Argentine Brass Maxim: A Machine Gun of the Steampunk Age
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- čas přidán 28. 11. 2023
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The Maxim Gun was the first successful true machine gun, and it became extremely popular worldwide. Maxim sent his first two working models to Enfield for testing in 1887, and by 1889 he had what he termed the "World Standard" model. No two contracts were quite identical, as the gun was constantly being tweaked and improved, but the 200 guns sold to Argentina in 1895 (50), 1898 (130) and 1902 (20) are a great time capsule into the configuration of the early Maxim guns in military service.
The Argentine Maxims had gorgeous brass jackets, along with ball grips, triggers, feed blocks, and fusee spring covers. The have the early 1889 pattern lock, complete with a walnut roller to assist belt feeding into the action. These guns were in Argentine military service until 1929 (which included a retrofit at DWM in 1909 to use the new Spitzer 7.65mm Mauser cartridge). They then passed into police use until 1956, and 91 were sold to Sam Cummings of InterArms in 1960. Of those, 8 were exported out of the US, 28 went to government agencies and museums, and the remaining 55 were sold onto the US collector market. They are the single largest group of early Maxims in the country today, and make fantastic collectors' pieces.
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Hey guys! An argentinian here!
First of all, "Mauser Argentino" stands for "Argentinian Mauser" Wich indicates that it is chamber for the 7.65x53mm Argentine ammunition, that was developed for our old Mauser kar98k that was adopted a pretty long time ago.
Second, the recoil spring assembly has a few words on it, the first is "punta" Wich stands for "tip/point" and was used to differentiate the normal lethal ammo from the 2nd type. That second time of ammo is the "fogeo" ammunition, Wich is a type of non lethal fully firing training ammunition, basically, training blank rounds that doesn't have a proyectile and has less powder inside, so you need to adjust the spring tension in order to use it effectively with less gunpowder.
Ian! I've been following your channel for like 5 years now, and i absolutely love every single one of your videos.
Greetings from Argentina! Adiós!
Mejor poné información en dónde están los FG 42 y los lotes de munición, en algún depósito están... bien guardados. Algo similar al video que mostró el grupo Wagner de las mina de sal cercana a Soledar, cuando fue capturada la ciudad ...estibas de cajas de armamento de 1945 y anterior. Cajas con subfusiles Thomson M1 y cajas con Maxim Todo nuevo!!!! De la misma forma están escondidos los FG-42 y sus lotes de munición 7,92x 57 mm Mauser. Entregaron solamente uno al Museo de Armas. Argentina nunca los mostró ! Y en el único video que hay de la época (48/49) de un ejercicio de paracaidista (creados oficialmente en 1943) el uniforme mimético es alemán y el casco es alemán... Pero curiosamente para las cámaras no se muestran ningún fusil ni siquiera uno de cerrojo... El que está en el Museo de armas no salió de la galera del mago! Es el segundo modelo...
@@Pablo-kw5jb pasó Gaith Pharaon por acá en 1990, y volaron Río Tercero en 1995 para ocultar el escandaloso contrabando de armas, pudo pasar cualquier cosa con todo lo que te imagines. También hicimos contrabando muchos años antes, buscá sobre el derribo de un avión argentino en la Unión Soviética en la guerra Irán-Irak, era otro contrabando escandaloso, en esos años operaba acá Licio Gelli. En muchos momentos de nuestra historia fuimos un país de contrabando de armas.
Me alegra no ser el único Argentino en este canal, y el mismo tiempo 🤔
@@Cheddarfran somos varios
Somos unos cuantos.
The idea of a black powder machine gun sounds like the worlds most metal fog machine.
Every 20 rounds required complete disassembly , thorough cleaning and reassembly.
@@guaporeturns9472 By the time you're done cleaning the smoke have lifted enough to aim for the enemy again.
