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Looking for a run down on the Type 24 Maxim. As I understand it all that are transferable are parts kits built on other maxim plates. So who did the builds? Do the guns run well? Parts available? Thanks
Type 24 Maxim
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Hi Richard,
There were a fair number of parts kits imported over the years by a number of guys. The last ones I saw were brought in by Don Bell at Omega but they were pretty beat. Standard demil by the chinese was to drill off the rivets on the plates then hammer them off. The grips were hammered to crush slightly making the trigger inoperable. These are the kits you are likely to find around now so spares, at least chinese spares are not readily available. Another detail on these is that they are actually model 1909 maxims which use a shorter lock but it is possible to modify the russian locks. Most of the chinese kits I've seen out there have been converted to 54R by the chinese when the reds took over. They modified the feedblock, lock and barrel. The guns were originally 8mm. There are other parts that can be used for repair like 08 barrels and boosters, feedblocks and the internal parts from russian guns. Russian barrels can be modded if you want to keep the 54R cal.
I've seen a number of guns built by a number of makers and it appears that most are 08 plates wedded to the guns or plates built for the kits prior to 86. The trigger on the chinese guns is the best part as it is a squeeze trigger rather than the type used on the 08 or 1910. There are a few of these guns out there and they run as well as any maxim since they are indeed maxims. I haven't seen any for sale for some time other than the sideplate and kit that got sold last week in seconds before I had a chance to even call.
Hope that answers some of the questions.
Later and glad to see you're still alive.
Frank
There were a fair number of parts kits imported over the years by a number of guys. The last ones I saw were brought in by Don Bell at Omega but they were pretty beat. Standard demil by the chinese was to drill off the rivets on the plates then hammer them off. The grips were hammered to crush slightly making the trigger inoperable. These are the kits you are likely to find around now so spares, at least chinese spares are not readily available. Another detail on these is that they are actually model 1909 maxims which use a shorter lock but it is possible to modify the russian locks. Most of the chinese kits I've seen out there have been converted to 54R by the chinese when the reds took over. They modified the feedblock, lock and barrel. The guns were originally 8mm. There are other parts that can be used for repair like 08 barrels and boosters, feedblocks and the internal parts from russian guns. Russian barrels can be modded if you want to keep the 54R cal.
I've seen a number of guns built by a number of makers and it appears that most are 08 plates wedded to the guns or plates built for the kits prior to 86. The trigger on the chinese guns is the best part as it is a squeeze trigger rather than the type used on the 08 or 1910. There are a few of these guns out there and they run as well as any maxim since they are indeed maxims. I haven't seen any for sale for some time other than the sideplate and kit that got sold last week in seconds before I had a chance to even call.
Hope that answers some of the questions.
Later and glad to see you're still alive.
Frank
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I have had one for a couple years now and really like it. It does indeed run well and can be converted back to the original 8MM if you have the Type 24 8MM lock and a German 08 barrel and feedblock. I know Charlie Erb built many of these guns and his early work is usually good. I spoke at length to Dolf Goldsmith on these and he mentioned that he was instrumental in getting most of the parts kits imported back in the 1980's from England. These 20-25 early parts sets were in good condition. He also imported original mounts but sadly many of these were incomplete. I have been to Don Bell's many times and what little Type 24 stuff he has left over is pretty beat and/or rusty. The other nice thing about these being the 09 Commercial variety is that the locks are headspaceable. Here is a pic of mine (that is sadly for sale).
I have one for a few years now. It's built by "Collector's Corner". When I first got it, it was almost new and took me a bit to tune it. Once you get it to work it works beautifully. (I have Dolf's help in a few occasions)
I know that there are at least 4 T24 in Phoenix area and last year in Kingman Shoot we had 3 lined up side by side.
As Frank mentioned, most of these are in 7.62x54R but I know at least 2 were converted back to 8mm. One additional place was modified is the ejection port.
The parts are not that common any more but some may be modified from other Maxim or interchangable. One good news is that the firing pin is the same as the Vickers.(I had one broke during Kingman Shoot. I didn't bring my spare lock but there was a table selling Vickers stuff. Dolf instructed me to get a few and he replaced the pin on the spot so the gun can continue to shoot.)
The holly grail for these guns are the anti-aircraft parts which includes a tripod extension, belt drum, shoulder extension and spider sight(same as the MG34). No one has them.
I don't know if anyone has the original steam hose. There are at least two differy types of hookup that I know of. I took off the base and use a IMA 08 hose instead.
As is, the gun can use the Russian Goryunov type metal link(flip over) or Russian 1910 cloth belt.
