A second “brother” printed colored postcard of an artist-drawn war scene taking place in the South African Boer War painted and signed by E. Storm in 1903. This scene seems to be at sunset with the notation of “Drink Maxim Ale” as part of the setting sun.

World War I-era sweetheart or veteran’s lapel pin in the shape of a guidon with the Army machine gun colors of red and blue enamel. Trimmed in brass, the top half of the guidon has the number “1,” and the bottom half of the guidon in blue has “M.G.B.” (1st Machine Gun Battalion). Pin back.

No. 2 Battery Sudan Motor Machine Gun Corps (circa 1935-1945) sun helmet badge. (Arabic name: Kingi Batteria Ottomobilat Madaf a El Makina). Blackened bronze badge of winged wheel with crossed Vickers to the center. Two lugs to the rear. Attached to a diamond-shaped, dark blue, Melton felt baking that was worn on the side of the sun helmet.

First Day coin cover for the Centenary of the First World War from Gibraltar, denoting weaponry—specifically machine guns. The 8-block, 22-pence stamps, canceled on the first day of issue of February 18, 2015, depict a Vickers machine gun in an anti-aircraft pose. The main image on the card is of a Lewis gunner in an anti-aircraft pose. The 50-pence commemorative coin (attached in plastic) shows on the obverse a Lewis gunner firing over sandbags and a Hotchkiss gunner with a belt of machine gun cartridges running edge-to-edge in the center. Prominent to the face of the coin is a line from the poem, “Arms and the Boy” by Wilfred Owen, written in 1917, stating, “Blue with all Malice like a Madman’s Flash.” The coin is a 24-carat gold-plated steel Crown from Jersey. The reverse has an image of Elizabeth II. The coin measures 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Interwar Latvian brass tank or armored car machine gunner’s proficiency badge circa 1919–1926. Crossed Vick-ers on tank that is on a spoked tire. Two-piece screw construction. Screw back. Spinner marked: “Arm. Ekonom. Veikals, Rīgā.”

Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps Machine Gun Section cap, collar and shoulder title. The cap and collar badges are blackened bronze, showing tea leaves with “M” and “G” to each side with a three-part Latin motto below the letters: “Salus Unitas Nostra” (“Our Safety Unit”); and a single banner below that reads, “Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps.” Both the cap and collars have two lugs to the rear. The brass shoulder title simply reads, “M.G.” over “CPRC” (Machine Gun Section Ceylon Planter Rifle Corps). The unit was raised in 1901 as a volunteer (reserve) regiment of the Ceylon Defence Force based in Kandy, and it existed until 1949. The regiment was made up of Europeans that were tea and rubber planters in the hills of Sri Lanka. The regiment deployed personnel to fight in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II.

WWII-era Japanese white metal desk inkwell. Japanese soldier in full field gear with Type 11 light machine gun in the prone position. The Japanese flag is hinged and lifts up to reveal two inkwell positions: one for blue ink and one for red ink. Measures approximately 6x3x3 inches.

World War I New Zealand soldier wrist identity bracelet with chain. Bracelet marked “Pte S. Moorcraft, N. Z. M. G. C. 31527 C. E.” (Private S. Moorcraft, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps, 31527, Church of England).

British World War I blackened bronze other ranks cap badge for the Machine Gun Corps Motor Transport driver as worn in Africa in Egypt or Palestine. The one-piece construction of King’s crown over crossed Vickers with a spoked wheel below. Slider to rear.

Pair of sterling silver and enamel earrings set in Lucite of the insignia of the Canadian regiment The Winnipeg Grenadiers MG. The King’s crown surmounts over a central image of a ram’s head encircled by “The Winni-peg Grenadiers MG” over banner with motto “Adsum” (I am present). The Winnipeg Grenadiers were a militia infantry battalion organized as a machine gun battalion on September 4, 1939. The unit was sent to Hong Kong and surrendered to the Japanese on December 25, 1941, after heavy fighting. The unit reformed in January 1942 in Canada and disbanded in the UK in November 1944. Slip-on style with screw back clip for non-pierced ears. Rear marked sterling silver.