@@guaporeturns9472 The issued 577-450 Boxer ammo was actually capable of extended firing as the construction included hard card wads along with a beeswax cookie so each round scraped fouling then deposited a layer of lube. As long as the brass case expanded well enough to seal the chamber upon firing the action would stay clean and I'm sure would run for many hundreds of rounds before any attention was needed.
Ah but if you want to see something REALLY COOL you should go back in time to the American Revolution, and the 60 shot repeating musket. Ian has a video about that one as well.
I really understand the need to lock in a traverse now.
argentina is a great country with a lot of history, i always loved it. greetings from argentina 😎
Argentinians are so cool too!! greetings from Argentina ;)
During firing, the water in the jacket eventually gets hot enough to boil and turn into steam, therefore the gun is literally steampunk.
...and if you add a few teabags...
And add a polished brass pressure guage! 😊
@@TheWolfsnacki mean technically you CAN brew tea with it, but you’re gonna have a metallic aftertaste to go with that tea.
Steampunk is my favorite way to prepare punk. Best flavor that way.
@scottmccrea1873 Yes, we know, Ian literally explained how it works.
Ian, I can't imagine the black powder smoke. My imagination is very bad. You need to fire this gun for us, to show us how bad the smoke is!!!
Sadly, this is chambered for a smokeless cartridge... Still, need to see it in action!
@@lairdcummings9092You know what, it's a pity Brandon Herrera had to primary Gonzales, or we could ask him to do it.
@@lairdcummings9092 Oh really, I missed that. It should still be fired. The value would go way up, if it was shown to be functional.
@@lairdcummings9092 I was thinking the same thing--running a Maxim with black powder would be a sight to see!
We are kidna spoilled by mag dumps at the end of the video at this point, so... yeah
The argentinians unlocked the Premium skin for their Maxim
The plate on the spring cover is engraved "Fogueo". That means "Blanks". That's probably the reason that the spring tension is so low.
son dos diferentes, tiene Punta (que asumo seran balas reales), su tensión, y abajo Fogueo, con comillas indicando que usan la misma tensión de arriba
@@MrKumbancha Gracias
@@MrKumbancha efectivamente. Lo volví a mirar y tienes razón. Es la misma tensión para los dos tipos de munición.
Came across a book some years ago written by Hiram Maxim's son about his father. Aside from being an inventor and engineer, the man was quite a prankster and practical joker. His favorite prank was shooting peas across the street at people - instead of direct fire he'd aim at the opposite wall above their heads so the peas would rain down from above. Towards the end of his life he had this habit of disappearing for a couple of hours once or twice a week, and when they investigated, they found he had rented a room across the street from where the local Salvation Army band practised. In the room there was nothing but a chair, a bag of peas, and a pea shooter. The writer pointed out that the peas were black peas.. black, so they were invisible in flight.
A true genius. The man knew peace was bad for business.
Peace: those glorious moments in history when everyone stands around reloading.@@_ArsNova
Cool! My long deceased Grandfather (Mom's Dad) was a prankster too. I think he and Maxim could have been buddies. 😅
Visualizing swirled peas..
Maxim was a pioneer in flight. Long before the Wright brothers Maxim built a huge biplane. He powered it with lightweight steam engines which were interesting in their own right.
Unfortunately Maxim crashed rather than landed. After the crash he gave up.
I'm old enough to remember a world made of wood, glass and metal. "Plastic" was a new word. This MG is very cool indeed. 😊
Blue Steel and Walnut! 😎
It doesn't matter what it was intended as, it's all sculpture in multi-media.
That's why people polish, and display tools like "Block Planes".
Even something as simple as a hammer handle, some person sat there and consciously made that piece.
It wasn't just punched or squirted by a machine.
The metal work is the same.
The parts may have been machined in groups, but some guy watched those cutters, and turned the cranks to make those parts.
They don't make a Glock that way. :(
Remember when Tonka trucks were made rock-solid and the manufacturer encouraged the kids to be rough with them? Yeah, I do. I loved mine! Nowadays, those same toys need therapy if you curse at it.
