Lewis M1924 — A Rare French Machine Gun and German Trophy lMG 107(f)
From “Shock Action” to Model 1924
During World War I, Isaac Newton Lewis was already working on a new automatic rifle that differed from his famous machine gun. Between 1918 and 1919, he patented a series of design solutions for this system.
Initially, the original “Shock Action” system was used: the action was operated not by conventional gas bleeding, but by a pressure impulse created near the muzzle after firing. Patents from this period already included many features later seen on the Model 1924: a box magazine, selective single and automatic fire controls, and the characteristic layout of the action mechanism.
However, “Shock Action” proved to be a dead end. In the early 1920s, Lewis and Henry Willis Rudd continued work on the automatic rifle, gradually abandoning this system in favor of conventional gas-operated action. Intermediate prototypes were created that retained much of the original concept while incorporating a gas piston.
In 1921–1922, Lewis visited Paris several times to consult with Rudd regarding the weapon’s further development. It was during this period that the design underlying the Model 1924 was finalized. Thus, the M1924 should not be viewed as an entirely new design that appeared out of nowhere in 1924, but rather as the final stage of Lewis’s multi-year work on the automatic rifle.
An Attempt to Re-enter the Market
After the war, Rudd focused the company’s efforts on France. Even before the appearance of the M1924, the Société des Armes Lewis operated in Saint-Denis, tied to Lewis’s pre-war French activities. The company now attempted to use the French market as a launching pad to promote the new design.
The new automatic rifle was primarily intended to compete with the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Unlike the original WWI-era Lewis gun, the Model 1924 was designed for the role of an individual infantry automatic weapon — featuring a box magazine and air cooling.
The first demonstration model of the Model 1924 was chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser. In 1922, Henry Rudd demonstrated it to the French military, hoping to generate interest. To promote the design, Société des Armes Lewis published a dedicated French manual — Fusil-Mitrailleur Lewis Modèle 1924.
However, the French military pursued its own domestic designs, ultimately adopting the Châtellerault Mle 1924 in 1924. As a result, Lewis did not secure a French military contract. Notably, there is insufficient evidence to suggest the Lewis Model 1924 participated in the official French light machine gun trials: existing chronologies indicate Rudd tried to pitch the weapon when French domestic development was already nearing adoption.
Poland
Following its failure in France, one of the primary targets for promoting the new Lewis machine gun became Poland. In 1924, the Lewis Model 1923/1924 was presented in Polish trials alongside other foreign designs. Polish specialists evaluated two variants of the Model 1924 with 500 mm and 600 mm barrel lengths. The short-barreled variant featured a complex fire-control mechanism allowing a choice between semi-automatic, slow automatic, and fast automatic fire. Polish testers deemed this mechanism overly complicated, preferring the simpler long-barreled variant.
In July 1924, another stage of the light machine gun competition took place in Warsaw. As a result, Lewis, Colt, and Hotchkiss advanced to further testing. In early 1925, the Polish Military Equipment and Armaments Committee recommended concluding the trials and purchasing a small batch of the most promising design for troop field testing, but lack of funding delayed the procurement.
When funds were eventually allocated, the Polish military resumed comparative troop trials. The Lewis Model 1924, alongside Colt and Hotchkiss, was sent to infantry units for field testing. Ultimately, Poland discarded these systems in favor of the Browning Automatic Rifle. In 1927, a decision was made to license-produce the Browning, leading to the creation of the Polish Rkm Browning wz. 28.
End of the Project
Despite attempts to find buyers in France and Poland, no major military orders were secured, leaving the Model 1924 a rare, low-production prototype, built primarily for demonstration and promotion. Polish estimates suggest that only about 100 machine guns were produced.
Nevertheless, several examples remained in France up until the start of World War II. Following the fall of France in 1940, these weapons likely fell into German hands alongside other captured French materiel. Germany integrated this model into its captured weapons designation system (Fremdgerät), assigning it the designation lMG 107(f).
This makes the Lewis Model 1924 an exciting addition to Enlisted in two distinct roles. For Germany, it could be added directly as the lMG 107(f) — a rare French captured weapon with an official German designation. For the US side, it could represent a Lewis M1924 in the hands of the French Resistance.
Manual
Below is a translation of the French 36-page manual for the Lewis M1924 light machine gun, kindly provided by the curator of the weapons department at the Le Grand Curtius Museum.
