Lewis Gun

[CINDERS]

Learned a bit of info today the Lewis Gun was modified to 30/06 cal and utilized by the Americans as the M17 in WWI.
The Japanese also chambered it for their 7.7 round and used it as well not to be confused with the woodpecker.
Interesting I thought and who would have guessed that not a scant 13 years later they were our enemies after Dec 7 1941 that day that will live in infamy....

Information

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[303tom]

The Lewis Gun was only chambered in .303, .30-06, & 7.92x57, but the Japanese called it the Type 92 and used their 7.7mm rimmed cartridge that was interchangeable with the .303 British round.

[Badger]

For those wanting to read an interesting MKL article about the Lewis Gun ...

Lewis Gun Love Affair (By Graeme Barber)

Regards,
Doug

[RCS]

The Italian Air Force also used the 7,7mm Lewis m/g as did the Polish Air Force in 7.92x57.
There is a 6.5mm chambering of the Lewis gun too. I have a post WW1 experimental 303 Lewis cartridge which is kind of a magnum cartridge made in the UK but never developed outside of testing.

My photo shows two early 303 cartridges plus a Japanese 7,7 mm cartridgeAttachment 58167Attachment 58168

[303tom]

There were a few chambered in 8mm Lebel & the 6.5x55 but not many !...................

[Colonel Enfield]

I always thought it was interesting the US had two M1917 machine-guns in service, along with two M1917 revolvers and an M1917 rifle. I can't imagine the logistical headaches that must have caused for quartermasters...

[fjruple]

The Lewis Gun was also chambered in 7.62mm x54R for the Russians.

--fjruple

[DocAV]

.303 Br, .30cal,(USA); 7,92;(Poland );7,62x54R(Russian Contract, also Estonia); 6,5x53R and ? 7,9x57R ?(Netherlands); 7,7x56R ( Italy, France, & Japan). Belgium 7,65x53.

BSA manufactured the British, Russian, Belgian, French & Italian Guns; the Dutch may have had theirs made especially by BSA after WW I; the Japanese copied the design after buying some (and ammo) in the 1920s. Poland converted the .303 guns ( and maybe the Russian 7,62 Guns) to 7,9mm.

The US (Savage) made both .303 guns and after 1917, .30 cal guns.

So far there is no confirmation that the Italians ever made the Lewis for themselves, but some Lewis Guns were converted in Belgium from .303 to 7,9mm for "Arms merchant" sales...probably for China.

As to the 6,5 Swede and the 8mm Lebel Lewis Guns, these seem to be in the realms of "Test Prototypes" immediately after WW I...Sweden adopted the FN-built BAR, whilst France abandoned the 8mm Lebel cartridge for FMs and used a new design (the 7,5mm cartridge) and the MAC M24/29 gun.

Doc AV

[303tom]

Specifications for the
Lewis Machine Gun
Light Machine Gun

Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1914

Overall Length: 1280 mm (50.39 in)
Barrel Length: 670.00 mm (26.38 in)
Weight (Empty): 28.66 lb (13.00 kg)

Caliber: .303 British; .30-06 Springfield; 7.92x57mm Mauser
Action: Gas-Operated
Feed: 47- or 97-round detachable pan
Muzzle Velocity: 2,440 ft/sec (744 m/sec)
Rate-of-Fire: 550 rounds per minute
Range: 2,624 ft (800 m; 875 yds)
Sights: Iron Blade and Tangent Leaf

Lewis Machine Gun - Light Machine Gun - History, Specs and Pictures - Military, Security and Civilian Guns and Equipment

Yes they were chambered in other cartridges but they are very rare !.........

[browningautorifle]

So...you must have found that on Wiki, and we're ALL just wrong. Beyond your long list of three calibers, it was initially made in at least 7 other calibers. All for marketing. That was in the beginning...