Yep Bakelite!
I am probably older than you(81), and the word "plastic" meant cheap. Even to now, my initial reaction to plastic is that the product is cheap. Of course, I know that plastics can be very durable.
The wooden roller may well be ironwood. Not only is it very hard and durable, it is also self lubricating. Ironwood was also used for thrust bearings in steamships at this time.
Ironwood was also used in aircraft, mainly as the tail skid before they had a tail wheel, metal ones could spark and start a fire (which In the days when aircraft were basically a flying pile of kindling with a fuel tank in the center fire was obviously VERY BAD) the wood didn't spark but was durable enough and cheaper as well.
also can be lignun vitae
@SUPRAMIKE18 not to mention all that flammable canvass.
@@scottmccrea1873 canvas that probably had engine oil all over it up near the engine too. Those men who flew those were a different breed from us mere mortals lol
Giant brass ones, had they. True, they didn't got that fast, but fast enough for our mortal frames. They were true pioneers and many of them paid the price. @@SUPRAMIKE18
We need this in the Corps. I have WAY too many cans of brasso sitting around with absolutely no current purpose.
Beautiful gun
😂
All those Privates and Lances are now rolling their eyes as they slope off to their hiding spots...
Good way to keep the Pvt's busy. LOL Semper Fi !
@@lairdcummings9092 1300: CO says we're outta here once we polish the MGs
1430: MGs polished
1500: MGs turned in
1600: no word from CO
1630: libo 😒
My mind immediately went to shining as well when I saw that much brass lol. You'd need a beach towel to rub that much brasso in.
As a "Duty Divisional Damage Control Pettyofficer" on my Navy ship in early 1980s, I had a fire station to keep clean. Lots of brass. My ET Seniorchief taught me early on to go to mess deck and get a bucket of "bug juice" (orange koolade) to clean the brass. The weak acid really shined the brass up nicely! Anything with citric acid would work, such as lemonade. I also had the best smelling fire station onboard! 😄
Excellent video.
A couple of comments:
1- In the Argentine armed forces it used to be a punishment in those times to carry the loading funnel. Why? because during the maneuvers, due to the lack of water, the soldiers had to fill the tank with urine (the same thing happened with the Colt 1928 that succeeded them.
2- On the spring tension data plate, there is also the word "Fogueo" (blank in English). I estimate that it is the tension required for the gun to cycle correctly with that ammunition.
Greetings from Argentine Patagonia. A pride and joy to see an Argentine weapon in Forgotten Weapons.
Edited to clarify some comments: When Ian talks about "Police" it must be clarified that at that time the National Gendarmerie did not exist. Therefore the "police" also had paramilitary functions such as border guarding and the expansion of borders with territories won from the Indians and that were lawless land at the mercy of armed gangs (Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid were around at that time ) hence the "police" had heavy weapons.
The smell of vaporized urine must be. . .unique.
Y es una alegría saber que esta arma estuvo, está y estará en buenas manos. No me quiero imaginar que podría haber pasado de quedarse en el país...
@@douglaslain5962 Indeed! My father (who operated the 1928s, but not the Maxims) used to say they were hyper stinky. And then they had to clean the weapons, which reinforced the disgust even more.
I can understand using policing forces as border guards. But shouldn't border expansion be strictly a military area of operations.
Also nothing like piss to absolutely corrode metal. I am beginning to suspect the brass was less a manufacturing choice and more trying to idoit proof the thing. As brass resist corrosion a tad better than steel does.
The ammonia in urine would have bad effects longterm on the brass. 🤔
Argentina be putting brass on everything, even on their bayonets
Still doing it
As someone who has polished lots of brass in the military I am both infatuated with and horrified by this Maxim
God, imagine having to hand it back to the quarter master. You'll spend weeks polishing it before he handing it back.
Yeah, but it'd be so friggin pretty!
It is a beautiful knuckle-breaker, isn't it?
I share your horror bro.
