Designed originally by Col. Isaac Lewis in the USA this weapon was adopted by the Belgian Army in 1913 and then the British Army in 1915. The Lewis was the first widely used squad light machine gun, issued widely to British and Dominion forces in WW1. It was also highly prized when captured by the Germans who re-used many weapons. It was still in use, especially in the unjacketed aircraft version, during WW2.
Marks and Stamps: (Top of Breech) LEWIS AUTO GUN MOD. 1914 Pat. 25758 Manufactured by The Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd ENGLAND for Armes Automatiques Lewis BELGIUM (On bipod) MOUNT FIELD 303" LEWIS MK III BS&Co MAKERS NOTTINGHAM DP| Accession Number: 477 | Period of Use: WW1-WW2 |
| Type: Machine gun | War Zones: |
| Country of Origin: Great Britain | Type Date: 1913 |
| Manufacturer: Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd | Serial Number: 25758 |
| Manufacture Date: Unknown | Calibre/Ammunition: 0.303" |
| Weight: 11800g | Length Overall: 1283mm |
| Cyclic Rate: 550 rpm | Length Barrel: 666mm |
| Deactivation Certificate Number: |