Manuel Du Fusil-Mitrailleur Lewis Modèle 1924
LEWIS LIGHT MACHINE GUN Model 1924
(FUSIL-MITRAILLEUR LEWIS Modèle 1924)
CHARACTERISTICS
The Lewis Model 1924 light machine gun operates on the gas-operation principle via a port in the side wall of the barrel. It is chambered for the 7.9 mm Mauser cartridge and can be adapted to any other rimless/rimmed cartridge types with an extractor groove.
Ammunition feed is supplied by 20-round box magazines.
The weapon is equipped with a bipod serving as the primary forward support during firing and can also be equipped with a stock monopod (rear support) as an auxiliary support.
The weapon features a combined “fire selector and safety lever” that allows semi-automatic fire, full-automatic fire, and safe modes.
It is fitted with a flash hider and can accept a blank firing attachment (BFA) to cycle the action when firing blank cartridges with wooden bullets.
The weapon can be manufactured with a short barrel (0.50 m instead of 0.60 m). The only parts that differ between the long and short models are:
- The barrel (stripped);
- The gas cylinder;
- The gas piston tube.
CHAPTER I. Description
The light machine gun is divided into 5 main sub-assemblies:
- Barrel and Receiver;
- Operating Group (Bolt & Piston);
- Trigger Group (FCG);
- Stock Assembly;
- Sights.
Accessories are also included in the kit.
1. Barrel and Receiver
- Barrel (No. 2): Threaded at the front with a notch for the flash hider and blank firing adapter; features a gas port on the body; fitted with a square disassembly lug and interrupted threads at the rear to connect to the receiver. In addition to the flash hider, the bipod and front sling swivel (detailed below) mount onto the barrel.
- Gas Block (No. 3): Features a vertical port receiving gases from the barrel and a horizontal channel directing them to the piston. The gas block is secured to the barrel via a pin. The front sight post (No. 6) is mounted on top of it.
- Gas Cylinder (No. 9): Inserts into the gas block at one end and into the receiver collar at the other.
- Receiver (No. 10): Serves as the guide and housing for the piston and bolt assembly. Features an ejection port on the right, internal locking lugs at the front, and a magazine well underneath. The magazine catch (No. 11) and its spring (No. 12) are mounted in the forward section of the magwell, while the magazine release (No. 76) is mounted in the trigger housing at the rear. The upper left side features a dust cover (No. 18) with a spring (No. 20) designed to keep the charging handle slot closed. The dust cover is held in place and protected by a cover plate (No. 21), which is held by a latch (No. 22). Below lies the ejector housing containing the ejector (No. 15), whose tooth can move both inward toward the receiver center and longitudinally. It returns to both positions via a V-shaped ejector spring (No. 16). The entire unit is protected by an ejector cover plate (No. 17). All other sub-assemblies attach to the receiver: the barrel, trigger frame (No. 54), and rear sight (No. 120).
- Receiver Collar (No. 23): Connects the barrel and gas cylinder to the receiver. The collar can rotate around the receiver, taking the barrel (via its square lug) and gas cylinder along with it. To lock the barrel onto the receiver, the collar is locked in place against rotation by a collar lock (No. 24).
- Forend (Handguard) (No. 28): A wooden part fixed to the collar by four screws. Features a semi-circular metal reinforcement ring (No. 31).
- Receiver Side Plates (No. 33): Complement the protective action of the forend.
- Collar Disassembly Latch (No. 26): Fitted with a spring (No. 27), securing the collar to the receiver.
2. Operating Group
- Piston (No. 40): Consists of a piston tube (No. 43) connected by threads and a rivet to the striker post / bolt carrier (No. 41), onto which the striker (firing pin) (No. 45) is mounted. The connection between the piston tube and striker post features intentional play to ease alignment inside the gas cylinder. The piston body is hollow to house the recoil/drive spring.
- Recoil (Drive) Spring (No. 49): Guided at its rear by a guide rod (No. 50).
- Bolt (No. 47): Features four locking lugs, a helical cam track, a firing pin channel, an extractor hook (integrated directly into the bolt head), and a cartridge retaining spring (No. 48).
- Charging Handle (No. 51): Slides in its slot. Held in the forward position by the inclined plane of the dust cover.
