NORDENFELT MACHINE GUN 1892

[Gil Boyd]

There I was on my birthday yesterday (belated greetings accepted) walking around the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich where I had a particular long term interest in actually looking closely at the Nordenfelt Machine gun which was actually developed in 1873, but this one was dated 1892. I have always been interested in the hopper system of loading and often wonder if it would have been a better alternative in those days and into WW1. Constantly pulling a handle backwards and forwards must have been tiresome!!

See what you think, this is a lovely example if you get a chance to visit and its a foot away so you can examine it closely. Here;s a couple of shots I took of it............fascinating Enfield at its best!!!

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[CINDERS]

HBD Gil congrats..

Looks like you need 3 to operate it

Pic #1
A crank man,
A sighter,
A Target designator/Loader

[browningautorifle]

There's one in the Citadel Hill museum in Halifax NS as well...I have pics here somewhere...

[Gil Boyd]

Stunning piece of kit close up in brass and hell of an accomplishment if you know the "breaking" strain of brass, however the key component the barrels were steel and tested by the best firearms makers of the time ENFIELD.
There was a competition at one stage in the late 1890's with MAXIM to see who was the best machine gun!

[Mk VII]

There's one at the Tower as well.

[Simon P]

HBSA Demo at Bisley

[Peter Laidler]

The small-arms school collection had one as well. But sold it on

[Gil Boyd]

Peter,
A question regarding the gun, did the hopper system really align the five rounds to enter the barrels cleanly or did it need a gunners personal attention in each firing to clear stoppages? Or were they simply laid prior to firing in a top to barrel individual rack system, ensuring they were facing the right way?

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know for sure Gil. I think that the loader just tipped a box of ammo in, making sure that it went the correct way. A bit like a Bren mag loader or Vickers belt loader. Never fired ours of course!

[Gil Boyd]

On a closer inspection at the Martime Museum under close supervision, it appears the hopper had rows or channels leading down to the barrels, but of course the confusion comes from watching someone fire it, and simply tipping the rounds in to sort themselves out.........if that is the case that is amazing engineering for the time turning the rounds themselves ready to fire bullet first.