What would an original functioning German Mp8 (?) water cooled machine gun be worth? Any idea?
I was told right around $30K, maybe more.
Edit: Look below and I give the rest of the story. The $30K came from a guy at the bar where we were bull-shitting about this.
Another problem is that he (and same with me) is not sure exactly what they are called. He knew of the small one as a Sten, I used Wikapedia on my phone and we both kind of agree it must be a 5th generation Sten.
The big thing he calls a MP8… I can not find anything on it using Google. I told him that whatever it is, he is confused (old man, likely mixed up some facts over the years?) about the true name of the thing. I suggested he get me the pictures and I would start by finding out exactly what they are that he has and find out if the dealer is trying to screw him or not.
Boy you got me on that one? Is this a Maxim variant? If so it wouldn’t be a MP (machine pistol) designation. And the first MP I’m aware of is the MP18. And if it IS the MP18 we are talking about, they certainly weren’t water cooled.
OK, let me back up a step. This guy has had these for a long time, they are full auto class 3 units. He talked to a local class 3 dealer about them (selling them) and he was told that the Sten is not to valuable, maybe $2,000 and the other might be worth $5,000. He felt that this was very low, and asked me if I knew anyone that may have an idea what these are really worth.
Also note, I have never seen them function/operate nor have I ever actually seen them in real life. He says that he has operated both units and both functioned properly and as expected.
Jesus, where did he keep those things? Buried in the backyard? :eek:
No wonder the dealer low balled him! From the looks of things that Maxim would have to be completely restored and reconditioned in order to be fire-able again.
Really not how I would protect an investment like that.:o
I believe he keeps his collection of odd things in his basement
I doubt that he could pick that thing up to save his life, we are not talking about a 40 year old brute, this guy makes old men look young…LOL! Honestly, I think he is trying to sell prior to death so that his estate does not need to deal with them. He did not clearly state it, but I feel that is the goal.
You called that large one a Maxim, would you care to elaborate for me? Is the term MP8 correct for it?
EDIT: Found it. Using your word MAXIM and his word MG8… I found the Maschinengewehr 08, or MG08. That appears to be it!
OK, the MG8 might be valuable, it might be a door stop.
Really depends what is going on internally. The problem with most water cooled guns is when you surround a barrel with a metal jacket full of water and don’t take care of it you can grow an impressive rust collection.
To know exactly what you have a knowledgeable person would have to break the whole thing down to determine the condition of everything.
A transferable Sten is gonna be in the $3,000 - $4,000 range depending upon model and condition.
Here is my straight and to the point commentary with no sugar coating.
MG08
Rusted pile of shit that is missing parts and doesn’t work. Top left hole of the spade grip backplate looks ripped out.
I’d give $200 (yes that is two hundred) for the MG08. Any more than that, you are losing money and will be screwed. I don’t believe the MG08 gas been used as looks it is missing half it parts (nothing in the receiver?) and owner is feeding you a big line of bullshit. Another point of suspicion is most owners have a tripod for a gun like this and he doesn’t appear to have one so how could he have fired it?
Provided all those parts can be sand blasted, you probably have $5000 worth of restoration costs plus years of finding parts to do and will be left with a refinished pitted gun. Plan on replacing the barrel (if you can even get it out of the receiver and jacket because of rust fusion).
Sten
If the sten is rusty, I wouldn’t give more than $1500 for it. Another maintenance/restoration nightmare. Don’t inherent some else’s problem. When you can buy a NIB MAC for $3500 that will work, paying more for a questionable sten is not justifiable. Stens are not hard to find in much better condition.
Overall comments
The guy is probably a bottom feeding loser who doesn’t deserve a damn thing for his guns judging by the way he cared for them. You said he had them for years which makes me think he is partly to mostly responsible for the condition and lack of care of the guns. The fact that he is even considering $5000 for the MG08 makes further adds to my suspicions.
Maybe I missed it, but is either one of these registered properly? If they are, does the guy have his paperwork?
Regarding price, as others have said condition is going to be a big part of what the gun is worth. These guns appear to have been neglected for years. Assuming these are transferable, I would definitely expect below average prices due to their poor condition.