3. Trigger Mechanism (Fire Control Group)
The trigger housing / frame (No. 54) connects to the receiver via interlocking guide rails. It houses:
- At the front: magazine latch (No. 76) and its spring (No. 77);
- At the rear: stock latch (No. 79) and its spring (No. 81);
- In the center: the trigger group, comprising the sear (No. 60), trigger (No. 64) mounted on a movable trigger base (No. 66), trigger spring (No. 68) with guide rod (No. 69), and safety assembly (No. 70), whose main component is the selector lever (No. 71).
4. Stock
The wooden buttstock mounts onto a metal frame base via two transverse screws (medium and short) and one longitudinal screw (long). The stock frame slides onto the receiver along dovetail slots.
The stock is fitted with the following hardware:
- Buttplate: Secured by three screws; features a cut-out for sling attachment.
- Monopod Mounting Plate: Secured by two screws and also includes a sling slot.
- Stock Monopod Latch: Slides within its housing, which is attached to the stock by two screws. The latch is spring-loaded.
5. Rear Sight Assembly (No. 120)
Mounted on the rear section of the receiver, the rear sight includes:
- Sight base (No. 121), carrying the remaining components;
- Aperture sight leaf (No. 123) with peep hole and leaf spring;
- Graduated elevation dial (No. 128) integrated with a cam;
- Sight leaf plunger, transmitting elevation angles set by the cam to the leaf;
- Elevation dial detent pin and spring, locking the dial in distinct settings.
Accessories
- Magazine (No. 140): Composed of a body closed at the bottom by a floorplate (No. 142), housing a follower (No. 143) compressed by a magazine spring (No. 144). Features front and rear locking lugs.
- Bipod (No. 150): Includes a bipod head (No. 151) with a collar rotating around the barrel, holding a pivot trunnion pin (No. 152). Bipod legs (No. 156) are hinged onto the pivot pin; their upper hinge heads (No. 154) fit into slots on the head, allowing deployment only at specific angles. Feet pads (No. 163–164) terminate the lower legs, linked by a folding cross-brace (No. 157) regulating leg spread. The left leg has a clasp (No. 166) to hold the legs together when folded. The bipod slides over the front of the barrel and is retained by the flash hider or blank firing adapter.
- Stock Monopod (Rear Support) (No. 170): Consists of two threaded rods screwed into a central adjusting sleeve/handle (No. 171). The lower rod features a shoe/pad (No. 176) resting on the ground; the upper rod ends in a grooved head locked by the stock latch.
- Flash Hider (No. 185): Conical pattern, threaded onto the muzzle and secured with a cotter pin.
- Blank Firing Adapter (No. 190): Single-piece design with internal blades to shred wooden bullets at the front, threaded at the rear to replace the flash hider. Includes a cotter pin hole.
- Broken Shell Extractor (No. 195): Features a body (No. 196) with an expanding lip, a internal sliding conical mandrel (No. 198), and a lever arm (No. 197).
- Three-piece Cleaning Rod (No. 205) with patch loop (No. 206) and bore brush (No. 207).
- Chamber Brush (No. 208).
- Oil Can (No. 209).
- Sling (No. 215) with rear T-bar hook and front snap hook.
- Canvas Transit Cover.
- 10-Magazine Backpack / Satchel.
- 8-Magazine Shoulder Bag (Musette).
- Monopod and Cleaning Rod Case.
- Accessory Pouch: Holds broken shell extractor, patch loop, oiler, chamber brush, bore brush, and cleaning rags.
CHAPTER II. Disassembly and Assembly
Before any disassembly, ensure the weapon is completely unloaded.
Field Strip (Basic Disassembly)
- Stock: With bolt forward, push the stock lock latch forward (Fig. 9). Slide stock upward, taking care toward the end of the stroke to hold the recoil spring guide rod in place with your right thumb to prevent it from flying rearward. During assembly, compress the recoil spring and retain its guide rod before sliding the stock back down onto the receiver rails.
- Bolt and Piston (Fig. 10): Remove stock. Remove recoil spring and guide rod. Pull charging handle sharply all the way back. Grasp the exposed rear of the piston and bolt assembly protruding from the receiver and pull them completely out. Separate the bolt from the piston stem, tipping the tip of the firing pin out first when near the forward end of the bolt cam slot. Reassemble in reverse order by inserting the rear of the striker post first.
- Trigger Housing: Remove stock. Set fire selector to full-auto (“Mitrailleuse”). Pull trigger and slide trigger frame rearward out of receiver rails.
