Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · IV · 113

Hotchkiss Mark I light machinegun (British)

Section IV: still an NFA firearm, also a curio or relic

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION IV · VERBATIM · PDF P. 85 ↗

Hotchkiss, light machinegun, British Model 1909 Mark I and Mark I, cal. .303.

What this entry requires

  • INFOATF states no date; production was about 1915–1918.
  • INFOStill an NFA firearm; only registered examples transfer, with ATF approval (26 U.S.C. 5812, 5861).

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United Kingdom²
Manufacturer
Hotchkiss et Cie (Coventry)
Type
Machinegun
Action
Select-fire / auto
Caliber
.303 British
Made
c. 1915–1918production; ATF states no date¹
Service
Military
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section IV · PDF p. 85 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: Medium · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun” ↗, years: infobox production date 1915-1918 (Coventry); the .303 'Hotchkiss Mark I' was produced at the Coventry factory
  2. Wikipedia, “Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun” ↗, country: the .303 variant was produced in Britain at the Hotchkiss factory in Coventry
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
None

Historical context

Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun (base model shown for Hotchkiss Mark I light machinegun (British))
Shown: a U.S. Benét–Mercié machine rifle, not this British Hotchkiss Mark I.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, “111-SC-24658 - NARA - 55208927.jpg” by Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Public domain. Retrieved October 2026.

Summary: Wikipedia, “Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun was a light machine gun of the early 20th century that was developed and built by Hotchkiss et Cie. It was also known as the Hotchkiss Mark I, Hotchkiss Portative and M1909 Benét–Mercié.