Manufactured by Spandau Arsenal in 1918. The top cover is marked "8781a/M.G.08/15/Gwf./Spandau/1918". It has a deep blued finish with reminants of an old coat of dark green paint on the barrel jacket and bipod. Fitted with its original flip-up tangent style rear sight graduated from 400-2,000 meters and a simple inverted "v" front sight. Matching serial numbers on the following parts: receiver, left side recoil slot closure plate, stock, barrel extension plates with crosshead connecting rod and crank handle, top cover and rear sight, feedblock, lock, backplate and the trommel magazine bracket. However, it is missing the complete recoil booster deflector plate mechanism (located on the front end of the barrel/water jacket). Includes an original reinforced fixed bipod. It has suffered some battle damage on the right rear end of the barrel jacket where it meets the front edge of the receiver. The damage consists of a single .30 caliber size bullet hole that entered the barrel jacket, but it does not show any exit hole. It also removed a very small section of the water jacket directly in front of the receiver, but didn't hit the receiver. Designed by Hiram Maxim in 1883-1884, it became one of the most influential weapons of the 20th century in that it was the first self-sustaining heavy MG used in any sizeable numbers on the battlefield. It was able to lay down a sustained suppressive fire without any other external means other than by the energy generated from the force of firing a round. It was originally demonstrated in Europe; however, the British Army was the first to make any notable purchases and to actually use it in battle. Germany adopted it in 1899 where it gained the most notoriety during the WWI trench warfare battles where it was nicknamed the "Devils Paintbrush". It remained in use by Germany until the development of the MG34. It was adopted by Russia in 1905 where it also remained in use through WWII. They were produced by both the Spandau Arsenal and later by the DWM factory due to WWI demands. The large distinctive steel water jacket around the barrel held seven quarts of water to cool the barrel during long sustained bursts of fire. Capable of firing approximately 500 rounds of sustained fire before the water started to boil and up to 2,000 rounds of sustained fire before the water would all boil off and the jacket had to be refilled. This was quite an astonishing feat in 1915 in comparison to the air-cooled MGs employed today where the soldier is taught to fire no more than 5-10 rounds per burst.

Fine with 70% of the blued finish overall with 60% of the dark green exterior paint (over the blued metal) on the water jacket and bipod, with the balance having flaked off. The stock is in good condition with numerous dents and dings on the sides with a larger chunk of wood missing from the top rear edge of the stock. It appears to be complete except for the damaged area, however, it has been rendered inoperable due to a small spot weld directly behind the trigger which may also extend just up into the bottom edge of underside receiver plate. Notwithstanding this is a very complete and seldom encountered WWI Maxim Model 1908/15 MG. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.