- Barrel and Gas Cylinder (Fig. 11): Remove stock, bolt, and piston. Depress the receiver collar lock using the tip of a bullet. Rotate collar 1/8th of a turn clockwise (viewed from rear to front), then carefully pull the barrel assembly with gas cylinder forward. Avoid pulling abruptly to prevent the barrel’s square lug from damaging the forend support plate. To reassemble, position collar 1/8th turn offset, insert barrel/gas cylinder assembly until square lug is flush with front face of collar, rotate collar back and ensure collar lock snaps back into place.
Complete Disassembly
Perform only for complete cleaning and maintenance.
- Ejector: Push ejector cover rearward by inserting a bullet tip into its hole. Extract ejector spring and ejector. When reassembling, ensure the small alignment tab on the spring seats correctly into its receiver recess.
- Dust Cover and Charging Handle: Pull charging handle rearward. Unscrew dust cover plate locking screw using its lever without removing it completely, positioning the lever flat along the cover. Slide cover plate back. Remove dust cover plate, dust cover, and dust cover spring. Remove charging handle. This can be done with only the stock removed. Ensure spring ends face the dust cover plate during assembly.
- Receiver Collar: With barrel removed and collar rotated 1/8th turn, press collar disassembly pin visible under collar in the receiver forend notch using a bullet tip. Keep pin depressed while continuing rotation until collar detaches. Receiver side plates will detach freely.
- Sear: Drift out sear pin using a bullet tip or punch and remove sear.
- Flash Hider or Blank Adapter: Remove cotter pin and unscrew unit by hand.
Armorers Disassembly and Repairs
Perform only for repairs or component replacements.
- Gas Block: In rare cases of severe fouling, clean horizontal gas channel using a 5 mm reamer. Unscrew staked gas block cap screw and clean vertical passage with a 4 mm reamer—proceed with care to avoid altering the 2.5 mm barrel gas port. Do not remove gas block from barrel under normal circumstances. If necessary, remove sling swivel by cutting its rivet, drift out gas block pin, and press block forward off barrel.
- Forend: Forend is secured by 4 staked screws. Remove only to replace damaged wooden forend.
- Magazine Catch: Fully depress catch and drift out pin while holding it depressed.
- Striker (Firing Pin): Remove retaining pin and drive out tight-fit firing pin from rear using a punch. Press replacement pin home using a hollow steel tool pushing against base shoulder.
- Cartridge Retaining Spring: Lift tab with bullet tip to disengage from bolt slot and rotate left. When installing new spring, ensure correct tension—excessive tension causes feed drag and failure to lock/misfires; insufficient tension fails to retain feed cartridges causing ejection failures.
- Trigger Housing Components: Remove magazine release by drifting out pin. Unscrew selector/safety lever assembly. Mounted components (nut, cam sleeve, spring) will separate. Remove trigger and trigger base assembly. Drift out sear pin, remove sear and spring. Disassemble stock latch pin. Reassemble trigger sub-assembly ensuring base tail rests properly beneath its pivot pin. Note: Wooden grip scales are glued and dowel-pinned permanently to frame.
- Stock: Remove monopod latch assembly by loosening two screws. To separate latch from housing, depress plunger fully and turn spring stop washer with a screwdriver to free locking tab. Remove monopod mounting plate (2 screws) and buttplate (3 screws). Remove stock chassis frame by removing two lower screws and long internal screw located inside deep buttplate recess.
- Sight Assembly: Remove base mounting screw; tap base back ~8 mm using a mallet, then lift clear of receiver rails. To service dial plunger, unscrew plug located beneath sight leaf pivot.
- Magazine: Bend forward locking tab on floorplate back. Slide floorplate rearward. Remove mainspring and follower.
CHAPTER III. Operating Principle
I. Action Cycle
The bolt is locked; a shot has just been fired. The empty casing in the chamber is held by the extractor hook. A loaded magazine is attached.
As the bullet passes the gas port, high-pressure gas enters the gas cylinder and drives the piston rearward. The piston moves back, carrying the striker post; the post acts on the helical cam slot in the bolt, rotating and unlocking it. The piston continues rearward, withdrawing the bolt while compressing the recoil spring.
The ejector protrudes into the bolt face cut-out as soon as longitudinal clearance allows under its spring tension. The casing, held between extractor hook and retaining spring, is ejected sideways through the ejection port. Ejection impact is cushioned by longitudinal yield built into the ejector spring mechanism.
