Original Imperial German WWI MG 08 Maxim Machine Gun Schlittenlafette Sled Mount by Simpson - Serial No 8652

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptionally rare sled mount for the German WW1 Maxim MG08 Machine Gun. The MG 08 was usually issued on a sled-type mount of adjustable height, called the Schlittenlafette 08 (Sled Carriage 08). This mount allowed the gun to be dragged through the battlefield, or to be carried like a stretcher by two or more soldiers. The mount was provided with traverse and elevation mechanisms with rough and fine adjustments.

This magnificent example was purchased from a private collector at a recent military show, and is one of the best examples we have had. It still has all four of the original horsehair and leather pads present, but there is very heavy loss of leather from dry rotting on two of the pads, and minor loss of material on the other two. It also has the wooden supports inside the rear legs intact, which serve to keep them from bending and often are destroyed by rot, but one of the two does have material loss on the interior of the leg. We do not see any signs of restoration or major cleaning, and it looks to have all original paint on it, looking like it has been carefully stored in a collection for decades. The paint has flaked in areas, and there is also some moderate oxidation present in places, which we have left as is to preserve the fantastic aged patina this piece has.

The mount is marked 8652 on the upper flat of the right side, and has other markings in multiple locations, such as what looks to be 18 on the left side flat. It also has a maker’s logo on the barrel mount assembly consisting of an “S” in a Triangle, which several collectors have attributed to “Simpson”, though we do not know for sure. This could use some deeper research. The range plate on top of the elevation mechanism is fully present.

This sled mount is very solid and functional, and all important mechanisms still work! The latches for the front legs are still springy and lock into place, and the pivot hinge for the legs works well. The elevation control works, and the elevation release works as well, which allows the elevation to be set without the fine control. It also still has the top retaining clamp for the water jacket of the MG 08, which is often missing. Pretty much the only thing missing is the traverse clamp that attaches to the rear trunion on a Maxim gun. The traverse bar does have some chipping along the edge as shown. 

It has both galvanized steel lock boxes still intact, with working latches and complete wood inserts in great shape. The brackets for cleaning tools are all intact, but the oil and solvent cans are gone. It's got the small galvanized small parts bin on the lower left intact, as well as the spare barrel clamp on the lower right, which locks the breech end of the barrel, although the housing is bent so it doesn’t close correctly.

Original usable sled mounts like this are exceptionally hard to find, in fact there is one that was once listed for $30,000 USD!!! This example has to be one of if not the best on the market today, and these almost never come up for sale.

Here is your chance to finally have a genuine MG 08 Sled Mount from the Great War to complete your Maxim display. This will not last long!

History of the MG 08:

Germany was one of the first buyers of new machine guns, designed in UK by Sir Hiram Maxim. In 1892, the German company Ludwig Loewe obtained a 7-year manufacturing license from Maxim. Manufacture of German guns commenced in 1894, and in the same year the German Navy adopted the Maxim MG in 7.92x57mm. The license expired in 1899, and at that time a newly established company, Deutshe Waffen und Munitionsfabrik (DWM) began production of the same gun for the German army as the MG99. It was similar to all other Maxim type guns made in the same period, except for the mounting, which was somewhat unusual in appearance. Unlike most mountings, which had three legs, it was a four-legged sledge-type mounting, known as Schlittenlafette (Sleigh or Sled Carriage). This weapon was slightly updated in 1901, when the bronze barrel jacket was replaced by a more economical steel one.

The definitive pattern of the German Maxim appeared in 1908, when the basic weapon was significantly lightened. Known as the MG 08, or more properly, s.M.G. 08 (schweres Maschinen Gewehr- heavy machine gun), it was produced by two factories: DWM and Koniglishe Gewehr- und Munitions fabrik in Spandau. The latter word was stamped in large letters on the top of the receiver of Spandau-made guns, so it eventually became the nickname of German machine guns (although mostly related to lMG 08/15). These guns were widely used during the Great War (World War 1), and took a heavy toll on Allied forces. After the war, MG 08 machine guns were used by German army until appearance of the more modern guns, such as MG 34.German-made Maxim guns were also widely exported before the WW1, and close copies of MG 08 were built in China during 1930s as Type 24 machine gun.

The MG 08 Maxim machine gun is short recoil operated, water cooled, full automatic only belt-fed machine gun. All Maxim guns fired from closed bolt, which was not a problem for water-cooled guns. Water jackets were made from sheet steel.

The basic toggle-lock action, patented by Hiram Maxim, used two struts, connected by the hinge, and located between the breech block and a barrel extension in such a manner that when breech block was in battery, struts formed a straight line and transferred the pressure, exerted by the hot powder gases through the base of the cartridge, directly to the barrel extension. This caused the entire barrel / extension / breech block group to recoil inside receiver, against the tension of the spring, located under the separate cover outside of the left receiver wall. After short recoil, the cocking handle, which was located on the rear axis of the toggle system, struck the pin installed on the right receiver wall. This caused the cocking handle to rotate up and forward, thus breaking the toggle down. The cocking handle served as both unlocking member and a breech block accelerator, as its shape caused the toggle to open rather fast. During the opening movement of the breech block, the empty cartridge was extracted from the barrel, and the separate breech face, with integral T-slot that held the cartridge case by its rim, was slid down ward, to put the fired cartridge case below the barrel and in alignment with short extraction tube, that was located under the barrel and emerged from the front of receiver. At the same time, the fresh cartridge that was picked by the T-slot during the previous cycle, was lowered and put in line with the chamber. The closing movement of the toggle was controlled by the return spring, located on the left side of the receiver. Unlike most other weapons, the return spring was extended during the recoil, rather than compressed; it was attached to the pivoting lever, located co-axially with cocking handle on the rear toggle axis. Thus, upon counter-recoil cycle, this spring forced the toggle to straighten up from its bent position, pushing the breech block (with fresh cartridge above and fired case below both held in in the T-slot) forward, and entire barrel / breech block system into the battery. Upon final part of closing movement of the bolt, the sliding breech face was risen up, to leave spent cartridge in the ejection tube and to catch the next fresh cartridge from the belt by its rim. If the trigger was still pushed, the firing pin was released by the trigger ling, which engaged the sear, built into the breech block. The trigger itself was located between dual spade grips, at the backplate of receiver; it was pushed by thumbs.

The feed system used non-disintegrating belts, made from cloth or tarpaulin, with metallic struts. Feed was from the right side only; feed system was operated through the horizontally pivoting pin / levers system by recoiling barrel group.

The muzzle booster was of an indigenous design, with a conical flash-hider. Additionally, the muzzle of MG 08 machine guns was often fitted with small circular shield, which protected the front of the thin-walled water jacket (made from sheet steel) from shrapnel, low-velocity bullets and other fragments. The return spring was easily adjustable for tension, with a special scale provided on the spring cover. The receiver backplate was hinged to the receiver.