Brass and bronze “trench-art”-style miniature of a German World War I Maxim MG 08 machine gun on sled mount with steam condensing hose, water and ammo cans. The gun traverses and elevates on the mount. The front legs can be adjusted from prone position to selected height. The gun and sled mount sits on a stained wood stand with an inscription plate in German that reads “Schwere Mashinen Gewehr 08” (Heavy Machine Gun 08). This highly detailed model was made in 2017 by Oleg Prokopenko and his brother Dmytro Prokopenko in the Ukraine. The gun measures approximately 6 inches long.

Russian silver shooting award pendant. The obverse has a central image of an M1910 Maxim machine gun on a Sokolov wheeled mount and engraved above and below in Russian: “1st prize for machine gun fire.” The reverse is engraved in Russian (Shamordino 2 Base 1919). The pendant measures approximately 1 1/8×1 3/8 inches.

WWI-era U.S. Cavalry machine gun troop expert proficiency with a machine gun felt sleeve patch worn 1918–1919 only. Sewn image of red five-round section of a machine gun belt within a red circle against a yellow backing. The colors of red on yellow denoted machine gun troops in the U.S. Cavalry.

German service insignia of the Stahlhelm branch of the Freikorps. Blue cloth-covered round badge approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. Affixed to the center is a gray metal Maxim MG08 machine gun on sled mount. Metal-backed and maker-marked, “Ges. Gesch” (copyrighted). The Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten was one of the many paramilitary organizations that arose after the German defeat of World War I and operated as the armed branch of the national conservative German National People’s Party (DNVP).

Japanese red lacquer wood sake cup with gold rim and kanji with central image of an early Hotchkiss Model 1900 machine gun on tripod. This cup commemorates going to war with Russia (a reference to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905) with the Imperial Guards Division, 3rd Machine Gun Unit.

World War I-era shoulder patches for the U.S. 101st Machine Gun Battalion of the 26th Infantry Division (also known as the Yankee Division as most of the units were recruited from the New England area). The Division saw extensive combat service in World War I. The patches denote the headquarters and machine gun companies of the 101st machine gun battalion. Made of green felt material on a paper board backing, the information is stitched in white thread. These were made by a company specializing in military and veteran ribbons intended to be a souvenir patch for families and sweethearts, but many were sent overseas and worn in theater (unofficially) by the soldiers.

Imperial Russian World War I-era 84 silver cufflinks with image of a Model 1905 Maxim machine gun on a wheeled Sokolov mount with stability legs. The cufflink is attached to a chain that is linked to a rendering of a 7.62x54R cartridge that serves as the opposite holding side of the shirt cuff.

Polish commemorative badge for the World War II 5CKM Kresowy Machine Gun battalion. The badge was numbered on the rear “705” and was worn by Michal Jablonski. Two-piece construction. Three machine gun bullets on belt in center of wreath with “CKM” to center with number “5” at the bottom of the wreath, which is superimposed on a Monte Casino Cross. Full-size about 42mmx42mm. Screw back. The 5th Machine Gun Battalion was a unit of the 5th Kresowy Infantry Division. (Kresowy means coming from the “Kresy” or the “Frontier” meaning specifically the eastern frontier of Poland.) The unit commemorative badge was authorized by the 2nd Polish Corps Commander order No. 108, paragraph 628 of October 7, 1946. The unit existed from 1943 to 1947 and saw action first in the Middle East and then with the 2nd Polish Corps in Italy. Maker marked to the rear, “F.M. Lorioli, Milano-Roma.”

Swedish military army submachine gun shooting award silver level. Colored medal obverse has raised relief image of Swedish soldier kneeling firing an M40 submachine gun. Reverse has laurel wreath with no inscription to center. Medal is hanging on a blue and red vertical striped ribbon with pin back.