Reaching extreme rearward travel, the recoil spring drives the piston forward. If the sear is depressed, the bolt strips the top cartridge from the magazine, chambering it as it moves forward. The cartridge rim slips under the extractor hook during final chambering.
As the bolt reaches home and rotates into locked engagement, the piston completes its final travel forward, driving the striker tip against the cartridge primer to fire the round.
Ignition of the primer before full bolt lockup is mechanically impossible.
II. Trigger Mechanism (Fig. 12)
The trigger is mounted on a movable trigger base whose position varies according to the setting of the fire selector/safety lever. The sear pivots on a fixed axis pin.
- When trigger base is in forward position (“S” - Safe): The trigger beak is disengaged from the sear tail. Pulling the trigger cannot trip the sear. Weapon is on Safe.
- When trigger base is in rearward position (“M” - Full-Auto): The trigger beak rests fully beneath the sear tail. The sear remains held down as long as the trigger remains pulled. Weapon fires in Full-Automatic.
- When trigger base is in intermediate position (“C” or single shot): The trigger beak partially engages under the sear tail; pulling the trigger lifts the sear tail briefly before slipping off, allowing the sear to snap back up under its spring to catch the bolt after one shot. Weapon fires Semi-Automatic (Single Shots).
CHAPTER IV. Handling and Operation
I. Preparation for Firing
- Preparing the Machine Gun: If heavily coated in storage grease, clean completely and lightly coat bolt surfaces, striker post, ejector, and spring with light gun oil. Apply 1–2 drops to trigger mechanism; do NOT oil gas piston shaft (causes carbon buildup). Ensure barrel bore and chamber are clean and dry.
- Loading Magazines: Hold magazine in left hand, front pointing right. Hold cartridges in right hand in groups of 5, rims toward magazine center. Depress follower with left thumb to insert first round. Push down on rear of preceding cartridge to slide subsequent rounds in under feed lips. Do not exceed 20 rounds capacity. Cartridge should be visible in second-to-last viewing hole, but not in the last.
II. Firing Procedures
- Deploying the Bipod: Push bipod latch forward to unclip; swing legs down and spread apart once hinge heads align with head slots. Lock folding cross-brace straight. To fold: break brace downward, pinch legs together against barrel cut-outs, and secure clasp.
- Attaching Stock Monopod: Insert monopod fully into stock recess until latch clicks. Adjust height by turning center sleeve.
- Cock-and-Lock (Charging): Pull charging handle fully rearward until caught by sear, then manually return charging handle forward.
- Attaching Magazine: Insert front tab into front magwell lip, pivot rear up until magazine release clicks home. Can also be inserted rear-first. Recommended to mount magazine with bolt locked rearward.
NOTE: Even for a single shot, a magazine must be used—hand-loading a single loose round into the chamber prevents bolt closure due to the rigid extractor mechanism.
- Removing Magazine: Depress magazine catch and pull magazine straight down (Fig. 13 shows optimal hand placement).
- Setting Safety: Set selector lever forward to S (Sûreté / Safe).
- Fire Mode Selection: Move selector to middle position for single shot, or rearward to M (Mitrailleuse / Auto).
- Sighting: Eye relief should be 10 to 15 cm from aperture. Focus on front sight and target; aperture edges should blur naturally around front post.
- Firing: Press trigger. Hold down for auto fire; release after each shot for semi-auto fire.
- Reloading: Cock action, remove empty magazine, insert fresh magazine.
- March Firing / Hip Firing: Attach sling to upper stock swivel with front swivel facing up (Fig. 14). Carry over left shoulder, right hand holding pistol grip, left hand holding forend or sling. Fire short bursts while pausing steps.
- Carrying Weapon: Sling over shoulder vertically or cross-body with barrel pointing down right.
- Webbing & Accessories: Transit cover protects machine gun in transport or against dirt on position. Accessory pouch and monopod pouch ride on waist belt. Satchels and musette bags are carried by assistant gunners/ammo bearers.
CHAPTER V. Malfunctions and Stoppages
a) Immediate Action
- If firing stops with bolt closed: Cock charging handle fully rearward and resume firing.
