^Lot 1404A AUSTRIAN SCHWARZLOSE M07/12 BELT LOADER

The Austrian Schwarzlose M07/12 Belt Loader is a manual, hand-cranked device developed during World War I to efficiently pack ammunition into the cloth and brass belts required for the Austro-Hungarian Schwarzlose M.07/12 heavy machine gun. Because the Schwarzlose M.07/12 fired the semi-rimmed 8×50R Mannlicher cartridge (and later adapted to 8×57mm Mauser for some nations), tightly spacing rounds in a non-disintegrating cloth belt was crucial for the machine gun's cyclic rate. Attempting to manually load the belts in the field was incredibly time-consuming and often led to feed jams. The loader allowed crews to quickly repurpose standard-issue rifle clips into belt-fed ammunition. Basic device has multiple matching numbers of "750"; cartridge funnel numbered "250" and "44". Includes its hardwood carry case designed to support the device for field use. No dates noticed on unit. PROVENANCE: Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost, Hooksett NH. (02-27430/NW). $750-1,000.