Swiss trench art picture frame consisting of Swiss 7.5mm machine gun cartridges with rims dated 1917-1922. Swiss machine gun regiment shako hat badge affixed to bottom and Swiss cross affixed to top. Cabinet photograph of Swiss officer inside frame.

During the years immediately before the World War I, small hollow off-white china ornaments decorated with civic arms and other crests were popular souvenirs for many people in England who took holidays or daytrips to seaside resorts. Crested china was typically bought from the places on the crest and carefully carried home. During World War I, holidays were still celebrated at most East Coast and South Coast resorts, and the ornament makers began to create designs related to the War.

The ornaments were largely made in the potteries around Stoke-on-Trent by companies such as Arcadian, Carlton, Grafton, Savoy, Shelley, Swan, Willow Art and W.H. Goss. The peacetime ornaments included figurines of everyday objects, local museum antiquities or items such as ring trees, stamp boxes and pin trays.

With the coming of War, new designs were created, such as grenades and mines, ships, airplanes, ambulances and military headdress and tanks. Depicting military subjects accurately was less important than the topicality of the model or its label; therefore, some crests on this china have proven to be “imagined” or are unofficial designs.

Crested china Vickers machine gun on tripod consisting of two-piece construction. Gun swivels 360 degrees on tripod. Gold high-lights. Crest atop water jacket is of Ayr, Scotland. Front of tripod head marked, “RD No. 66144.” (“RD” is “Registered Design” and is a form of copyright to prevent others from copying the style of the image.) Left side of water jacket marked “Model of Machine Gun.” Bottom of gun marked “402” and “Savoy China Stoke-on-Trent England” logo.

Crested china WWI Talbot armored car with two Vick-ers machine guns mounted fore and aft on the top. Crest of Chelmsford on hood of car under a banner that reads, “Many Minds One Heart.” Bottom mak-er-marked “Savoy China (introduced c.1910 until c.1928) Stoke-on-Trent England” for “BR&Co sellers” (Birks Rawlins & Co.).

Crested china commemorative World War I Vickers machine gun on tripod. Large crested front has blue and yellow shield of St. Albans. Atop water jacket is the Machine Gun Corps Skill-at-Arms badge of “MG” within wreath. Rear of tripod marked “The Victory of Justice Armistice of the Great War Signed Nov. 11th 1918.” Gold highlights around muzzle, rear and ammunition belt. Made by Carlton China with maker’s stamp on bottom.

Crested china golf ball with the central image of the king’s crown over crossed Vickers over “Machine Gun Corps” banner below.

Crested china good luck horseshoe with central mage of king’s crown over crossed Vickers over “Machine Gun Corps” banner. Above reads, “The Old Horseshoe” followed by a four-line poem. At bottom is, “The Legend” and a short history of why the horseshoe is considered a good luck symbol. Reverse maker-marked “W.H. Goss.”

Crested china bushel basket with crest insignia of the Machine Gun Corps in center of bottom of basket. Gold trim to edge highlight. Bottom maker-marked “W.H. Goss Ashbourne Bushel RD No. 450628.”

Crested china white porcelain figurine of World War I Machine Gun Corps “Tommy and his gun” firing a Vickers machine gun with gold trim highlights to cap, eyes, machine gun and base. Painted crested front has large coat of arms for Southampton. Bottom mak-er-marked “Arcadian China Stoke-on-Trent.”

Crested china with five fluted vase positions rimmed in gold. The vase is diminutive in size measuring only 3 inches wide and 2 inches high. Affixed to the front is the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps insignia of king’s crown over crossed Vickers with “N.Z” below. There is no maker mark, but it is of the Carlton style of crested china.

Crested china teddy bear with central image on stomach of the king’s crown over crossed Vickers and “Machine Gun Corps” below. Gold accents on ears and eyes. Bot-tom maker-marked “Arcadian China.”

