Booster........make it up from the plans that I made way back in the early 1990s of all of ther booster-parts to look as a "live-booster but only fire Blanks (we can talk later)....the wood-tip Blank-Firing-Booster stands out too much.
9: Think about conversion to either 7.62x54R (see Bob-Naess about these as he works on a lot of Maxims and conversions for same.).
10: As for Blanks......look at taking a shot-out maxim barrel........then boring out chamber-end for conversion to 7.62x51mm Blanks usung the standard 8x57mm lock. ....or you could cut the barrel off, then bore out the rear-stub for a new 7.62x51mm Barrel....similar to the Chinese conversions.

I'll go into more later when we talk more about my 1915 French Chauchat.
Regards, RichardS in MI
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Blanksguy]

DA,
For "ammo-belts", I would try to locate at least one good WWI German 8x57mm web-belt w/brass-tabs for display. For use, I would run the steel 7.62x54R 1910-maxim/SG43-series/PK-series Belts with the open-side of the posket facing up. You may have to adjust the forward loop on each pocket....but they worked for me.
I would try to stay clear of the Turkish aluminum belts that are set up as "half-pockets"......they may work for you (try one)....I seemed to always have challanges with the spring-wire connectors always catching on something and/or becoming-loose and/or catching on clothes/me/or onto other parts of the belt.

Sources for some items might be Great-War-Militaria......Rick-Keller use to own it (with a partner-?) and always seemed to come across parts, accessories, even complete guns with sleds.

On MG08/15 armour........helmet armour use to be reproduced by IMA over in New Jersey....along with the full-frontal body-armour as reproductions.

IMA sometimes comes across parts and accessories from overseas and imports these into the USA.....talk with "Cristian" (?-spelling).
GunPartsCorp, and even SARCO, Inc. gets parts every now and then.

I don'y know if a BATF Form-6 would be required for items such as the "accessory" MG08/15 assault-drums and/or the wooden case that they travel in.........and such accessories as tool-pouches, water-hoses and fitting........but you could try talking with some of the overseas collectors that frequent some of the WWII colector Boards.

....and we have other sources depending on what you're looking for.

Regards, RichardS in MI.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Thanks Blanksguy!

If I get an MG-08/15 I'll try to look for a decent original belt. As for the MG armour, I would just make it myself (I am a medieval armourer).