- If firing stops with bolt partially open: Bolt is jammed on a case or live round. Cock bolt, drop magazine, clear obstruction, reinsert magazine, and resume firing.
b) Causes and Remedial Actions
1. Stoppages with Bolt Closed
- Misfire: If unfired round is extracted, bad primer or light strike occurred. If recurring, inspect striker tip or clean action of heavy carbon drag.
- Insufficient Recoil (Short Recoil): Hard to pull bolt back, extracts spent casing. Gas pressure insufficient to cycle action completely due to carbon fouling. Clean gas port/cylinder and lubricate.
- Failure to Feed (Empty Chamber): Bolt closes on empty chamber. Magazine spring weak or feed lips damaged. Replace magazine.
- Ripped Rim / Stuck Case: Extractor rips rim off case stuck in chamber. Tap case out from muzzle end using cleaning rod.
2. Stoppages with Bolt Partially Open
- Failure to Eject: Spent case trapped sideways in ejection port. Check ejector spring/blade for breakage or clean heavy carbon fouling.
- Feed Failure (Cartridge Jam): Round misfed and crushed by bolt. Replace damaged magazine.
- Separated Case (Head Separation): Front half of ruptured casing remains in chamber, preventing fresh round from chambering. Clear using broken shell extractor tool. Insert extractor, turn mandrel to grip case walls, pull lever against ejection port lip to pop broken case out.
CHAPTER VI. Maintenance and Care
Maintenance follows standard practices for light automatic weapons.
- Storage: Clean thoroughly and apply heavy preservative grease to all metal surfaces.
- Before Firing: Thoroughly degrease internal action and apply light gun oil as instructed in Chapter IV.
- After Firing: Clean bore on consecutive days to neutralize corrosive primer residue.
Keep gas cylinder interior and piston head clean. STRICTLY PROHIBITED to use emery paper, abrasives, or crushed brick on piston head—altering dimensions causes gas leakage and cycling failure.
Use chamber brush to clean receiver ways through ejection port during firing pauses.
CHAPTER VII. Detailed Parts List for LEWIS Machine Gun Model 1924 and Accessories
| Part No. | NOMENCLATURE |
|---|---|
| 1º | Barrel and Receiver Assembly |
| 1 | Barrel Assembly Complete |
| 2 | Stripped Barrel |
| 3 | Gas Block |
| 4 | Gas Block Pin |
| 5 | Gas Block Screw Plug |
| 6 | Front Sight Post |
| 7 | Front Sling Swivel |
| 8 | Sling Swivel Rivet |
| 9 | Gas Cylinder |
| 10 | Receiver |
| 11 | Magazine Catch |
| 12 | Magazine Catch Spring |
| 13 | Magazine Catch Bracket |
| 14 | Magazine Catch Bracket Pin |
| 15 | Ejector |
| 16 | Ejector Spring |
| 17 | Ejector Cover Plate |
| 18 | Dust Cover |
| 20 | Dust Cover Spring |
| 21 | Dust Cover Plate |
| 22 | Dust Cover Plate Lock |
| 23 | Receiver Collar |
| 24 | Receiver Collar Lock |
| 25 | Collar Lock Pin |
| 26 | Collar Disassembly Pin |
| 27 | Collar Disassembly Pin Spring |
| 28 | Forend (Handguard) |
| 29 | Forend Screw |
| 30 | Forend Washer |
| 31 | Forend Reinforcement Band |
| 32 | Reinforcement Band Screw |
| 33 | Receiver Side Plate Assembly |
| 34 | Side Plate Frame |
| 35 | Wooden Side Plate Scale |
| 36 | Side Plate Rivet |
| 2º | Operating Group (Bolt/Piston) |
| 40 | Piston Assembly Complete |
| 41 | Striker Post (Bolt Carrier) |
| 42 | Striker Post Rivet |
| 43 | Piston Tube |
| 45 | Striker (Firing Pin) |
| 46 | Striker Pin |
| 47 | Bolt |
| 48 | Cartridge Retaining Spring |
| 49 | Recoil (Drive) Spring |
| 50 | Recoil Spring Guide Rod |
| 51 | Charging Handle |
| 3º | Trigger Group (FCG) |
| 54 | Trigger Housing Complete |
| 55 | Stripped Trigger Frame |
