1918 T-Gewehr Bullets

[Patrick Chadwick]

According to the book "Das Tankgewehr Mauser M 1918" by Wolfgang Kern (ISBN 3-933481-06-6), the bipod in Jim's 1st foto is an original Tankgewehr bipod, made from solid material - and very heavy. There are probably very few of those still around.

The one favored by the PBI who had to carry all that gear was the bipod for the MG 08/15, which was a much lighter "plug-in" replacement. That is what Randy has got. There are probably considerably more of these around, reflecting the larger quantity of MG 08/15s.

The book also mentions (P116) that if one had to make a "strategic withdrawal" the heavy bipod was the first thing to be dumped, and also observes that the majority of photos of a T-Gewehr in action show it without a bipod at all. Many riflemen would have seen little sense in using a bipod (which anyway tended to sink into the muddy earth) and thus be forced to stick one's head out further than absolutely necessary. Resting the beast on the parapet of the trench was simpler - and safer!

Randy, that book is a must! And if anyone knows a better one on the T-Gewehr, please let me know!

[browningautorifle]

The first pic I posted is a recovered bipod that has been cleaned after being burned...in a fire. The pics of it covered in scale had no bearing so... I agree the bipod the OP shows is original but the paint is likely added. The little markings should be easy enough to verify?

[rescuerandy2]

Good Morning All,

This weekend I am going to remove a small test patch of paint in a discrete location to see what's underneath. I guess I will add the tubular bipod to the "want/need" list! I hope it does not take as long to find that bipod as it took me to secure the T18. Randy

[browningautorifle]

Are these not the same mount used by the '08/'15 Maxim gun?

[Patrick Chadwick]

As far as I can tell from the book, the users just dumped the heavy original and used the 08/15 bipod without any alteration - hence my use of the term “plug-in replacement”. It happened in the field, where alterations would hardly have been feasible.

Perhaps somebody out there has a 08/15 AND a T-Gewehr, and can make a direct comparative measurement?
More realistically: it appears that there are some 08/15s in the hands of forum members, so the mounting could be measured and the results published here for that Randy to compare with the T-Gewehr.

Randy: why don‘t you just post an information request on the MG forum?

[Patrick Chadwick]

This photo - Post #3 in the thread:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=42632

shows the presumed T-Gewehr heavy bipod on a 08/15. This supports the conclusion that they were simply swappable. I.e. the heavy bipod initially used on the T-Gewehr seems to have been originally developed for the 08/15. So if you want a heavy bipod for your T, look for the 08/15 sources.

[Patrick Chadwick]

There was a series of books written by Hans Helmut Kirst around a WW1 soldier, using the nickname 08/15.
The title of the novel "Gunner Asch goes to War" is, in the original "08/15 im Krieg".

To understand this choice, you need (yes, really!) to know that the 08/15 was such a common object for the PBI in WW1 that "08/15" became a byword equivalent to the British "bog standard", i.e. totally ordinary. Familiar to us grandpas, but not to the internet generation.

[rescuerandy2]

Good Evening,

With the help of Scott (Georgia) and Brian (Manitoba) I have successfully reproduced the missing large action bolt and the T-Gewehr is now complete and waiting for cartridge components. Randy

[rescuerandy2]

Good Afternoon,

Now let's get picky. As you can see in the photo, the new bolt is blue and the finish for the T-Gewehr is brown. What solution(s) and process would I need to brown the new bolt. Thanks, Randy.

[browningautorifle]

I think you'd need an acid wash to brown it a bit. There are firearm manufacturers that produce new firearms with this brownish "Rustish" look. I don't mean browning...