In 1918, Fokker, a Dutch aircraft manufacturer, placed full-page ads in industry engineering magazines that not only touted its aircraft but its armament featuring Maxim and Parabellum machine guns.

Hussmann & Co. was one of the companies that manufactured machine gun mounts for German aircraft in World War I. This full-page ad for Hus-smann’s MG Normal Ringe was placed in the September/October 1918 issue of Motor, a German engineering magazine. Further copy below the central image states, “Tried and tested by the air force inspection and intended for use.” This ring-mount unit was fitted to several multi-seat aircraft in late 1917 and early 1918 for aerial defense and was similar in construction to the English Scarf mount. The air gunner artwork is done by Fr. Winklemann.

Large bronze casting (circa 1920s) by Hungarian artist Miltiades Manno (1880–1935) of an Austria-Hungary three-man machine gun team firing the Schwarzlose M. 07/12 water-cooled machine gun. Very detailed with soldiers in full combat gear all the way down to the hobnail boots. The large bronze casting combat set-scene is mounted on a marble base measuring approximately 30×17 inches (to further sit atop a waist-high plinth) and in total, weighs nearly 100 pounds. Coming from a family of Greek immigrants, Miltiades Manno was born in Pacsova, Austria-Hungary and died in Budapest, Hungary. He was an accomplished multi-faceted athlete in a number of sports competing in two Olympics. He was also a noted graphic artist, painter and sculptor, having studied at the Academy of Munich at the turn of the century. He fought in the Austro-Hungarian Army in WWI and was wounded several times while fighting the Russians in Galicia requiring him to retire from sports. He is best known for his anti-communist Hungarian posters of the 1920s.

Immediate post-World War I (circa early 1920s) bronze table sculpture depicting two French soldiers manning a French M1907 St. Etienne machine gun on the Omnibus 1915 tripod. The bronze shows great detail in the uniforms and equipment. Signed by the artist Georges Omerth (1895–1925). Weighing almost 20 pounds, it is mounted on a green marble plinth. It measures 16¾ inches long by 6½ inches wide by 13¼ inches tall.

A cold-cast bronze figurine depicting a late World War II Australian Commando during World War II operating in the Pacific theater. The soldier wears jungle greens, a slouch hat bearing the double-diamond commando patch affixed to the hatband and carries the rugged and reliable Owen 9mm submachine gun. His gear is based on the Pattern 37 webbing equipment, modified to better suit the harsh jungle conditions. This statuette is made by Naked Army®, is serial number 632 of a limited production run that was created in 2015 and stands approximately 12 inches tall.

Highly detailed desk ornament casting in Austrian gilded bronze of an Austrian KuK storm trooper with field pack firing a Schwarzlose M. 07/12 water-cooled machine gun. The soldier is shown wearing the Austrian early issue cap with the full-issue uniform with field pack, canteen and bayonet in scabbard. He has the marksmanship award in the form of an aiguillette-looking braided cord worn from the left shoulder board. The artwork is signed by the artist “T. Henn” and is mounted on an Austrian marble base that is 1½ inches thick and measures 5½ x 4 inches.

Cold-cast bronze statue of a World War I Australian Army Lewis gun soldier of the 1st AIF (Australian Imperial Force) in 1918. Exceptionally well-detailed, this typical Australian machine gunner on the Western Front carries his Lewis .303 caliber machine gun on his shoulder, with a Webley & Scott Mk VI .455 caliber revolver in his holster and wears the Pattern 08 pistol rig equipment in battle order. He also wears an English Brody steel helmet and carries his “small box respirator” gas mask slung around his neck in the “ready” position. The statue is approximately 12 inches high and made by Naked Army®. This is number 90 of a limited edition of 2,000 worldwide. Made in 2005.

