The MG08/15

[Seaforth72]

It appears that this is a standard positioning of the lock (firing pin etc) to show that the weapon is empty. With the Maxim and Vickers machine guns, one could easily leave a weapon loaded by mistake and by tilting the lock up like this at 45 degrees, it is visual evidence that the weapon does not have a live cartridge hidden down inside the mechanism.

Information

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[Warren]

Opening the top cover and turning the lock at 90 deg. was known as "hanging the lock."
You could close the top cover but the lock still stuck out and the top cover was open about 3 to 4 inches.
It was a way of proving the gun was unloaded and safe.
It was done on both the Maxim and the Vickers

[MG1918]

In Canada there must be plenty still standing. Could members provide their imagery?

[MG1918]

Attachment 105457

Note the rain cover attached to the 08/15. They were common with the 08/15 and fitted or rather rested ontop of the trommel.
Mark

[MG1918]

Attachment 105601Attachment 105602

[MG1918]

Attachment 106101Attachment 106102

[MG1918]

Attachment 106762Attachment 106763

[MG1918]

Attachment 107920Attachment 107919

[Surpmil]

From the apparent ages, post #103 would be Landsturm I assume?

The second photo in post #105 shows three C96 pistols being worn I believe, do you have any information about how these were assigned?

Edit: flaps look more like artillery Lugers on second thought.

[MG1918]

A l'entrée en guerre la dotation en P.08 pour les mitrailleurs est la suivante:

1- 1914: Maschinengewehr-Kompanien (M.G.K) 80 pistolets.

2 - 1914: Maschinengewehr- Abteilungen (M.G.A) 44 pistolets.

3 - 1914: Ersatz-Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie (E.M.G.K) 189 pistolets.

4 - 1916: Maschinengewehr -Scharfschützentrupp ( M.G.S.S) mitrailleurs d'élite 21 pistolets.

Les armes des Officiers ne sont pas dans ces comptes ils devaient acheter leur arme.

Il ne faut plus tenir compte du règlement à partir du 3 août 1914 les pertes en hommes et matériel seront importantes et les mitrailleurs auront suivant les stocks pendant toute la guerre, des 7,65 de toute sorte, des Mauser 7,63, des L. P.O8 des pistolets de prise. Pour l'instant je n'ai jamais vu de mitrailleurs avec des Reichsrevolver M.79 ou M.83 sur des photos au front où à l'arrière.