May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/8/2024
This Spandau manufactured 1918 dated Maxim 08/15 machine gun retains its matching top cover, steam port cover, charging handle, and buttstock. The barrel, feed block, lock, and fusee cover are non-matching. Lower arm of feed block has been broken off, as was typical when these were sold in the United States after WWI. Muzzle booster, bipod, water fill cap all are present. Original amnesty form is included with this gun. This gun was amnesty registered as a deactivated gun, and it has been legally reactivated to be a “live” gun by “U.S. Armament Corp, Ephrata, PA”, and is so marked on the right side of the receiver at the bottom below the charging handle. Electronic NFA registry indicates “GERMANY” as the manufacturer. PROVENANCE: Original Amnesty Registration paperwork. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is fine original blued finish turning a brown patina. Buttstock is very solid and serviceable with typical dings and bruises. Still, a very attractive stock. Barrel jacket is extremely nice, with remnants of original vintage green paint present. Bore is extremely fine, shiny and bright. Lock is clean and serviceable with good spring tension. Mechanics are fine, action moves smoothly, with rails recoiling appropriately under fusee spring tension. This is a full-auto-only machine gun. The 08/15 Maxim was the German “light” machine gun of World War I and remained in service throughout the Weimar era of the 1920s and 1930s, eventually becoming a rear echelon weapon through the end of World War II. This is a classic WWI machine gun, and these guns are great fun to shoot at the range as well. With the original booster and matching steam port cover, this is a particularly fine representative specimen of an original WWI configuration German MG 08/15 Maxim. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 OR 4 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2024-05-013
Paperwork
Amnesty Registration Form