Please remember that (assuming they are on the log books of the NFA registry & properly possessed by the person they are registered to):
-they are not making any more transferrables. Period. Ever.
-these guns are well over 50 years old & not only pre-86, but also C&R.
Now, the 08’s condition is attrocious - I agree. But in the right hands, it might be restored to a “shooter” - and that is where such guns belong- on the range & not hanging on a wall behind museum glass. WERE it in pristine condition, it would be FAR MORE expensive and LESS likely to be fired.
2nd gun: that does not appear to be a sten. It appears to be a Mk. V. It has an enfield adjustable front sight as used on the No.4 Mk I &II as well as wood pistol grip & butstock. Could be worth more than the average Sten.
I am not into F/A guns; I have college funds to pay off & I used to work at an indoor range that rented such things (had a good time & got my fill of f/a). But if these guns ARE lawfully owned, I hope they find a good home with a person interested in shooting them.
if it were truly collectible it would not be fired much. Museum pieces don’t get fired much as that detracts from their value. Shooters get fired.
If it is truly registered and transferable, it has value for being on the list. As long as the piece that is the registered piece is serviceable, it can be rebuilt into a shooter. Since the NFA MG world is a closed system, it has value. More than $200. Not anywhere what a collectible MG08 would bring of course.
The thing looks like it was dug out of the ground (trench from WWI) and was a bring back from WW2.
Like any other article of trade, transferable machine guns are a commodity in which the price is largely driven by the condition of the goods. Everyone knows they’re “not making anymore of them” but that does not excuse the condition that weapon is in, nor does that argument somehow negate the fact that in it’s current state that thing is nothing more than a door stop or a boat anchor.
In this case the scottryan hit the nail right on the head. That MG, which we are all assuming is registered, and is transferable (which I have a sneaking suspicion in actuality it is not), is in atrocious condition. It’s not like a 1911 or even a Luger where the parts and professional expertise to replace such parts are common place. I bet finding a competent gunsmith who would be willing to work on that weapon would be very difficult and finding replacement parts to get the thing up and running would probably require a machinist to manufacture them one by one. You’re probably looking at tens of thousands of dollars to get this thing back into a shoot-able condition.
ETA: Chad posted while I was posting. I agree that if it were on the list that would impart value to it, but I think the restoration involved to get the thing up and running would negate the “savings” one would get from purchasing this MG.
Condition may regulate the price but it does not mean it has no value. Being registered (if this one is, which I have doubts on myself) itself is of great value. The condition may mean that the value is down by some large percentage (50-75%??) but condition does not make 99% of the value of transferable MG
Everyone knows they’re “not making anymore of them” but that does not excuse the condition that weapon is in, nor does that argument somehow negate the fact that in it’s current state that thing is nothing more than a door stop or a boat anchor.
In this case the scottryan hit the nail right on the head. That MG, which we are all assuming is registered, and is transferable (which I have a sneaking suspicion in actuality it is not), is in atrocious condition. It’s not like a 1911 or even a Luger where the parts and professional expertise to replace such parts are common place. I bet finding a competent gunsmith who would be willing to work on that weapon would be very difficult and finding replacement parts to get the thing up and running would probably require a machinist to manufacture them one by one. You’re probably looking at tens of thousands of dollars to get this thing back into a shoot-able condition.
ETA: Chad posted while I was posting. I agree that if it were on the list that would impart value to it, but I think the restoration involved to get the thing up and running would negate the “savings” one would get from purchasing this MG.
That was just a quick google search. Don’t know what the parts are or what they cost. Someone would have to actually see more than a bad pic out of a guys basement to ascertain. So based on what we see now in the pic we cannot say what the value is even in a ballpark. A Maxim enthusiast might have a better idea just looking at the picture as they would know what the insides cost
I never said it has been. We were talking about its value as a shooter once restored as a shooter, not a museum piece. The post you replied to was talking about its value (assuming it is really a registered transferable) that would include it being a shooter and not a museum piece. Obviously in the future after being worked on.
I think you need to read other people’s posts a bit better and calm down the profanity.
