Tankgewehr Mauser M 1918 (#2854)

[Alan Smith]

Bipod photo 4

[Alan Smith]

Bipod photo 5

[Alan Smith]

Last but not least: my little helper w/ T-Gewehr.

[IMBLITZVT]

Looks great! You are right, they just don't look correct without one.

[MG1918]

Bipod

You clearly love your new bipod
And yes it looks excellent. I did read however somewhere that actually only about 50% of the rifles had the (what is now accepted as the standard) bipod and the remainder the so called standard MG08/15 bipod. So for authenticity either is great if you are lucky enough to have the T rifle! can anyone identify where I read this?
Thanks
Mark

[Alan Smith]

Mark: Thanks for your comments and observations. I don't know that I've seen the 50/50 "tubular" vs. "square" bipod statistic in print, but that does seem accurate from period photos. In fact, I have seen a number of period photos of the T-Gewehr in German use with no bipod (and the capture history of #2854 indicates that it had no bipod when found).

Having personally handled this beast, plus knowing how it was used (i.e. fired from a concealed position at an approaching tank), to me it seems like the bipod is a hinderance and would been discarded in many cases. After all, the bipod keeps the gun elevated up off the ground when, in its intended tatical use, the gun should be kept very low to the ground (likey fired out of a trench w/ sandbags around it or other protection and/or concealment).

Bottom line: I think it is a misnomer to call the tubular type bipod the "correct" bipod for the Tgewehr, as the period photos show both types (as well as no bipod) in use.

Alan

[MG1918]

T Gewehr

Wise words Alan.
nonetheless you have by the look of it a fine specimen.
Mark

[IMBLITZVT]

Another question is which direction it should face! Instruction manuals call for it to be reversed for the 08/15. However this did not improve my shooting when I tried it.

My MG08/15 came with a Tubular bipod!

[MG1918]

Posn

Its a good point. Period photos show both bipod patterns being used in both directions on both weapons.
Now I will need two of each to show ALL different posn's!
Mark

[MG1918]

Woodwork

Alan I forgot to ask - how did you clean all the wood furniture on your T?
Mark

[Alfred.R]

wow !!! wow ! thats a gun of dreams!

[Alan Smith]

Mark: I have not cleaned the wood on #2854; what you see is exactly the way it came to me. If I recall correctly, the prior owner (who acquired it from the WWI vet's son) did not do anything to the rifle other than keep the metal oiled.