Known today mostly for heavy trucks and diesel engines, Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg was a German military supplier in both World Wars, being a chief producer of the Panther Tank in the latter. Originally developed by Hiram Maxim in the 1880s, the Maxim Gun is credited as the first true automatic weapon, using the energy generated by firing the round to cycle the weapon. Predating the idea of the air-cooled quick-change barrel, Maxim dealt with the technical challenge of the massive heat generated by automatic fire by installing a water-filled jacket around the barrel, an innovation that would continue to be used for decades afterwards. Fitted with a blade front sight on the water jacket and a tangent rear sight on the top cover, which also bears the model markings, manufacturer name and address, and the "1918" production date. Many of the parts are mismatched numbers. The accessories are representative of the Imperial Maxim, with the recoil boosting muzzle device, water cooling jacket, crank-adjusted spring tension regulator on the left side of the frame, pistol grip mounted safety, detachable steel bipod and belt carrier, and a solid hardwood buttstock. Also included is a 1935 dated German language manual for the 08/15 and 08/18 machine guns, a set of 1968-vintage sales/shipping paperwork (copies) from noted NFA dealer J. Curtis Earl and a copy of the 1968 dated transfer paperwork.