Excerpt: "The Maxim Gun. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Weight of the ·303-in. gun, 60 lbs. Weight of the tripod, 48 lbs. Weight of ammunition box containing one filled belt, Mark VI 21 lbs., Mark VII 19½ lbs. The gun may be considered as divided into two portions—the non-recoiling and the recoiling. It is worked automatically by two forces—the explosion of the charge which forces the recoiling portion backwards, and a strong spring (called the fusee spring) which carries it forward."