French bronze desk sculpture made post-World War I in the 1920s. The set-scene depicts two exceptionally well-detailed French machine gunners with the Hotchkiss Model 1914 air-cooled heavy machine gun mounted on a Model 1914 Hotchkiss tripod. They are depicted in the field behind a fence-line emplacement. Weighing approximately 8 pounds, the sculpture is mounted on a marble base 13×6½ inches and stands 10 inches high. Signed by the artist “CH Gillet” (Charles Gillet).

Statuette of a U.S. Marine “Devil Dog” Chauchat gunner in France, 1918. Cold-cast bronze figurine 12.5 inches tall. Cast by KHAKI-ARMY in 2013, this is serial number 44 of a limited production run. This WWI figure represents a U.S. Marine Chauchat gunner in action in late 1918 as attached to the 2nd Infantry Division. He wears the AEF M1917 khaki drab uniform, typically worn without collar insignia. His weapons are the French Mle. 1915 Chauchat (CSRG) machine rifle and Colt Model of 1911 .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol in a holster on his hip. His backpack is lightly loaded for the assault, and he carries extra 20-round magazines for his Chauchat in a French-made haversack. His gas mask, worn in the “ready” position, helmet and gear are all U.S. issue. The term Devil Dog has its origins at Belleau Wood where a dispatch from the German front lines to their headquarters described the fighting abilities of the Americans as fighting like “Teufelshunde.”

Headquarters swallowtail flag for the World War I Czech 3rd Machine Gun Company, Yan Zhishka Regiment. Black felt with white cotton applications of a Maxim gun and the unit information with silver bullion fringe. The reverse has the red goblet battalion insignia. This regiment originally fought on the Russo-Austro-Hungarian front on the Austrian side. They were beaten by the Russians, captured, and they promised them their own country if they fought on the Russian side forming a force of some 60,000 men. They were eventually sent to Siberia and then fought against the Russian Bolsheviks on the Kalchak front in Siberia. 

Nicely detailed German paperweight or desk ornament. A German Maxim MG 08 water-cooled machine gun on its sled mount with a ZF12 optical sight mounted approximately 6 inches long on a 7×3¾-inch black marble base. These were also used as rewards in shooting competitions in the interwar period. 

Shanghai Volunteer Corps Machine Gun Company drink coaster from the officer’s mess at the British legation. Marked on rear “Aynsley” over crown over “England.” Center is made of porcelain with the outer rim made of silver plate. The imagery details crossed Vickers surmounted with the “S.V.C.” (Shanghai Volunteer Corps) star to the top. In the center is a circular rendering of the 12 flags of the Shanghai international settlement. The bottom reads, “S.V.C, Machine Gun Company.” All SVC items are extremely rare as the Japanese destroyed everything pertaining to them when they fully captured the foreign section of Shanghai on December 8, 1941. 

Handmade, hand-painted, plaster of Paris souvenir two-part ashtray. The back is tombstone-shaped and has as its central image the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps insignia consisting of the King’s crown over crossed Vickers with “NZ” below. The base says, “Egypt 1941.” Maker-signed “Romani.” The ash receptacle is at the front. This is a bit of a macabre wartime souvenir with the tombstone shape and the ashtray suggesting an “ashes to ashes” motif. New Zealand troops participated in several battles within Egypt including the First and Second Battles of El Alamein in 1942, which turned the tide of the North African wars and ended the Axis threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal. 

Trench-art style model of a Vickers medium machine gun rendered in brass. The base is the rear portion of a 1917-dated artillery shell and measures 5 inches in diameter probably from a QF 18-pounder. The gun sits on an Mk IV-type tripod head atop a machined column arising from the base. The gun measures 12 1/2 inches in length from the spade grips to the muzzle and features a fluted water jacket. The ladder sight can be raised or lowered, and the gun is adjustable for traverse and elevation. 

Imperial Austrian gold gilt and blue enamel lapel pin marked “MG SCH D 15” (Machine Gun Schutzen Regiment D 15 (k.u.k.)). This shooting regiment consisted mainly of boys 17 to 18 years old, mostly from the semi-Alpine region. Pin back, measuring approximately 25mm wide.

