Maxim gun

The Maxim gun, invented by Hiram Maxim in 1884, was one of the first fully automatic machine guns. It could fire many rounds rapidly without needing to be manually triggered each time, greatly increasing firepower. The gun used a system where the energy from firing a bullet automatically ejected the spent cartridge, chambered a new one, and prepared for the next shot. Its high rate of fire gave armies a significant advantage in warfare, influencing military tactics and colonial expansion. The Maxim gun is considered a pivotal development in firearms technology and modern machine guns.