Mg08/15

[Seaforth72]

MG 08/15 Oil Bottle in Butt - When introduced?

Research questions:

Question 1. WHEN did the MG 08/15 oil bottle in the butt come into use? In The Devil's Paintbrush the illustrations showing it seem to be post-war. I have not found a reference to this detail in the book. I have seen an 1917 ERFURT MG 08/15 with oil bottle in butt and am wondering if it original to this one as gun was allegedly captured in August 1918. Most appear to be without the oil bottle (actually a metal cannister).

Question 2 - What should rear of butt (butt plate on normal firearms) look like for an MG 08/15 with the oil bottle feaqture? Is it solid or hollowed out? The specimen mentioned has been damaged in the butt.

[Hoss]

Research questions:

Question 1. WHEN did the MG 08/15 oil bottle in the butt come into use? In The Devil's Paintbrush the illustrations showing it seem to be post-war. I have not found a reference to this detail in the book. I have seen an 1917 ERFURT MG 08/15 with oil bottle in butt and am wondering if it original to this one as gun was allegedly captured in August 1918. Most appear to be without the oil bottle (actually a metal cannister).

Question 2 - What should rear of butt (butt plate on normal firearms) look like for an MG 08/15 with the oil bottle feaqture? Is it solid or hollowed out? The specimen mentioned has been damaged in the butt.

Good questions
The general conscious the oil bottle is a post W1 mod, the wood butt is hollow and usually cracked, the 08/15 being a rarer heavy 'light' MG. probably the captured gun was damaged and the part replaced.
I,ve never seen a W1 photo showing the oil reservoir only in the 30's and during W2.

Eric

[Chip M]

What a crap place to die. So much for the glory of war.

[Don D.]

Given the absence of the gun I'd say most of them got away or surrendered. Looking at the pile of spent casings I imagine the field out front looks worse.

[MG1918]

Oil Bottle

WWI or post WWI 08/15's have hollowed out butt stocks with the wooden 'cap'. The cap can be taken on and off but on doing this several times it would surely be loose, its a tight fit anyway, so if the user was placing 'things' inside it seems a strange design. I too have never seen period WWI photos of the oil tube in the stock so must assume post 1918. Photos to follow.

Research questions:

Question 1. WHEN did the MG 08/15 oil bottle in the butt come into use? In The Devil's Paintbrush the illustrations showing it seem to be post-war. I have not found a reference to this detail in the book. I have seen an 1917 ERFURT MG 08/15 with oil bottle in butt and am wondering if it original to this one as gun was allegedly captured in August 1918. Most appear to be without the oil bottle (actually a metal cannister).

Question 2 - What should rear of butt (butt plate on normal firearms) look like for an MG 08/15 with the oil bottle feaqture? Is it solid or hollowed out? The specimen mentioned has been damaged in the butt.

[MG1918]

How to edit?

Don or fellow moderator how can I remove some of my old posts which no longer have photos or relevance? Huge thanks.
Mark

[MG1918]

Nice view of ersatz bipod.

[MG1918]

Ersatz bipod.

[MG1918]

08/15s line up

[pzrwest]

WOW!!!!! five mg08's.. I'd be happy to just have one of them. Back when I was about 17 I had an mg08 but the stock, pistol grip, top and inner working parts were missing. Was badly rusted but I had painted it black with rustolium rust paint. It still had the bi-pod mount and legs. Weighted a ton... We used to use it when Playing war games. It was well beyond restoring it, and over time wound up in the local dump.... But was cool to have it back then

[MG1918]

War Trophies

According to the experts there is in existance a Canadian War Trophy register which lists where all the bring backs went. So I am hoping there are still some items to find. In Australia and New Zealand some bring backs were converted to .303 for any potential japanese invasion but thousands were destroyed. Before WWII many of Uks WWI War trophy's were melted down for the war effort! So Canada here I come!!!

[MG1918]

Bipods


Another good view of the so called ersatz bipod. Note the standard MG08/15 crew were 4 users and one commander. All members could of course operate the 08/15.
Mark

[MG1918]

Great image

excellent image showing trommel box and leather spares case.....a collectors heaven!

[MG1918]

Rain cover


Looking to buy one if anybody has a spare??

Not very popular as it got in the way of belt jam/handling and trommel change.

[Jeff Noll]

Rain Cover

I believe these are one of the rarest accessories for the MG 08/15. Here is mine. Good luck on your quest.