Russian World War II poster depicting a Russian soldier with a DP-28 light machine gun and a commissar pointing to German parachuting troops. The Russian text reads, “Mercilessly Destroy Fascist Saboteurs.” 

World War II poster “Let’s give him Enough and On Time” by Norman Rockwell, 1942. The War was not yet being won, and this image showed a battered and wounded soldier staying in the fight manning his Browning M1917A1 water-cooled machine gun that is almost out of ammo. The message is straight and clear: he is doing his part, you have to do yours. This poster was commissioned by the Ordnance Department for display in munitions factories. 40×24 inches. 

Oil painting titled by New Zealand Captain Peter McIntyre (1910-1995) during the Greek campaign titled, “The Alert at Dawn, 27th Machine Gun Battalion in Greece,” April 1941. Peter McIntyre was appointed New Zealand’s official war artist, and his work covered the campaigns in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert, Tripolitania, Tunisia and Italy. 

Soviet oil on canvas painting by Sergey Luppov (1893-1977) titled “Women in Defense” painted between 1935-1939 depicting the training of women in the use of the Russian M1910 Maxim machine gun. 

Original watercolor drawing on watercolor board of a German machine gunner carrying his Maxim MG 08 water-cooled machine gun on sled mount on his back. Painted in 2006. Penciled title, “German Machine Gunner 1914” and signed in pencil by artist Søren Hawkes. 3×5 inches.

Italian interwar colonial period postcard depicting Italian troops firing the FIAT-Revelli M1914 water-cooled machine gun. Italian colonialism in Africa included the present-day countries of Libya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

Large format postcard of U.S. .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine gun crew in action. The rear is marked, “Reproduced on this card is an original oil painting by Charles Damrow entitled ‘Night Watch.’” It further says, “It was done on a piece of G.I. mattress cover in a squad tent during rest periods while the artist was a private of the 151st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 13th Airborne Division during World War II.” 9×6 inches. 

Postcard promoting “Britains Best” for Vaux’s stout Maxim ale. The Vaux Brewery named a brand of beer “Maxim” in honor of the son of the owner who was in charge of a Maxim machine gun detachment upon returning home from the Boer War in South Africa 1899-1902.

Bar towel for Double Maxim Strong Brown Ale as brewed by Vaux Brewery. The Vaux Brewery in Sunderland (in Northumberland, Northeast England) produced at the turn of the 20th century in 1901 an ale brand featuring the Maxim machine gun on the label and named the brand Maxim Ale. It was produced to honor the exploits and safe return of a member of the brewing family, Major Ernest Vaux, from the Second Boer War of 1899– 1902 in South Africa. In 1938, the brewery increased the strength and renamed the brand Double Maxim. The brewery went out of business in 1999. 

Sterling silver hallmarked commemorative medal with blue ribbon. Obverse shows image of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria. The verso reads “Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. To Employees of 30 Years Service and to Commemorate the Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria to Sheffield July 12th, 1905.” The edge of the medal is inscribed to 30-year employee “Joseph Wright April 29th 1875.” 

Latvian brass tank or armored car machine gunner’s proficiency badge. 1919–1926. Crossed Vickers mounted over a tank mounted on a spoked tire. Two piece screw construction. Screw back. Spinner marked, “Arme Ekonom. Veikals, Riga.”

Indian officer’s Jaipur State Forces Machine Gun Battery pugree, above, and collar badge, below. Bronze pugree badge with rising sun over city of Jaipur over crossed Vickers machine guns with “Jaipur” banner below. Slider to rear. The matching officer’s blackened bronze collar badges are of the same pattern. Each has two lugs to the rear. Circa 1920s/1930s.

World War II Japanese Imperial Army proficiency breast badge 1st class for machine gun. Gold-gilt with white metal border and crossed Taisho Type 3 heavy machine guns. With original presentation box. Hook and latch to the rear.