Original U.S. WWI USN Savage Model 1917 Lewis Mark VI Display Gun in .30-06 Original Items
   
Item:
ONSV1281

Original U.S. WWI USN Savage Model 1917 Lewis Mark VI Display Gun in .30-06

Item Description

Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a fantastic U.S. WWI Savage MK VI Model 1917 Lewis Display Machine Gun built from excellent genuine WWI parts and reassembled with a beautiful non-firing BATF approved original reassembled WWI issue Lewis Gun receiver, making this a 100% legal display machine gun. This receiver was created by using portions of the original torch cut receiver, including the barrel bushing, combined with some new made steel portions. It has properly had a 25% section of the total length completely replaced entirely with solid steel bar stock. Meaning a 1/4 length section of the display receiver is solid steel, making this totally legal to own without a license of any kind. It features all original parts 90% of which are Savage made with the exception of a British made .303 Lewis barrel.

This Savage made Lewis includes an original bipod assembly. The gun is marked on rear of receiver forward of rear sight:
LEWIS MACHINE GUN
MFG. BY SAVAGE ARMS CORP. UTICA. NY. U.S.A.
.30 U.S. GOV’T.

There is also a tiny proof mark U / 18 marked on top of receiver . Marked underneath where pan fastens:
USN INSP H.G.D. 1917
CAL .30 MARK VI
U.S. No. 494
anchor proof mark and U / 2.

Right side of receiver marked:
LEWIS MACHINE GUN
MFG. BY SAVAGE ARMS CORP. UTICA. NY. U.S.A.
No. 16579

Multiple patent marks can be found on right side of receiver below ejection port and on back of buttplate. Includes a standard US 47 round .30-06 pan magazine marked:
PAT. MAR.21, 1903-OCT. 22, 1912
30.US

Overall condition is good with notable deterioration on the underside of the barrel jacket, also it is missing the cooling fins located at the back of the barrel jacket. A fantastic rare display gun built in WWI and used in both WWI and WWII!

During WW2 American forces used the Lewis gun (in .30-06 caliber) throughout the war. The US Navy used the weapon on armed merchant cruisers, small auxiliary ships, landing craft and submarines. The US Coast Guard also used the Lewis on their vessels.

The first use of the Lewis in the war was by Belgium, in August and September 1914, when the small number available were fitted to a handful of touring and armored cars and used in a few sorties against German patrols and troop columns. As a consequence, the Germans are supposed to have nicknamed the Lewis "the Belgian Rattlesnake", although contemporary German references confirming this have not been found. The Lewis was not in service with the regular Belgian Army.


The United Kingdom officially adopted the Lewis gun in .303 British caliber for land and aircraft use in October 1915, with the weapon beginning to be generally issued to the British Army's infantry battalions on the Western Front in early 1916 as a replacement for the heavier and less mobile Vickers machine gun, the Vickers then being withdrawn from the infantry for use by specialist machine-gun companies. The US Navy and Marine Corps followed in early 1917, adopting the M1917 Lewis gun (produced by the Savage Arms Co.), in .30-06 caliber.

The US Army never officially adopted the weapon for infantry use and even went so far as to take Lewis guns away from US Marines arriving in France and replace them with the cheap, shoddy, and extremely unsatisfactory Chauchat LMG—a practice believed to be related to General Crozier's dislike of Lewis and his gun. The US Army eventually adopted the Browning Automatic Rifle in 1917 (although it was September 1918 before any of the new guns reached the front). The US Navy and Marine Corps continued to use the .30-06 calibre Lewis until the early part of the Second World War.

  • This product is not available for international shipping.
  • This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. Every display machine gun and machine gun parts set and gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). Please note that the requirements for each display gun are decided on a per case basis by the BATF, and may require deactivation or omission of some internal components. For more information on this display gun, please contact us. Not available for Export.
    Due to State & Federal law we do not ship magazines that exceed the following capacities to the following locations, and a deactivated magazine will be sent:
    California - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Colorado - 15 round maximum for all magazines.
    Connecticut - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Hawaii - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Illinois - 15 round maximum for Chicago and Aurora. 10 round maximum for Oak Park and Cook County.
    Maryland - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Massachusetts - 10 round maximum for all magazines
    New Jersey - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    New York- 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Washington, D.C. - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
    Washington (State) - 10 round maximum for all magazines.
  • Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon

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