MG08 Instrument Search (Optimisic perhaps?)

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Hi Guys,

It is MG08 Kit, but was repurposed for the MG34 during the pre war period.

I am searching for the MG08 Indirect fire Master compass or director.

Would anyone know of one or have one, they are willing to part with? I have the artillery version which is slightly different in pattern complete with the tripod so am looking for the instrument as per pics attached. If case available as well that's great.

Regards

Tim

[Alan Smith]

Is this what you are looking for? If so, shoot me an e-mail and we can discuss.

I believe that the optic shown is German made on WWI-era contract for Turkey, and was part of the early 1990's import into the US by IMO of Turkish military surplus German MG08 parts and accessories.

BTW: Sorry about the i-phone photo "flip" . . . . it is extremely annoying, but I have not yet figured out how to eliminate the issue when posting to this Forum.

[Alan Smith]

A couple of additional photos.

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Hi Alan,

As per chat back up on the thread. As discussed not quite the same device. However a very interesting piece of kit.

It almost looks to be a hybrid, or more advanced type of sight as the dovetail as discussed looks designed for direct fit to the MG08. Would be nice to see the graticule image as I think that would give additional clues as to use. I shall have to do some delving on your device.

The device I am after works I conjunction with the MGRA below. Same or similar principle as the RK31 and later sights.

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Hi Alan,

I am still none the wiser on the device you imaged apart from I found another with a UK Dealer I know. Turkish contract one again, but this one is actually dated in the compass face for 1929. In all other respects its the same as yours.

Still Digging, but if any other member of the forum has any info on the Turkish use of the Maxim and associated kit very interested to hear from them.

As the optic looks to mount directly to an MG08 Dovetail, and I don't recall seeing that dovetail design being applied to the top of a tripod, I am starting to wonder if this is the precursor to the MGZ idea of a single device being able to be used as a direct fire sight and or indirect. The top compass is removable after all and that just leaves the optic element. No proof of that of course just throwing it out their.

Regards

Tim

[Alan Smith]

Here are photos taken (as best I could accomplish) through the optics, as would be the gunner's view off of the MG08.

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Hi Alan,

Looking at the image and the inverted V I am even more inclined to suggest that this is a kind of stepping stone device.

The ZF 12 is a direct fire line of sight unit and it too uses the invert V.

MG08 for indirect used the Director sight and Compass below, with the MGRA physically attached to the gun.

MG34 However has the MGZ AND MGZ40 which are both capable of direct fire and as indirect units if used with the RK31

The big unit you show has the direct fire element by use of the optics set at ZER0 in line and azimuth when connected to the gun. Without the compass attached.

If however you attached the compass and use the elevation and travers nature of the beast it would mimick the latter sight units.

Hopefully that comes across as understandable. Like I said the other one I saw was actually 1929 Dated which would sort of put the device in a time frame where additional experimentation was going on to improve sighting optics etc. It also must have had some success as its obviously made it to manufacture and supply. Cant be a cheap item to make.

MUST try to get a handle on this thing. Any one else want to chip in. Must be some optics specialists out their

Regards

Tim

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Ok,

Managed to obtain an image through a friend of the MG08 Director graticule, and have done a comparator with the optics

ZF 12 below is a direct fire sight with no other function and uses a plain invert V graticule

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Alans unknown, with direct fire invert V and an upper and lower vertical reference bar

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MGZ Optic, as can be seen, same aiming image as per unknown device, however we know the MGZ is duel use, indirect and direct. Yellow lens btw.

Exactley the same aiming image is used on the MGZ40 ( Makes sense as the guys were already trained in many cases all it was was a cheaper sight to make)

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Last but not least is the MG08 Director unit, grotty image and the inscriptions are Turkish however base unit is made by Bushe and the same as german issue.

Not a weapon sight.

Rather think that Allans unkown unit is a sort of missing link between the great war systems in use and the more refined optics we are used to seeing on the MG34/42.

Sorry for the stream of posts but I am REALLY bad at photo editing and blocking them all together.

Regards