Production began at the Hotchkiss factory in Saint-Denis, Paris, but in 1914, with the invading German army threatening the city, the French military authorities ordered the factory to be moved to Lyon. This tripod, fitted under the firearm, could be moved with the weapon, and was very different from larger tripods of the period. types had a bipod, while some others used a small tripod. Initial models were fed by a 30-round feed strip but later models could be either strip-fed or belt-fed. It was gas-operated and air-cooled, had a maximum range of 3,800 m (4,200 yd) and weighed 12 kg (27 lb). Several improved versions were designed by Hotchkiss's American manager, Laurence Benét and his French assistant, Henri Mercié. It was based on a design by Austrian nobleman and Army officer, Adolf Odkolek von Újezd, who sold the manufacturing rights to Hotchkiss in 1893. It was also known as the Hotchkiss Mark I, Hotchkiss Portative and M1909 Benét–Mercié. The Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun was a light machine gun of the early 20th century, developed and built by Hotchkiss et Cie. Hotchkiss M1909 (French Army, 8×50mm Lebel)īenét–Mercié Machine Rifle M1909 (United States.

St etienne mle 1907