**FIRST YEAR PRODUCTION MAXIM MG 08 SPANDAU HEAVY MACHINE GUN WITH EXCEEDINGLY LOW SERIAL NUMBER 130 (C&R).

SN 130. 8 mm. 28-1/2″ bbl. Maxim MG 08 manufactured in Spandau in 1908. This may be the earliest numbered MG 08 Maxim extent. Left side plate, top cover, trunnion, water jacket, optical sight bracket, cross bolt and backplate are all SN 130. Fusee cover unnumbered but marked “MASCH.GEW.08” / “SPANDAU” / “1908” / “GEWEHRFABRIK” which appears correct vintage and almost certainly came with gun from factory. Top cover bears unusual markings “M.G.08.” / “M.G.XX.” / “19.”. Feed block is marked “DWM”, is unusual and unnumbered with evidence of welding; it has been fitted with a block to retain a belt rain cover and is refinished. Belt rain/dust cover and retaining pin is included as an accessory as is one drum, a low trench mount, Eleitz Wetzlar rear optic sight and front jacket armor piece. Attached to bottom of right sideplate is mounting bracket for drum which also doubles as holder for cartridge extraction tongs which are present SN 35. Bolt is numbered 32061 with imperial German proof mark. Bbl is numbered 265 with Nazi eagle proof mark. Water fill cap and fill chain present without wooden pieces. Piston moves freely inside booster. Muzzle shield marked with crown/U proof marks and “BWB” within oval. Drain plug chain and cork present and serviceable. Oiler brushes inside handles are intact although not matching SN (94 & 34 by DWM). This gun is featured in Goldsmith’s book The Devil’s Paint Brush on pg 174. Mechanism functions smoothly when operated by hand. This weapon appears fully functional. PROVENANCE: Ex-Dolf Goldsmith collection; The class III weapons formerly on loan to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is very good. Left sideplate and jacket retain about 80% of a heavy black enamel paint over a blued finish on sideplate. Booster retains about 80% of a smooth blue/gray finish thinning in places. Water jacket has a patch repair 7″ from nose in 6 o’clock position, a 2 X 2-1/2″ vintage patch soldered into place. Shrapnel hole 5″ from nose at 1 o’clock position which has not been repaired. Several dents and dings in water jacket and one noticeable outward dent about size of a dime 8-1/2″ from nose at 3 o’clock position. Top cover retains about 30% of its blued finish turning to a light brown patina and quite thin in places. Fusee cover only has about 15% of its blued finish, quite thin and turned to light brown patina. Right side plate retains about 40% of its blued finish fading to gray. Optic is stenciled in white paint “289”, rubber eye cup has some damage and is petrified but present. Adjustment operates properly and optics are very clear. Belt rain/dust cover has a coat of black enamel paint, orig pin and retaining chain present and serviceable. Drum is marked “E&G” / “Feuer!” / “Kurbelhock” and is covered in a coat of black enamel paint and appears serviceable. Trench mount also has a coating of black enamel paint, retains its trunnion clamp and appears to be serviceable. Bore is shiny and bright with strong rifling. Bolt face is excellent. The evidence of battle damage and use on what is almost certainly the lowest SN operational MG 08 Maxim which is documented in Dolf Goldsmith’s book The Devil’s Paintbrush make this a historically significant machine gun and certain to be the centerpiece of the most advanced WWI collection. 4-51701 JWK23 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 1005

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1005	$28,750.00	*FIRST YEAR PRODUCTION MAXIM MG 08 SPANDAU HEAVY MACHINE GUN WITH EXCEEDINGLY LOW SERIAL NUMBER 130 (C&R). SN 130. 8 mm. 28-1/2″ bbl. Maxim MG 08 manufactured in Spandau in 1908. This may be the earliest numbered MG 08 Maxim extent. Left side plate, top cover, trunnion, water jacket, optical sight bracket, cross bolt and backplate are all SN 130. Fusee cover unnumbered but marked “MASCH.GEW.08” / “SPANDAU” / “1908” / “GEWEHRFABRIK” which appears correct vintage and almost certainly came with gun from factory. Top cover bears unusual markings “M.G.08.” / “M.G.XX.” / “19.”. Feed block is marked “DWM”, is unusual and unnumbered with evidence of welding; it has been fitted with a block to retain a belt rain cover and is refinished. Belt rain/dust cover and retaining pin is included as an accessory as is one drum, a low trench mount, Eleitz Wetzlar rear optic sight and front jacket armor piece. Attached to bottom of right sideplate is mounting bracket for drum which also doubles as holder for cartridge extraction tongs which are present SN 35. Bolt is numbered 32061 with imperial German proof mark. Bbl is numbered 265 with Nazi eagle proof mark. Water fill cap and fill chain present without wooden pieces. Piston moves freely inside booster. Muzzle shield marked with crown/U proof marks and “BWB” within oval. Drain plug chain and cork present and serviceable. Oiler brushes inside handles are intact although not matching SN (94 & 34 by DWM). This gun is featured in Goldsmith’s book The Devil’s Paint Brush* on pg 174. Mechanism functions smoothly when operated by hand. This weapon appears fully functional. PROVENANCE: Ex-Dolf Goldsmith collection; The class III weapons formerly on loan to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is very good. Left sideplate and jacket retain about 80% of a heavy black enamel paint over a blued finish on sideplate. Booster retains about 80% of a smooth blue/gray finish thinning in places. Water jacket has a patch repair 7″ from nose in 6 o’clock position, a 2 X 2-1/2″ vintage patch soldered into place. Shrapnel hole 5″ from nose at 1 o’clock position which has not been repaired. Several dents and dings in water jacket and one noticeable outward dent about size of a dime 8-1/2″ from nose at 3 o’clock position. Top cover retains about 30% of its blued finish turning to a light brown patina and quite thin in places. Fusee cover only has about 15% of its blued finish, quite thin and turned to light brown patina. Right side plate retains about 40% of its blued finish fading to gray. Optic is stenciled in white paint “289”, rubber eye cup has some damage and is petrified but present. Adjustment operates properly and optics are very clear. Belt rain/dust cover has a coat of black enamel paint, orig pin and retaining chain present and serviceable. Drum is marked “E&G” / “Feuer!” / “Kurbelhock” and is covered in a coat of black enamel paint and appears serviceable. Trench mount also has a coating of black enamel paint, retains its trunnion clamp and appears to be serviceable. Bore is shiny and bright with strong rifling. Bolt face is excellent. The evidence of battle damage and use on what is almost certainly the lowest SN operational MG 08 Maxim which is documented in Dolf Goldsmith’s book The Devil’s Paintbrush make this a historically significant machine gun and certain to be the centerpiece of the most advanced WWI collection. 4-51701 JWK23 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 1005 Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

**FIRST YEAR PRODUCTION MAXIM MG 08 SPANDAU HEAVY MACHINE GUN WITH EXCEEDINGLY LOW SERIAL NUMBER 130 (C&R).