December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
Fabulous Brass Maxim as manufactured by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) in Berlin under contact for Argentina in 1898. The first 50 of the Argentina contract were manufactured by the Maxim Nordenfeldt Company, and the subsequent contract was fulfilled by DWM. This specimen, like all this cataloger has observed, was initially delivered to Argentina and fielded into service, and then later returned to DWM in 1909 for the sights to be converted to be graduated for the modernized 1909 7.65mm Argentine cartridge. One can see the slot still present in the brass plate on the top cover where the original "tall" rear sight had a tab that fitted into this slot when the sight was down. The Argentine contract Maxim guns were imported into the United States over 60 years ago and sold on the collector market. Visible numbers, exclusive of the barrel (16) are matching on this gun, including the wooden roller feedblock, fusee cover, and lock which is marked "81 A". An original Carl Weiss optic sight (#2833) is included with this lot. Water fill and drain caps are present with brass chains and drain cork present and serviceable. Brass steam hose fitting on water jacket present and serviceable. Original tripod with barely discernible "86" at the front of the brass socket is also included with this gun. Electronic NFA registry indicates "DEUTSCHE WAFFEN MUNITIONS FABRIKEN (DWM)" as the manufacturer. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is near excellent factory finish upon update in 1909 with some very light brown patina visible at the right side of receiver at the top edge near the top cover. One has to look very closely to discern it. Original wooden roller in feed block is extremely fine with some dings. Internal parts of gun are near excellent. Optic is clear and retains original leather eye shade. Bore of copper washed barrel is near excellent, shiny and bright. Mechanics are crisp. This is a full-auto-only machine gun. Tripod is extremely fine and serviceable. Leather of tripod seat is in outstanding condition, best this cataloger has ever seen. This is one of the most eye-catching machine gun models ever produced, and this specimen presents exceptionally well. The combination of blued steel and brass calls out to any observer, "This is the quality of manufacturing when hand fitting and human pride of workmanship were the order of the day". Brass jacket Maxim guns surface for sale very rarely, and do not make it to public sale. This brass Maxim would make an outstanding addition to any machine gun collectors collection, or be the absolute centerpiece of attention in some corporate office (not a bad tax write-off either). THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 OR 4 AS CURIO & RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2024-12-67.
Accessories
Tripod with optic on gun
Caliber/Bore
7.65mm Argentine