October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Manufactured by Birmingham Small Arms Company, 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 the use of them worthwhile. They were lighter than the Maxim, and one did not need to worry about carrying belts of ammunition. One 47 round pan magazine is included with this gun. This gun, like most others encountered has been renumbered from its original 5-digit number to an “A” prefix number which is the registration number with BATF. Earlier serial numbers are lined through, none of which match each other. 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. Bolt serial number E4903 does not match serial number. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is fine original finish with wear to gray patina at high edges a small dime sized area of pitting at right side rear of radiator shroud and some areas taking on a brown patina. Mechanics are fine. Bore is good with scattered light pitting with a ring of corrosion near the gas port. Bolt face is fine. Grip panels are very good with some dings, bruises and handling marks. Buttstock is very good and serviceable with a solitary crack running parallel to the bore line from the rear sling hardware to the buttplate. This is a very nice 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 CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2019-10-20