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machine gun

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    Vickers Maxim Mark I heavy machine gun (descriptive name)

  • Description

    Vickers Maxim MK 1 heavy machine gun, Anglo Boer War & WW1

    .303 inch calibre; recoil operated; water cooled; comes with tripod

    markings:

    serial number on barrel: 7164 and 6 and 3

    date on side plate: 1901

    maker details on plate: V.S & M / CARTRIDGE / MAGAZINE RIFLE / CORDITE

    military issue, proof, inspection marks: stamped: crown / F / 77 and [broad arrow] / EFD / H7

    model details beside plate: ENFIELD / .303 / MK I / VSM

    marked on sights: MK 3. / EFD

    manufacturer Vickers, Sons & Maxim [1897-1911]

  • Place
    United Kingdom
  • Accession Date
    1952
  • Other Id

    W1496 (war)

    CR 286229 (police firearm registration number)

  • Department

    History

    War History

  • Display Room

    Pou Kanohi

machine gun W1496

Images and documents

Images

  • machine gun W1496
  • machine gun W1496
  • machine gun W1496
  • machine gun W1496
  • machine gun W1496

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pou Kanohi

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, W1496, CR 286229
  • Primary Maker

     Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd (Manufacturer)

  • Place
    United Kingdom
  • Date
    Circa 1901
  • Associated Notes

    Vickers Maxim MK 1 heavy machine gun, Anglo Boer War & WW1

    Maxim Mark I .303 machine-gun, made by Vickers Sons & Maxim at Enfield.

    This model was used during the South African War (1899 - 1902) and during World War I. The New Zealand Army purchased four of these guns in 1901 but by 1916 they were obsolete as a front line gun.

    Note:

    Hiram Maxim invented the first automatic gun in 1884 His new 1885 new model became the basic Maxim design. It was a recoil operated, belt fed, water cooled machine gun with the breech block locked by a toggle joint.

    The Maxim Gun Co was set up in 1884, and four years later joined with the Nordenfelt company to form Maxim Nordenfelt Gun Company. The company was later taken over and operated as Vickers, Sons & Maxim until 1911 when it became Vickers Ltd.

    reference: IV Hogg Illustrated Encyclopedia of Firearms, pp239-240

  • Period

    Anglo-Boer War

    [World War 1, 1914-1918]/Wars

  • Signature/marks

    7164 (firearm serial number)

  • Media

    steel/iron alloy/metal/inorganic material

  • Measurement Reading

    1230mm (Clearing legs and barrel)

    650mm (clearing legs and feet)

    1140mm (including sight)

    900mm (sight down)

  • Classification

    machine gun

    firearms

    arms & armaments

    Gun, Machine

    Firearms

    Armaments

    05 Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

  • Last Update
    11 Oct 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

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