| 56 | Trigger Base Guide Pin |
| 57 | Right Grip Scale |
| 58 | Left Grip Scale |
| 59 | Grip Scale Rivet |
| 60 | Sear |
| 61 | Sear Axis Pin |
| 62 | Sear Spring |
| 63 | Trigger Assembly Complete |
| 64 | Trigger |
| 65 | Trigger Pin |
| 66 | Trigger Base |
| 67 | Trigger Spring Stop Pin |
| 68 | Trigger Spring |
| 69 | Trigger Spring Guide Rod |
| 70 | Safety/Selector Assembly Complete |
| 71 | Selector Lever |
| 72 | Selector Bushing |
| 73 | Safety Spring |
| 74 | Safety Cam Sleeve |
| 75 | Safety Nut |
| 76 | Magazine Release |
| 77 | Magazine Release Spring |
| 78 | Magazine Release Pin |
| 79 | Stock Lock Latch |
| 80 | Stock Lock Pin |
| 81 | Stock Lock Spring |
| 4º | Stock Assembly |
| 90 | Stock Assembly Complete |
| 91 | Wooden Stock |
| 92 | Stock Metal Frame |
| 93 | Stock Frame Screw (Long) |
| 94 | Stock Frame Screw (Medium) |
| 95 | Stock Frame Screw (Short) |
| 96 | Long Screw Lock Washer |
| 97 | Long Screw Spring Washer |
| 98 | Medium/Short Screw Washer (2x) |
| 99 | Buttplate |
| 100 | Buttplate Screw |
| 101 | Monopod Base Plate |
| 102 | Monopod Base Plate Screw |
| 103 | Stock Monopod Housing |
| 104 | Monopod Housing Screw |
| 105 | Stock Monopod Latch |
| 106 | Monopod Spring Stop Plug |
| 107 | Monopod Latch Spring |
| 5º | Rear Sight Assembly |
| 120 | Rear Sight Complete |
| 121 | Rear Sight Base |
| 122 | Sight Base Mounting Screw |
| 123 | Aperture Sight Leaf |
| 124 | Sight Leaf Pivot Pin |
| 125 | Pivot Pin Bushing |
| 126 | Pivot Pin Retaining Pin |
| 127 | Sight Leaf Spring |
| 128 | Graduated Elevation Dial |
| 129 | Elevation Dial Axis Pin |
| 130 | Sight Cam |
| 131 | Cam Mounting Screw |
| 132 | Sight Leaf Plunger |
| 133 | Dial Detent Pin |
| 134 | Detent Pin Spring |
| 135 | Detent Guide Plug |
| 6º | Accessories |
| – | Magazine |
| 140 | Magazine Assembly Complete |
| 141 | Magazine Body |
| 142 | Magazine Floorplate |
| 143 | Follower |
| 144 | Magazine Mainspring |
| – | Bipod |
| 150 | Bipod Assembly Complete |
| 151 | Bipod Head Collar |
| 152 | Bipod Pivot Trunnion Pin |
| 153 | Trunnion Pin |
| 154 | Leg Hinge Head |
| 155 | Leg Hinge Pin |
| 156 | Bipod Leg Tube |
| 157 | Folding Cross-Brace (2 parts) |
| 158 | Brace Center Pin |
| 159 | Center Pin Washer |
| 160 | Brace Hinge Pin (2x) |
| 161 | Brace Clevis |
| 162 | Clevis Rivet |
| 163 | Right Leg Foot Pad |
| 164 | Left Leg Foot Pad |
| 165 | Foot Pad Mounting Pin |
| 166 | Bipod Leg Clasp |
| – | Stock Monopod (Rear Support) |
| 170 | Stock Monopod Complete |
| 171 | Adjusting Handle Sleeve |
| 172 | Upper Threaded Rod |
| 173 | Lower Threaded Rod |
| 174 | Guide Rod |
| 175 | Guide Rod Pin |
| 176 | Monopod Foot Pad |
| 177 | Foot Pad Pin |
| 185 | Flash Hider |
| 186 | Flash Hider Cotter Pin |
| 190 | Blank Firing Adapter |
| – | Tools and Maintenance |
| 195 | Broken Shell Extractor Complete |
| 196 | Extractor Tool Body |
| 197 | Extractor Tool Lever |
| 198 | Extractor Tool Mandrel |
| 199 | Extractor Tool Axis Pin |
| 205 | 3-Piece Cleaning Rod |
| 206 | Cleaning Patch Loop |
| 207 | Bore Brush |
| 208 | Chamber Brush |
| 209 | Oil Can |
| – | Equipments |
| 215 | Sling Complete |
| 216 | Canvas Sling Strap |
| 217 | Sling Snap Hook |
| 218 | Sling T-Bar Attachment |
| 219 | Transit Canvas Cover |
| 220 | Monopod and Rod Case |
| 221 | 10-Magazine Backpack |
| 222 | 8-Magazine Musette Bag |
| 223 | Accessory Pouch |
CHAPTER VIII. Specifications and Technical Data
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall weapon length with flash hider (1.15 m for 0.50 m barrel variant) | 1.25 m |
| Barrel length without flash hider | 0.50 m or 0.60 m |
