Emil Busch A-G Rathenow Z.F.12 Optical Sight

A rare WWI German MG08 Prismatic Optical Sight, Model ZF 12 (Zielfernrohr 12) & Case. The sight was manufactured by Emil Busch A-G Rathenow. They were used as a sighting scope on the Imperial German army MG08 machine gun to increase their effectiveness over extended ranges. Telescopic sights such as this ZF12 were developed and introduced into the German Army during the First World War. The ZF 12 is easily fitted to and removed from a special dove tailed bracket on the gun. This example has good optics and when looking through the sight, the aiming reticle is a thin, inverted black 'V' which is designed not to obscure any part of the target when aiming. This is accompanied with an original leather case and filters.