November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Demilled Lewis machine gun with cut and re-welded receiver pieces and combination of British .303 and U.S. parts. Receiver in addition to being cut and rewelded has several holes drilled at forward end with horizontal plugs through chamber and receiver. Charging handle moves freely with bolt cut at front with piston also sawed off at midpoint. No radial cooling fins present nor any interior to shroud save a piece of pipe to simulate barrel. Chamber area drilled through at least three times. Circular wooden block and piece of pipe glued into muzzle area to simulate barrel. Feed mechanism not present and drum retention stud drilled out with contemporary bolts and washers holding unserviceable .303 drum in place. CONDITION: Very significant old corrosion under very nice black enamel paint. Shroud shows holes from corrosion on both sides, with a metal disk apparently glued to gas port hole. Bipod is rusted and welded into the retracted position, front sight, handgrip and detachable buttstock and handgrip appear serviceable albeit with some moderate to significant pitting to the metal. Rear sight rusted in position but still works for display purposes. Wood of stock has significant grain checks but is serviceable. Pan magazine getting soft at center and not serviceable due to corrosion and rotates freely on post. But still, a nice display piece of the classic Lewis ground gun. Put up high on a wall, not a bad display at all. JWK 18-11-133