I share that feeling! (Ex Navy)
7.65×53mm Argentine (Mauser) is a very interesting cartridge.
And, accurate!
It's basically 7.62x51mm, but 60 years older.
Copious amounts of brass parts on a firearm has just always looked so classy and aesthetically pleasing to me.
Lovely video as always, gorgeous gun!
The only thing wrong with brass is the weight. It looks cool, it machines gorgeously, it is very corrosion resistant and it spit shines to a mirror finish with very little effort. If it had been the weight of aluminium the entire world would be made out of it.
The perfect Christmas gift for a moustache-twirling hero who already has a radium powered Zeppelin
"Think of Luger, just huge, wattercooled, and made half out of brass"... Damn, I'd love to share a bottle of whiskey with Ian, I think it would be a hoot! I'll bring the whiskey.
The only way this gun could be more steampunk is if you gave it a monocle and a top hat. I want 10, please.
As you can heat, some of them had magnification sights. So indeed have monocle 😂
A gun so steampunk it has an actual steam valve for the actual steam to come out.
Hey Ian! Greetings from Argentina! thanks for covering guns from my country. i want to ask you, if you can, do more! FMK-3, HALCON Smg, HAFDASA Smg, I know you did a couple of Argentine firearms before, but i have to tell you, Argentine people love to watch videos of Argentine stuff. I bet this video will have quite a few views from here!
acá otro argentinian
Sip... Otro más por acá. 🇦🇷
Yo también!
Argentina is a wonderful country--we really enjoyed our visit there. Yes! More Argentine and South American Firearms!
The first SMG with secord-generation features was made here in Argentina. Compact, short barrel, folding stock and front folding vertical grip all in 1930, eight years earlier than the MP-38. Sadly it was not produced in series.
I would not be surprised if Maxim claimed that generating a smokescreen while firing was a feature of his black-powder guns, not an issue.
I imagine the use of brass, especially in the water jacket, was a significant advantage in corrosion resistance over steel. If you're thinking you will use these guns for decades that is a significant consideration.
Only if you're okay with a green patina look though. If you're going to make the crews constantly polish the patina off there aren't any corrosion benefits over steel.
Many don't know, but the "triple action" gas-sealing revolver (and cartridge) was invented here by an argentinian in a super wacky revolver with magazine, and the patent sold to Nagant. Check it out, it's super cool.
Brass definitely is one of the best looking metals.
Until it turns green after a week in the rain
@@crackerjack3287 Then you break out the Brasso and have a fun afternoon. And when you're done you coat everything in a thin layer of bees wax (personally I dissolve 2% bees wax in 98% acetone (by weight) as that makes it super easy to distribute evenly) so it doesn't turn green in a week.
Gun metal sexier ??
@@andersjjensen thats all good if your putting it in ur living room not in the trenchs of ww1 tho or any battlefeild
@@crackerjack3287 In the trenches it doesn't matter if it turns green.
“Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim gun, and they have not.”
Down with the Fuzzy-Wuzzies !! 💂
Can't wait to see you overhere, visiting military museums and talking about more argentine guns.
Asado is on me if you ever came.
AR-GEN-TINA!! Amo los videos de Ian sobre armas argentinas. Es gracioso verlo intentar mirar a la cámara mientras está hablando sobre el trípode lol
As a mechanic and broke Firearm fan these videos are incredible. The ability and genius shown by being able to create complex funtioning machines with belt driven mills , steam driven hammers, and files from blue prints hand drawn on paper with no calculation machines or CNC auto mills. Incredible! Thanks to you, Ian, the Aucton Houses, Museums, Collectors, and Businesses for sharing with us.
This is the Super Unique shiny Maxim that does 50+ Magic Damage and 10% Mana Steal
I was waiting for Ian to announce that we could win this gun in the usual contest... 😂
That gun is just beautiful! Would love to have one running black powder ammo.
Make sure to war a mask if you are anywhere near it while it's firing. sm
Now we just gotta get Leno to borrow us his Doble model E and figure out a way to mount this
Anyone else get the urge to polish all that brass to mirror finish?
