.450 Gardner & Gatling cartridges
http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14488
http://www.oldammo.com/september09.htm
http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14488
http://www.oldammo.com/september09.htm
Museum's inventory: Maxim MG with wrong stand. (new pics)
- Thread starter dauph197
- Start date
I am going to throw another possibility into this thread. While doing some research on Captured WWI weapons, I found some interesting references to go in another direction. This was a post by "TONY E", whom many of us recognize, is one of THE people who are considered experts in British Empire Small Arms. He states that the Lewis and the Maxim were prized by the Germans when they were captured.
I notice a "22" stamped on the water jacket. Captured weapons were often stamped with the Regiment's number -- another tantalizing and possible clue.
To quote Tony Edwards----------.
The German and British Maxims were of course essentially the same gun. The conversion consisted of fitting a new barrel and brass feedblock plus a new extractor to fit the rimmed .303 cartridge. The trunnions on the top and bottom of the German water jacket (which gave transverse in the Schlitten 08 mount) were cut off and filed flat. A brass plate was rivetted to the receiver stating that the gun was chambered for the .303 Inch Cordite Magazine rifle cartridge, similar to that on British guns. The trigger was also changed to the British pattern.
I do not know haow many were converted, but the gun in the Pattern Room has the original German serial number scored out and a new number , G7, added
Take a GOOD look at the pictures of this gun. It might be possible that this one WAS a capture or even a recapture of a captured gun, and the SLED MOUNT is CORRECT.
.
Once again, we have an example of nothing in this Hobby of gun collecting seems to be definite. The moment something is posted and commented upon, two weeks later someone posts some other pictures that show exactly the opposite.
I notice a "22" stamped on the water jacket. Captured weapons were often stamped with the Regiment's number -- another tantalizing and possible clue.
To quote Tony Edwards----------.
The German and British Maxims were of course essentially the same gun. The conversion consisted of fitting a new barrel and brass feedblock plus a new extractor to fit the rimmed .303 cartridge. The trunnions on the top and bottom of the German water jacket (which gave transverse in the Schlitten 08 mount) were cut off and filed flat. A brass plate was rivetted to the receiver stating that the gun was chambered for the .303 Inch Cordite Magazine rifle cartridge, similar to that on British guns. The trigger was also changed to the British pattern.
I do not know haow many were converted, but the gun in the Pattern Room has the original German serial number scored out and a new number , G7, added
Take a GOOD look at the pictures of this gun. It might be possible that this one WAS a capture or even a recapture of a captured gun, and the SLED MOUNT is CORRECT.
.
Once again, we have an example of nothing in this Hobby of gun collecting seems to be definite. The moment something is posted and commented upon, two weeks later someone posts some other pictures that show exactly the opposite.
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I so so so SO want to believe that is the case but the bottom of the feed tray cover has a serial number ending in 22 so could it just be the last 2 digits of that serial number on the jacket?
I am going to throw another possibility into this thread. While doing some research on Captured WWI weapons, I found some interesting references to go in another direction. This was a post by "TONY E", whom many of us recognize, is one of THE people who are considered experts in British Empire Small Arms. He states that the Lewis and the Maxim were prized by the Germans when they were captured.
I notice a "22" stamped on the water jacket. Captured weapons were often stamped with the Regiment's number -- another tantalizing and possible clue.
To quote Tony Edwards----------.
The German and British Maxims were of course essentially the same gun. The conversion consisted of fitting a new barrel and brass feedblock plus a new extractor to fit the rimmed .303 cartridge. The trunnions on the top and bottom of the German water jacket (which gave transverse in the Schlitten 08 mount) were cut off and filed flat. A brass plate was rivetted to the receiver stating that the gun was chambered for the .303 Inch Cordite Magazine rifle cartridge, similar to that on British guns. The trigger was also changed to the British pattern.
I do not know haow many were converted, but the gun in the Pattern Room has the original German serial number scored out and a new number , G7, added
Take a GOOD look at the pictures of this gun. It might be possible that this one WAS a capture or even a recapture of a captured gun, and the SLED MOUNT is CORRECT.
.
Once again, we have an example of nothing in this Hobby of gun collecting seems to be definite. The moment something is posted and commented upon, two weeks later someone posts some other pictures that show exactly the opposite.
Oh wow... it going more crazy. I'm excited!! If I may add more details to this really interesting confusion, we have in the collection an italian Fiat-Revelli M1935 with all the matching numbers and there is a ''22'' (appears to come from nowhere) stamped on it too...
However, Recce21 has a very good point. Maxim MG's serial number is 5722. But the Fiat-Revelli M35 has the serial number 13700 and the ''22'' stamped at the same place (of course, not on the water jacket because there is none but at the same place for someone stamping number to identify guns) than the ''22'' on the Maxim. But... the typos are different!!
Now... who did stamp the ''22''? Our French Canadian Regiment or the Germans? I will have to dig the regimental archives to try to find out if there is anything about this machine gun!
Does Mr. Edwards had a look to the pictures I posted?
Martin
Here the picture of the stamped ''22'' on the Fiat-Revelli M1935
However, Recce21 has a very good point. Maxim MG's serial number is 5722. But the Fiat-Revelli M35 has the serial number 13700 and the ''22'' stamped at the same place (of course, not on the water jacket because there is none but at the same place for someone stamping number to identify guns) than the ''22'' on the Maxim. But... the typos are different!!
Now... who did stamp the ''22''? Our French Canadian Regiment or the Germans? I will have to dig the regimental archives to try to find out if there is anything about this machine gun!
Does Mr. Edwards had a look to the pictures I posted?
Martin
Here the picture of the stamped ''22'' on the Fiat-Revelli M1935
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Although an old thread, and indeed a beautiful maxim, this has no fittings for the schlitten ie two welded or brackets ‘posts’ to fit the sled. So it is impossible for it to fit the German mount. So certainly not a capture or rebore for Imperial German field use but still an incredible piece of CAN MG history.