To be correct (WWII setup), you should use the 1917 type of wooden ammo box (as pictured above) and British Gas can as water can.
Post War, Chinese developed an air cool version called T36 (1947) using a Bren type tripod, 1919A4 type heat shield, etc. There were only about 1,500 made and I know MOD has one. May be somebody can take it as project to convert one to that configuration?
I know that there are at least 4 T24 in Phoenix area and last year in Kingman Shoot we had 3 lined up side by side.
As Frank mentioned, most of these are in 7.62x54R but I know at least 2 were converted back to 8mm. One additional place was modified is the ejection port.
The parts are not that common any more but some may be modified from other Maxim or interchangable. One good news is that the firing pin is the same as the Vickers.(I had one broke during Kingman Shoot. I didn't bring my spare lock but there was a table selling Vickers stuff. Dolf instructed me to get a few and he replaced the pin on the spot so the gun can continue to shoot.)
The holly grail for these guns are the anti-aircraft parts which includes a tripod extension, belt drum, shoulder extension and spider sight(same as the MG34). No one has them.
I don't know if anyone has the original steam hose. There are at least two differy types of hookup that I know of. I took off the base and use a IMA 08 hose instead.
As is, the gun can use the Russian Goryunov type metal link(flip over) or Russian 1910 cloth belt.
To be correct (WWII setup), you should use the 1917 type of wooden ammo box (as pictured above) and British Gas can as water can.
Post War, Chinese developed an air cool version called T36 (1947) using a Bren type tripod, 1919A4 type heat shield, etc. There were only about 1,500 made and I know MOD has one. May be somebody can take it as project to convert one to that configuration?
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Thanks everyone for the input. Really like the maxim and vickers type guns. Was thinking of an MG34 as I have seen several for sale at more reasonable prices. However keep being drawn back to the maxim vickers design. Do not seem to see many different models of the maxim for sale.
Hello,
just to continue on the topic of the Chinese 24 Maxim, here is the Chinese manual for the gun :
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Pictures are very poor quality :
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Some pages have information printed with rubber stamp. Can anyone help to read what it is about with this inked text ?
![]()
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
JFL
just to continue on the topic of the Chinese 24 Maxim, here is the Chinese manual for the gun :
Pictures are very poor quality :
Some pages have information printed with rubber stamp. Can anyone help to read what it is about with this inked text ?
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
JFL
Yeah I have been looking for any Chinese Parts T24 parts for a while. Yeah I Omegas are pretty bad. Does anyone have a spare right side plate?
I also have a pretty nice MG08 fusee cover I would be willing to trade for a nice Chinese Fusee cover. I can send pictures!
If anyone has any parts they might be willing to trade or sell, please email me at [email protected] I have a bunch of 08/15 and 08 parts for trade or sale...
I also have a pretty nice MG08 fusee cover I would be willing to trade for a nice Chinese Fusee cover. I can send pictures!
If anyone has any parts they might be willing to trade or sell, please email me at [email protected] I have a bunch of 08/15 and 08 parts for trade or sale...
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I'd also be very grateful to anyone who could help me complete my T24 parts set. I only need the fusee cover. I also have many 08 parts I'd trade. Of course, I'm second in line to the last post. Hope someone out there has a box of unused T24 Fussee covers they don't know what to do with. I"m sure there are a few being used to stir rice with somewhere in China. Who knows.
Adding to what has been posted, four Chinese Maxims, complete with all accessories, were brought to the US at some arund WWII, IIRC, for evaluation and are still in the US. If not all four, at least two of these were registered pre '68 and are in private collections. There are two others that are orignal guns, one of which belonged to Dolf goldsmith in the seventies, of which there was no orignal registration on file in the NFRTR. This gun was finally validated as a C+R a couple years ago with the help of Gary Schaible at ATF.
At least half of the kits that Dolf brought into the US were built into transferables pre '86, with newly manufactured sideplates by Collector's Corner, an earlier incarnation of Ohio Ordnance. IMA had a number of kits several years ago, but I don't recall where they came from. I still have one of the IMA kits with the tripod.
Locks seem to show up now and then for the 24s, but all other parts seem to be very scarce.
Bob Naess
At least half of the kits that Dolf brought into the US were built into transferables pre '86, with newly manufactured sideplates by Collector's Corner, an earlier incarnation of Ohio Ordnance. IMA had a number of kits several years ago, but I don't recall where they came from. I still have one of the IMA kits with the tripod.
Locks seem to show up now and then for the 24s, but all other parts seem to be very scarce.
Bob Naess
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