What a gorgeous and well-preserved gun! I love this era in firearms history, where the guns felt more like industrial machines and were built like oversized clocks. Still doesn't beat that cast-brass US Navy pom-pom though haha.
On the Steampunk vibe, i will rewatch the Puckle Gun video after this...
As an argentinian I feel proudness for these, bt also sadness because they all whent away.
I remember some 40 years ago a collecter here in Toronto had two plantation maxims from Argentina. Similar gun as presented here but with a beautiful wood tripod, making it lighter to move about.
I wanna see a black powder Maxim fire.
*Yes.*
I love to see Ian get excited about a gun. You can definitely tell a difference from when he’s talking about a gun that he’s cover just because it’s available and when he’s really passionate about it.
I never thought about it before, but a Maxim in .577-450? OMG. LoL
The early black power maxims would have been like the Gatlin guns because of the smoke, a spotter would be on the up wind side telling the gunner were to shoot.
'Because they know, that sacred stuff resides in that wooden roller and brass parts - something that gives the most common man the most uncommon of steampunk. When ordinary hands can possess such an extraordinary instrument, that symbolizes the full measure of human class and badassery, that's why the glinty shininess issues an irresistible call to us all, and we muster.'
-From my Gold, Dead Hands. (Probably)
I bet that piece can play a wonderful sound
That is magnificent. Immediately became one of FW's best episodes.
What a beautiful weapon. Being a former Marine, I would have to polish that water jacket, though. Can't have dull brass.
The perfect armament with which to defend my airship from those blasted sky pirates!
Holy shit it looks like brass model that’s great
There has been some talk of maxims being in 11mm Murata, that would be a cool find
Thanks, beautiful historic piece
The walnut roller is just baller.
Brass maxim! That funky maxim!
I really like seeing reviews and hearing historical facts from the 1870s to 1910s. So many interesting technical changes and innovations happening in such a short period.
Awesome video Ian. I’ve been watching your channel for at least a decade. Your enthusiasm is infectious, your presentation amazing. Thanks for your efforts.
Soy argentino fanatico de las armas argentinas y nunca escuche de este... te ganaste un nuevo suscriptor!! Segui asi!!!
Great video as always !!! Greetings from Patagonia Argentina !!! 🇦🇷
This video is a Christmas present come early. What an interesting brass machine this is.
Thank you for sharing this video with us, Ian!
It looks absolutely fabulous.
That is SO cool, I think I've only seen low quality pictures of those all brass Maxim guns. Steampunk indeed!
What a awesome pice of firearms history!!
Wow man, first time I hear about all details of this machine gun... Thanks!
a piece of history, and just a great gun overall. Love Maxim guns.
It takes a truly unmatched level of genius to make a reliable self-loading black powder firearm.
Maxims are so fun, I love seeing them on the channel.
Those Argentines are something from another world. Greetings from Argentina
The machine work and brass castings are like works of art.
Really enjoyed this, Ian.
My uncle was doing some family history research and found out that through his mother, my paternal grandmother, (maiden name Maxim) Hiram is an ancestor of ours.
He sent me an article on the Maxim Machine-gun that pointed out that the Machine-gun, throughout its history has killed more people than any other weapon system combined. 😢
Its a legacy that truly weighs heavy on my heart. Even as a veteran of both the army and law enforcement who has fought for my life, it is a sobering aspect of my family's history.
You did a great breakdown on the history and functionality of the Maxim Machine-gun.
Thank you.
