April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
The Lewis machine gun was the most preferred by either side during World War I. The Germans gladly employed them whenever they could capture enough ammunition to make them worthwhile. This Lewis aircraft gun includes one 47 round pan magazine and has a broad arrow proof on feed mechanism. Gun is arsenal renumbered from 68464 to A428, which is the registration number with the BATF. Marked on rear of receiver “Manufactured by” / “The Birmingham Small Arms Co LTD” / “ENGLAND” / “for” / “Armes Automatiques Lewis” / “BELGIUM” just forward of rear sight marked “Lewis Auto Gun” / “Mod.1914-Pat.” This gun also displays British proof marks on several parts with broad arrow with the exception being the aluminum hand ring at rear of receiver which has no visible proof marks. Wooden handle held in place with modern stove bolt and washers. Grip panels are somewhat loose on grip frame. Bolt is serial numbered E4634 and does not match serial number. PROVENANCE: The class III weapons formerly on loan to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is fine and would be extremely fine except for hand ring shows about 40% loss of its black enamel paint finish and stove bolt as noted. Barrel is appropriately in white with some slight discoloration and spots of enamel paint. Barrel bushing at forward edge of receiver also has lost about 50% of its enamel painted finish due to it being grasped by a wrench. Grip panels are extremely fine with only the slightest of handling marks. Wooden handle at rear of receiver has some significant bruises and gouges but is still solid and serviceable. Pan magazine marked “303 MK VI & VII” and retains over 95% of its original blued finish and is extremely clean inside. Bore has strong rifling with crisp lines but is dark. Bolt face is extremely fine with crisp lines. Mechanics are crisp. This is a nice, light version of the Lewis gun and has one of the smoothest actions of the many this cataloger has seen. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 or 4 AS A CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE MACHINE GUN.
Accessories
1 pan magazine