World War I Captured War Trophy

This 1918 vintage Maxim Machine gun was brought back to the states by a returning serviceman who captured it while on duty in Europe fighting the Germans in World War I. It is surmised that the gun was given to Harrison Schwend to add to his collection around 1920. This model machine gun was given the name the "Devils Paint Brush" as it has the dubious distinction for being singularly responsible for more casualties on the battlefield than any other weapon ever deployed, including the atomic bomb. It fired a 7.92MM round (same as the German infantry rifle) at an extreme range of 4400 yards at 400-500 rounds per minute. It was one of 14,000 units manufactured by Maschinen Fabrik Ausberg-Nurnberg Germany in 1918.