Colt 1904 maxxim
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282 1904 Maxim guns were ordered by the U.S. Govt.....I have heard that most were made by VSM in England, with approx 50 guns made by Colt.....but have seen a Colt with serial # 201....so ???
Supposedly offered in 7mm and 7.65mm commercially till about 1907.
Used to be a really nice one at the Champlin museum in AZ, and apparently there is one or 2 in the ATF ref. collection (see SAR a month or so ago)
I believe the tripod is referred to as the "Ackland" pattern......similar to the 1895 Argentine and very early Russian/English/German tripods.....
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Supposedly offered in 7mm and 7.65mm commercially till about 1907.
Used to be a really nice one at the Champlin museum in AZ, and apparently there is one or 2 in the ATF ref. collection (see SAR a month or so ago)
I believe the tripod is referred to as the "Ackland" pattern......similar to the 1895 Argentine and very early Russian/English/German tripods.....
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This is a photo I have hope it helps.
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The 1904 is a pretty gun.
Year ago Normount Technical Puplication published a good reprint of the manual on the Maxim (Maxim Machine Gun M1904). I just dug out my copy. It must have been some time ago as it was hard cover and only $2.00. It has detailed pictures of the gun disasembled and also the mount. It also shows pack saddles, ammo boxes, belt loading machine and an interesting line drawing of a wheel mount (Wheeled Mount Model of 1905). The manual is 74 pages. I dont klnow if it is still in print. It was sold by the Combat Book Shelf.
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It is a sexy gun. There is a chapter devoted to it in the devils paintbrush. They are pretty spendy when they do come up for sale and I believe they have the stigma of being the heaviest of all small caliber maxims. The barrel is 1 inch diameter for its entire length, thus the large booster on the end to make it cycle 30-06. In my opnion they are the best looking maxim guns ever made. Even compared to the brass jacket nordenfelt guns.
I have always wondered why the U.S. found it necessary to have Browning develope the M1917 when the Army already had the M1904 Maxim. The Maxim design had proved itself in battle in Europe. I know the U.S. Army didn't have that many of them but how hard would it have been to have Colt or somebody tool up to make some more. I understand quite a few were still in use in the Phillipines when WWII broke out.
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Actually at the time of us involvment in ww1 colt was tooling up to make the vickers gun for the us army. The vickers had already been deemed superior to the maxim. Once brownings design came out it was tested against the vickers, as well as brownings other "digger" guns and guns from other makers as well. The 1917 browning gun was deemed substantially superior to all entries. It was easer to make and proved much more reliable in live fire tests. Thats all laid out with the results of the tests in dolf's first browning book. The vickers being superior to the maxim as well as the us maxim being an outdated leviathian before it was even accepted by the army is discussed in detail in the devils paintbrush.
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Dangit, when we start building semi Maxims now we'll have to make a repro 1904 
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.Reproduction 1904 Maxim
Yeah, I've been looking over reproducing both the early 1889 era Maxim and the 1904. This would have to be very much a labor of love as the cost will be staggering. I currently have most of the bronze parts for the 1889 Maxim and I have a pattern maker stopping by tonight. My thinking is to base it on the 1910 Maxim components as they are reasonably available but even just reproducing the feedblock, fusee cover, grips, bottom plate and jacket assembly is enough to cause most wallets to run for their lives.
I am hoping to understand what it will take to make these parts as a kit, hence the patternmaker, but it's very clear that this is not an easy project. Right about now, I think I am going to be lucky to have my 1889 Maxim semi...but it's gonna be F#%$#$N great!
Joe
Yeah, I've been looking over reproducing both the early 1889 era Maxim and the 1904. This would have to be very much a labor of love as the cost will be staggering. I currently have most of the bronze parts for the 1889 Maxim and I have a pattern maker stopping by tonight. My thinking is to base it on the 1910 Maxim components as they are reasonably available but even just reproducing the feedblock, fusee cover, grips, bottom plate and jacket assembly is enough to cause most wallets to run for their lives.
I am hoping to understand what it will take to make these parts as a kit, hence the patternmaker, but it's very clear that this is not an easy project. Right about now, I think I am going to be lucky to have my 1889 Maxim semi...but it's gonna be F#%$#$N great!
Joe
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I don't think anyone will be reproing that gun! Just the tripod would take years!
Its a cool gun but it was pretty clear the US did not want a European design gun for the US army. I will grant you that Maxim was an American by birth but Europeans adopted him. I mean they had him put a 1" barrel in a waterjacket... how long does one need to shoot? I mean you could probably shoot the barrel out before it burned off 2 tanks of water! Then they complain its to heavy! It was just a doomed design from start to finish.
