1 inch Maxim

[SG500]

Attached are a couple of photos of a 1 inch Maxim round.

Length is 111mm

Base is 38.5mm

There is no headstamp

The projectiles is solid with no stampings on it.

Can anyone advise on any further information concerning the gun, when it was in service, any other types of ammunition for it etc. All I know about it is that it was a Navy cannon.

Thanks.

Dave.

 

[Falcon]

Nice round, I have never even heard of this calibre.

 

[Gspragge]

I think 1 inch maxim was the same as 1 inch aiming and so on, this is something else entirely ? Looking into it

 

[SG500]

Thanks.
Just to clarify things the length quoted above is the CASE length i.e. 111mm.
The projectile is 25.4mm (1 inch).
Dave.

 

[TonyE]

1 in Maxim

This is not the same as the 1 in. Nordenfelt or aiming rifle, which was straight cased.

This was a private venture and was never adopted for service in Britain.

Regards
TonyE

Dave - I have sent you PM.

 

[Tmine35]

Here 2 pcs 1 inch rounds from my collection, most likely Swedish navy origin.
Longer case is 95mm long, unmarked. Shorter one is 87mm long and has Swedish markings. No idea for which guns they are.:tinysmile_shy_t:

 

[Gspragge]

Nordenfelt

The lower round is a Nordenfelt type for the multi barrel hand cranked gun. The other looks like a similiar case size with a longer projectile, more modern

 

[SG500]

Thanks T mine - do either of them have headstamps? If so what are they?

Dave.

 

[Tmine35]

The short case ( long projectile ) has Swedish naval markings but no date. The long case ( short projectile ) has no markings.

 

[SG500]

A few people have asked me to check the measurements so here's a few more.
Projectile length 74.79mm
Depth of driving band 17.64mm
Primer diameter 7.86mm (Oiled and inert)
Rim depth 1.93mm
All other measurements as in the original listing.

I've attached a couple of pictures of it next to a 37mm 1 pounder for scale together with a picture of the base (no head stamp).

Its listed in the excellent reference book Military Cartridges part 3 by W. D. de Hek that was published in 2000 (I've posted a photo of the front cover).
The listing is "25.4x111/R 1" Maxim - Rim 38.5mm - (Navy cannon) USA"

Hope this helps.

Dave.

 

[SG500]

Here 2 pcs 1 inch rounds from my collection, most likely Swedish navy origin.
Longer case is 95mm long, unmarked. Shorter one is 87mm long and has Swedish markings. No idea for which guns they are.:tinysmile_shy_t:

Hi T mine - its possible the 25x87 is an M-22 Navy (Experimental aircraft cannon round) - I've got no more info on it though - it seems to be the only thing on the list that is that sort of size from Sweden.

Dave.

 

[Falcon]

Here 2 pcs 1 inch rounds from my collection, most likely Swedish navy origin.
Longer case is 95mm long, unmarked. Shorter one is 87mm long and has Swedish markings. No idea for which guns they are.:tinysmile_shy_t:

Please could you post a picture of the headstamp, I would be interested in seeing it. What are the markings on the projectile?

 

[Tony Williams]

The short-case long-projectile round is the 1 inch Vickers, for an experimental aircraft gun at the start of WW1. An example of the gun survives in the National Firearms Centre (the fomer MoD Pattern Room). It was never used in the UK, but Vickers-Terni in Italy picked it up and made a little use of it (I've seen a pic of one mounted on a WW1 Caproni bomber). The gun was then sold to Sweden and used to equip some submarines - the only formal adoption that I know of.

You can see the 25x87R round (it was technically called a 25.4mm by the Italians and Swedes) next to the Revelli-FIAT 25x87 (unofficially developed from it) in the pic from my Ammo Photo Gallery below.

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Tony, this indeed clarifies my 25x87R round. It has Swedish naval markings both on projectile and case head. :tinysmile_grin_t:

 

[Tony Williams]

I've just remembered that I also have this article http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Vickers25.4.htm about Vickers 1 inch / 25.4mm guns on my website, which will be of interest:

This is a pic of the gun from it:

 

[SG500]

Thanks for the info Tony.
Attached a couple of photos of a 25.4x87 Fiat-Rivelli, all empty and inert etc.
Returning to the original query - anyone any more ideas about the 1 inch Maxim?
Dave.

The short-case long-projectile round is the 1 inch Vickers, for an experimental aircraft gun at the start of WW1. An example of the gun survives in the National Firearms Centre (the fomer MoD Pattern Room). It was never used in the UK, but Vickers-Terni in Italy picked it up and made a little use of it (I've seen a pic of one mounted on a WW1 Caproni bomber). The gun was then sold to Sweden and used to equip some submarines - the only formal adoption that I know of.

You can see the 25x87R round (it was technically called a 25.4mm by the Italians and Swedes) next to the Revelli-FIAT 25x87 (unofficially developed from it) in the pic from my Ammo Photo Gallery below.