Editing Maxim gun (section)

=== American use ===
[[File:111-SC-24660 - NARA - 55208931.jpg|thumb|left|A reference photo of a M1904 Maxim]]
[[File:U.S. Army 1911 maneuvers in Texas- Maxim machine gun & crew LCCN2003653480.jpg|thumb|left|American troops with a M1904 machine gun on maneuvers in Texas, 1911]]
The [[United States Army]] had shown interest in the Maxim machine gun since 1887. Model 1889 and Model 1900 Maxims were used for testing, which lasted for years but not continuously. The gun was finally adopted in 1904 as the '''Maxim Machine Gun, Caliber .30, Model of 1904''' as the first rifle-caliber heavy machine gun for standard service in the U.S. Army. The design was characteristic for its visually distinctive cage-like muzzle [[recoil booster]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2073 | title=U.S. Maxim Model 1904 | date=February 2004 }}</ref> designed by [[Trevor Dawson]] and J. Ramsay of Vickers.<ref>{{US patent|870497A}}</ref>

The first 50 guns and tripods were made by [[Vickers#Vickers, Sons & Maxim|Vickers, Sons & Maxim]] in the U.K. chambered for [[.30-03]]. [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]] was selected to produce it domestically, but challenges with schematics and specifications delayed its introduction. By the time Colt began production in 1908 (which was also the last year orders were placed for the guns), a total of 90 M1904s were made by Vickers. Colt made their machine guns for the new [[.30-06]] caliber, and the ones made by Vickers were re-chambered for the new round. A total of 287 M1904 Maxims were manufactured. The U.S. procured other machine guns after M1904 production ended, including the [[Hotchkiss M1909 Benet–Mercie machine gun|M1909 Benét–Mercié]], the [[Vickers machine gun#Colt–Vickers M1915|Colt–Vickers M1915]], and the [[Browning M1917]].

M1904 Maxims were issued to infantry companies and cavalry. Each company had four guns with associated tripods, ammunition, and 20 [[mule]]s to transport the heavy guns. The M1904 was deployed in operations in the Philippines, Hawaii, Mexico, and Central and South America, but never saw much combat use. During World War I, it remained in the U.S. for training.<ref>[http://sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=265 U.S. Maxim Model 1904] – SAdefensejournal.com, 15 August 2013.</ref>