Today on Gus’ Gear I will show a few full auto weapons from Germany, France and The United Kingdom. All examples shown here are demilled and classified as parts kits. For my needs a live, full auto weapon is of little use as they require the license holder be in attendance at all times and cannot be used for unattended displays, transported across state lines or for presentations at schools without the need for a lot of paperwork to comply with regulations.
This is the iconic German heavy machine gun of the First World War. It is a Maxim 1908 Machinengewehr. It is chambered for the 7.92x57mm cartridge, loaded into a cloth belt with a capacity of 250 rounds. It is water cooled and mounted on a heavy sled which allows for sustained, stable firing of the weapon. The action is a toggle lock similar to the Borchardt and Luger pistols. It is possible to quickly remove the action and barrel from the receiver to change barrels. A spare barrel can be seen stowed on the left side of the sled mount. There are two boxes under the front leg’s hinge, to hold spare locks. At the lower left of the photo is a 500 round ammunition can that holds two 250 round belts, next to it is a can that holds one 250 round belt with a 250 round belt shown above it. On the right is a water can to fill the cooling jacket on the weapon and to catch the steam to condense during firing of the gun. Below the water can is a case to carry the optic sight when it is not in use, the optic sight can be seen on the top of the receiver above the grips. This weapon was very effective but difficult to transport, the front legs of the sled can be extended level to allow it to be carried like a stretcher. This weapon was manufactured by the Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken in Berlin in 1918.
This is an example of the Maxim 1908/15 Machinengewehr manufactured by Siemens & Halske in 1918. By 1915 the German Army realized there was a need for a lighter, more mobile heavy machine gun. The Maxim 08/15 was developed by reducing the size of the water jacket and designing the receiver to fit the action with less wasted space. A wooden shoulder stock and pistol grip were added and the sled was replace with a light bipod. The 08/15 was first used in combat in April of 1917. It used the same action as the Maxim 08, making supply of spare parts easier. It could utilize 250 round belts from ammunition cans, or 100 round belts using the drum magazines shown with this weapon. The box to the right holds two 100 round drums. The weapon, without water or ammunition, still weighs a hefty 40 pounds and usually had a crew of two men to transport and fire it in the field.
By 1918 the need for a light machine gun was filled with the Bergmann MP18.I which is chambered for the 9x19mm Luger cartridge. It is a simple blow back action that fires from an open bolt and uses a 32 round Trommel magazine that was designed for the Luger pistol (shown below the weapon with a cloth carrying pouch.) This example was modified post war to take a straight stick magazine that was quicker to load, easier to carry and cheaper to produce.
This is an example of a Lewis Light Machine Gun. This weapon was widely used by forces of the United Kingdom during WWI and as late as the Korean War. It is chambered for the British .303 cartridge and is shown with a loaded 47 round magazine and two Mills magazine pouches. Each pouch would hold two magazines and the assistant gunner would have four pouches. This example has a Japanese made receiver that was torch cut and then welded to make a display gun. The large barrel shroud assisted in air cooling the weapon. The barrel has aluminum fins to draw heat from the barrel and the shroud extends past the muzzle where the muzzle blast creates a draft that moves air forward through the shroud to cool the fins.
This is an example of the French made Chauchat 1915 CSRG automatic rifle. It was the first selective fire assault rifle designed and fielded and changed the nature of the battlefield. It is chambered for the standard French 8x50mmR cartridges and utilized a 20 round half moon magazine. The magazine could be quickly changed by the gunner’s assistant and is open on the right side so the assistant can observe the number of rounds in the magazine. This weapon has a long recoil system that has the barrel, receiver and bolt all recoil fully back after firing and then the bolt is captured by the sear as the barrel and receiver return to battery when the sear is released, if automatic fire is selected. The weapon fires from an open bolt and because of that it is not particularly accurate, but as an assault rifle it is intended to create heavy fire that will cause the enemy to keep their heads down as the gunner and crew advance. The open sided magazine is cited as a flaw, and it is true that dirt in the magazines would cause stoppages, but there were no standard issue automatic weapons fielded during the Great War that did not have open magazines and dirt in actions was a universal problem. The French Army had extensive training for their gunners and teams and had great success with this weapon. The United the States also used this weapon and a version was rechambered for the U.S. 30’06 cartridge, but the change from a tapered to straight case cartridge created problems with extraction and few of the 30’06 rifle were used in combat. In spite of the myth that this rifle was thrown away by American soldiers, many well trained Doughboys used this weapon with great success and Idaho resident Thomas Neibaur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions while armed with a CSRG 1915.
The weapon is shown with a French made spare magazine bag on the left, that was also used by U.S. Forces and 4 magazines. The belt at the lower right was designed to be used with the Chauchat for walking fire. The steel cup on the right of the belt is to hold the butt of the rifle to stabilize it while firing it from a standing or walking position. The belt has a double magazine pouch for the Colt 1911 pistol which was the back up weapon for the gunner. Above the belt is the tool kit and anti aircraft sight. The tool kit has tools required to clean and adjust the rifle and magazines as well as solvent and oil cans.