German Maxim MG Nr.165

[mk1rceme]

Bought this historic piece, and a 50 Cal. recently...found on the bald *** Alberta prairie in a town of 1500 people. I had no idea about it's history when I bought it, but some very knowledgeable researchers have verified it's past.

It is one of the estimated 3000 guns brought back to Canada after WWI by the government and distributed across Canada for museums, displays and such. The gun was captured on August 9, 1918 by the 8th Bn.(90th Winnipeg rifles)near Hatchet Wood during the battle of Amiens. Two VC's were earned by 8th Bn. on that day, in the same battle. Both for capturing MG positions. Records show that the gun was allotted to the town of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. The sellers family was from this town. He said at one time it was part of a memorial in the town, but local vets voted to have it removed because it was a hun gun.

Sad that it's in relic condition, but the history of it makes it unique.
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Information

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[browningautorifle]

Seriously, it's not that bad. I was taken past a town during the '80's that had two of these still standing beside the memorial down beside Hwy 12 in AB. Later I tried to find them again as they were just sitting there on top of the soil and not even anchored down. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't even find the town.

Bet if you try a bit, you'll corner the basic parts to make this look good again. Example, I had a Vickers lock for years that was found on the MG range firing point in Wainwright...and eventually sold it I think not long ago.

[#1oilman]

I have heard it said that the British fought for Honor the Canadians fought for souveneirs. I remember as a kid playing on one of these on a sled mount at a ball diamond in Inwood Ontario. I imagine it went for scrap long . I bought one several years ago that had bee one of two found in the attic of the Rosseau Ont Leigon.

[browningautorifle]

There's still one on a sled mount set in concrete in front of the Digby NS Legion...

[Flying10uk]

I wouldn't describe it as in relic condition, just not been look after for a long time. I recall seeing something similar, some years ago, in one of the many large country houses open to the public here in the U.K.. I do recall that it had the history of how the MG was captured recorded on it's side, I think on the butt side. The reason that it was on display in the house was because the former owner/Lord of the manor had been the officer in charge when it was captured.

[Woodsy]

Most of the MG'08 and 08/15 guns here had the official capture number painted on the receiver of the gun in orange paint which was done behind the lines by an official records unit. The info painted on the water jackets was 'unofficial' by the units that captured them, but of far more interest to a collector.

I had a bit of a win in 2015 when I recovered 5 Maxims that were concreted inside a wall in 1932. It has been a lot of work (and still ongoing) but I have got three in working order, one for spares, and one 08/15 as a relic that I have given to a museum. All the rest are MG'08's and 1 Russian 1905 Maxim, captured by the Germans and converted to 7.92x57, then captured by NZ troops. The concrete has excluded the moisture and the guns are quite good with a lot of original blue remaining. One is a 1909 DWM gun #613 which is stamped on the top cover as gun 3 of the MG Section of the 9th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. It is in very good condition with a barrel that scrubbed up to be about 8 out of 10. According to Dolf's book "The Devil's Paintbrush" this would be the 4th lowest serial number known. This gun was captured at Ploegsteert Wood (battle of Messines) in 1917 by the NZ Rifle Brigade The wooden grips were rotted away on all of the guns and I have yet to make replacements. They are all bare guns without mounts. I will post photos if anyone is interested.

[browningautorifle]

They are all bare guns without mounts. I will post photos if anyone is interested.

Of course we're interested...

[Woodsy]

This shows the 5 guns as I got them, and MG'08 #613.
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[#1oilman]

Quite a task you have taken on, how did you come to know their whereabouts? My MG08 bore a stencil in white paint that read "Canadian War Trophy 148th Battalion"

[browningautorifle]

the 5 guns as I got them,

Ok, that's more like I expected. I thought you were saying they came out in great shape. Those look more like what I expected. I too would sit with a dental pick or whatever was needed to clean them off. Slow but sure will do it.

I had an MG '08/15 show up and had to strip and sort it out. It turned out pretty good...