[Dave_Watts]

Hi IMBLITZVT,

I'm a real nutball when it comes to these LMG's, I wrote the material/illustrations on the LMG's that Dolf printed in his Devil's Paint Brush. I've documented every LMG I've been able to find whether it be in photos, documents, reports, or actual surviving examples.

I would need a few more photos to give you more details, but I can tell you a few things. As you pointed out your gun is made up of three guns, 422b, 394, and some other gun # on the butt plate. It appears the trigger "lock" is missing. What are the numbers on the barrel, butt plate, and feedblock?

As you know the left side plate and reciever dictate what number the gun is, in your case this is 422b, so we'll say your gun is 422b. It appears most of the parts are marked and matching to 422b. The butt plate not only is non-matching, but it appears the crank assembly was never fitted with the dagger actuator for the square rounds remaining counter. So speaking originality wise 422b would not have had the counter fitted.

Your "Segenhebel" (the bronze casting piece with the steel arm marked "D.R.P.A.") yields some answers. As you may notice it is riveted in place, so as to NOT allow it to be flipped forward and flopped backwards. This piece fits to the right side of the main gun body. You may notice the crank assembly by the cocking arm is missing a cam shaped piece on its pivot axle. There should be a "quarter-cam" steel piece fitted and a linkage hanging down with a pull handle going back for the pilot to use to clear dud rounds. I think I posted images of such a handle on the forum before. I'll get you an e-mail to see what I can help you with.

The fact that your "Segenhebel" is riveted, shows that most likely this was a field modification to the cockpit pull handle, as I have found by this time fully cast examples have the arm as part of the casting in the 90 degree position and guns were coming fitted with the fully cast version along with the cockpit pull handles straight from the airplane factories. Therefore the gun would originally been fitted only with the base charging handle and the flip/flop Segenhebel.

422b is a fairly late gun made approx. in August of 1918 and installed/accepted maybe in September/October. As far as history, I have nothing, but of interest is the Fokker D.VII in Brome County Canada, 6810/18 (O.A.W.) has gun numbers 883b and 921b. It appears this aircraft was never at the front or just delivered, so most likely your gun is from a US war booty aircraft with odds being it would be from a D.VII, but that is speculation.

The top lid, numbered 394 is an early number for sure. Produced approximately in July of 1916. I have seen earlier examples, I have gun number 58, and I've seen gun number 67. The early cover lids lacked the arsenal and gun designation markings that later guns carried.

The lid for your 422b lid would look something like;

422b
L.M.G. 08/15.
Gwf.
SPANDAU
1918

The early gun numbered 394 would have had this information on the fusse spring cover.

You may be able to get your top lid number welded in and re-engraved properly to match your 422b gun.

I have some good history on many Spandaus. As far as history with your 394 top lid, I have very close match but not exact. From my research I found gun numbers;

395 was accepted/fitted to Fokker D.II 1534/16 on 12/12/16 (December 12th, 1916)

396 was accepted/fitted to Fokker D.II 1513/16 on 2/12/16 (December 2nd, 1916)

I don't see your gun number assigned to any Fokker so I wouldn't say it was fitted to another Fokker, as if it where the acceptance sheets would have shown it. Sorry...close, but no cigar!

Best wishes,
Dave