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. The Model 08/15 was intended to be more mobile in the field, and could be fired without a large field mount or a fixed position. 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 "1917" production date. Fitted with a recoil boosting muzzle device on the water cooling jacket, crank-adjusted spring tension regulator on the left side of the frame, pistol grip mounted safety, and a hardwood buttstock. The buttstock is stamped on the right side "CAPTURED BY TWENTY EIGHTH/DIV. SEPT.TWENTYSIXTH/NINETEEN EIGHTEEN"; September 26, 1918 was the opening day of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, during which the U.S. 28th Infantry Division (aka the Keystone Division) faced very heavy German resistance. Also included is a metal bipod, belt carrier, suspension hook for the belt carrier, and cartridge belt.