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By 'Maxim Gun', I mean a gun that uses recoil in the reloading and firing mechanism, which was perfected IOTL by Hirim Maxim in 1883.

My question is, did Maxim produce his gun just as it became technologically feasible to o so, or did the prerequisite knowledge exist for decades beforehand, and that it was only until he came along that a concrete mechanism was pulled from the ether of science and engineering? If so, when was that date and how would an earlier development affect history (an example I could think of would be the Confederates having such a gun when the ACW is declared. Even if both sides have the weapon, its existence heavily favours the defender, which the CSA is able to be, the Union by comparison needing to attack to fulfill their wargoals)?
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