Its a cool gun but it was pretty clear the US did not want a European design gun for the US army. I will grant you that Maxim was an American by birth but Europeans adopted him. I mean they had him put a 1" barrel in a waterjacket... how long does one need to shoot? I mean you could probably shoot the barrel out before it burned off 2 tanks of water! Then they complain its to heavy! It was just a doomed design from start to finish.
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Do you! Thats awesome! Lets see some pictures! If you have most of the brass parts why do you need a pattern maker? Are you thinking to reproduce your parts or to have additional parts made?
1889 Maxim parts
I have a complete, functional jacket/trunion assembly and grips. My feedblock is complete...but pretty toasted. Missing the fusee cover but I know where examples are that I can copy.
The patternmaker is for a few things. I am hesitant to redo the feedblock as it's very cool with its Maxim-Nordenfelt markings and the cartridge guide and front spacer need replaced. Those pieces are fit and rivetted into the feedblock so getting the old ones out and new ones in is not for the faint of heart. I figure if I can reproduce the feedblock, I can have a couple of housings to learn on. If successful, the market would have a source for the very cool, roller feedblocks. I am also assessing what it will take to reproduce full jackets, grips and fusee covers. I don't feel that any of this work is beyond my skills or tools, but time and money are their own realities.
Joe
I have a complete, functional jacket/trunion assembly and grips. My feedblock is complete...but pretty toasted. Missing the fusee cover but I know where examples are that I can copy.
The patternmaker is for a few things. I am hesitant to redo the feedblock as it's very cool with its Maxim-Nordenfelt markings and the cartridge guide and front spacer need replaced. Those pieces are fit and rivetted into the feedblock so getting the old ones out and new ones in is not for the faint of heart. I figure if I can reproduce the feedblock, I can have a couple of housings to learn on. If successful, the market would have a source for the very cool, roller feedblocks. I am also assessing what it will take to reproduce full jackets, grips and fusee covers. I don't feel that any of this work is beyond my skills or tools, but time and money are their own realities.
Joe
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I'd be happy with a brass jacket on my 1910.......but really don't know where to begin the undertaking of such a project.....
If you have most of an original, brass fitment 1889 Maxim , it'd probably be worth saving for a registered sideplate......
Some guys have all the cool parts......
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If you have most of an original, brass fitment 1889 Maxim , it'd probably be worth saving for a registered sideplate......
Some guys have all the cool parts......
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O.K. Now I'm Jealous! I know someone with a registered dewat M1895 Maxim Nordenfeld, but he'll never part with that, I didn't think there were parts kits out there......... Nice score!I'd be happy with a brass jacket on my 1910.......but really don't know where to begin the undertaking of such a project.....
If you have most of an original, brass fitment 1889 Maxim , it'd probably be worth saving for a registered sideplate......
Some guys have all the cool parts......
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The parts I pictured belong to Bob Naess from Black River......oh how I wish they were mine!!!!!
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Man... I thought I had seen that picture before! Yeah Bob has a Hell of a collection. One day I hope to have collection half as good as his! I sold him a German lock once...
Yeah now all he needs for that picture is a brass 1905 style Sokolov mount to go with the parts.
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Joe, We really MUST have pictures... its really just not fair to talk about these things and not even show us
So you have a good bit of a "world Standard". Have to talked to Bob Naess about the parts you are missing? If you could get your hands on a Fusee cover and get someone to make a mold for you, that would seem to be the hardest part to repro! It looks like you might even be able to use a Russian 1905 Brass bottom plate... I think?
Oh... hold on... thats the old style crank handle system.... Hmmm thats trouble. But you could work around it. Same with the rear sights.
Now on the feedblock... What cal.? I guess you would hope 8mm since the lock the germans used is pretty much the same as was used in the 1889 style gun.
I have to ask... there is no chance here you are looking at Russian 1905 parts and thinking they 1889 parts right? Because this would be real easy to do!
So you have a good bit of a "world Standard". Have to talked to Bob Naess about the parts you are missing? If you could get your hands on a Fusee cover and get someone to make a mold for you, that would seem to be the hardest part to repro! It looks like you might even be able to use a Russian 1905 Brass bottom plate... I think?
Oh... hold on... thats the old style crank handle system.... Hmmm thats trouble. But you could work around it. Same with the rear sights.
Now on the feedblock... What cal.? I guess you would hope 8mm since the lock the germans used is pretty much the same as was used in the 1889 style gun.
I have to ask... there is no chance here you are looking at Russian 1905 parts and thinking they 1889 parts right? Because this would be real easy to do!
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