Given the QC or lack thereof on combat wounds, "the greatest killer" title may not be true
Until the widespread availability of anti-biotics in the mid 20th century, disease (including the "Spanish Flu) and infection were the all-time grim reapers. And even in WW2, the Axis forces DID NOT have Penicillin. US and Canadian "Mould Farms" kept the Allied body-count down
Machine guns are NOT "magic bullet hoses" Their primary effect, is psychological, unless you are REALLY "situationally unaware". The WW1 German machine-gunners wrote the book on tactical deployment of the machine gun: Interlocking arcs, mutual support, beaten zones, etc Interestingly, the top prize in "trench raiding" was captured Vickers guns and their ammo.; later raids also sought out Lewis guns, that were found to be the ideal toy for mobile fire-support in subsequent raids and also for "rapid reaction" troops plugging gaps and exploiting breakthroughs. MUCH handier than the Mg 08-15.
However the biggest mechanical killing device was and to some extent, remains, artillery (including mortars. Current activities in Ukraine are providing lessons for the observant.
This model (or very close to it) of Maxim gun was used at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898. This was an early use and marked quite the transition from old to new. That battle had one of the last large cavalry charges - one in which a young Winston Churchill led a squadron of lancers. Men on horseback with spears, how many centuries back does that go?!? In the same battle as a machine gun. (No sword in hand for Churchill, though, he had an old shoulder injury and used his Mauser pistol.)
A truly great outcome in that campaign. Unfortunately the British failed to capitalise fully on their military advantage. Probably due to the rising influence of reforming liberalism at home. Lost opportunities, sigh .....
Cheers and greetings from Argentina! I love your videos men!
After all these years...Ian still getting stoked about obscure firearms is priceless!
A brass, black powder, belt fed, machine gun. Very, very, cool, until you have to clean it.
Get the Brasso, boy!
That's what Privates are for... :D
Maxim gun. Automatic like. Thank you Ian. That is a true work of art.
Fricking early gang
Excelente. Gracias por difundir parte de la historia militar Argentina.
Excellent. Thank you for spreading part of Argentine military history.
The setting of the spring tension,as I can see, has a position for firing blanks. ( Fogueo in Spanish)
Definitely the most beautiful gun I have ever seen!
I always enjoy the video 😊
Thenks for the video. I'm from Argentina and I had no idea about this piece of history.
Excellent!!! VERY similar to my DWM MG-08
Nice video. Thanks for making it 👍
Silver would be more etymologically appropriate for Argentina but this is rad
Ag. yes!
Excellent video. What's not to love when steel, brass, and walnut are used to make a gun?
Another fantastic video as usual Ian,huge kudos to you. I literally imagine a steampunk video game similar to the Bioshock franchise where you are part of the cast either as an ally or even a boss😂.
Great show....I learned so much... especially how I'm such a novice...great engineering.
Watching Ian's geek-gasm over this gun is awesome.
Hello Ian,
What an exquisite piece of beautifully engineered and crafted firearm example!
Wonderfully explained!
Thx
Well this was certainly unexpected, makes me wonder if we have one of these in the weapons museum so I can look at it myself... Greetings from Buenos Aires
proba el museo nacional de armas frente a plaza San Martín o sino el museo del Ejército que creo esta en Ciudadela
10:48 - I don't think I've ever seen an "interrupted thread" like that. Fascinating. Are they helical?
19:12 - Possible exception: The Montenegrin Gasser *might* be at least equally steampunk.
Such a cool gun. Good video.
Desde Argentina. Muchas gracias por su explicación.
Outstanding machine from the turn of the century. Bravo 👍
muy buen video gracias por mostrar armas de nuestra Argentina, saludos desde Córdoba Argentina.
That has to be one of the coolest art pieces. I’d love to see it fired.
Nice video. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Beautiful gun!
There were a few Maxim Nordenfelts in 450-577 floating around in New Zealand on the collectors market a decade ago... Truly a beautifully made machine gun....
The Browning .50cal water cooled had a manual waterpump that used a bicycle pedal arrangement the operator would work with his hands. I believe the ship born versions used the same system as the Bofers water cooed guns.
Thank you very Riveting!
Another Great Video Ian 💯Thanks for Sharing 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
It gets me that the roller was made of walnut of all things. Beautiful piece with all the brass parts, really nice to look at.