| Sight radius | 720 mm |
| Total weight with flash hider and bipod | 8.700 kg |
| Barrel weight (stripped) | 2.250 kg |
| Bipod weight | 0.850 kg |
| Stock monopod weight | 0.620 kg |
| Transit cover weight | 0.510 kg |
| Empty backpack satchel weight | 0.460 kg |
| Backpack weight loaded with 10 full magazines | 7.860 kg |
| Empty shoulder bag (musette) weight | 0.330 kg |
| Shoulder bag weight loaded with 8 full magazines | 6.250 kg |
| Empty magazine weight | 0.265 kg |
| Magazine weight loaded with 20 rounds | 0.740 kg |
| Full accessory pouch weight | 0.520 kg |
| Full monopod & cleaning rod case weight | 0.880 kg |
| Bore axis height above ground on bipod | 0.35 m |
Specifications
The French manual provides the following dimensions and weight specifications:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall weapon length with flash hider (1.15 m for 0.50 m barrel variant) | 1.25 m |
| Barrel length without flash hider | 0.50 m or 0.60 m |
| Sight radius | 720 mm |
| Total weight with flash hider and bipod | 8.700 kg |
| Barrel weight (stripped) | 2.250 kg |
| Bipod weight | 0.850 kg |
| Stock monopod weight | 0.620 kg |
| Empty magazine weight | 0.265 kg |
| Magazine weight loaded with 20 rounds | 0.740 kg |
| Bore axis height above ground on bipod | 0.35 m |
The book Materiel of Automatic Firearms. Part 2, Voenizdat, 1940 by A. A. Blagonravov also provides rate of fire figures:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Great Britain |
| System | Lewis |
| Year | 1923 |
| Caliber | 7.71 mm |
| Action System | Gas-operated (via barrel port) |
| Feed System | Box magazine |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Rate of Fire (Cyclic / Practical) | 600 / 300 RPM |
| Barrel Length | 600 mm |
| Overall Length | 1140 mm |
| Sighting Range | — |
| Weight (Gun body) | — |
| Weight with bipod | 8.2 kg |
| Muzzle Velocity | 800 m/s |
| Barrel Weight | 2.28 kg |
| Total Part Count | 114 |
| Notes | — |
Note: Although there are no illustrations or detailed explanations for this machine gun in the book, these data entries almost certainly refer to the Lewis M1924 described in this post (which is also referenced as the Lewis M1923). The Lewis M1924 is featured in the Soviet “Atlas of Automatic Weapon Designs”, which was also compiled with Blagonravov’s involvement:
German capture records also list the following technical details:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| German Designation | 8 mm leMG 107(f) |
| Original Designation | Fusil-mitrailleur «Lewis» mle 1924 |
| Caliber / Cartridge | 8 mm × 50R Lebel; also 6.5 mm × 55 Mauser |
| Feed System | Box magazine |
| Length | 1140 mm |
| Barrel Length | 600 mm |
| Weight | 8.5 kg |
| Muzzle Velocity | 730 m/s |
| Rate of Fire | 450 RPM |
| Manufacturer | Unknown. Majority likely produced under license in France by Société d’Armes Lewis, St. Denis |
| Notes | Aircraft machine gun converted for ground use (fitted with bipod and stock monopod). Used in limited numbers by the Wehrmacht, mainly by occupation forces in France. |
Note: The original document could not be retrieved; this table is based on this photograph.
Source.
Data in German captured equipment handbooks tend to be fairly superficial and can contain errors. For instance, nearly all cyclic fire rates listed in them are significantly lower than those specified in the original factory manuals for captured weapons. Furthermore, France developed no weapons chambered in 8 × 50 mm R Lebel after 1920. Therefore, I would prioritize source reliability as follows: French Factory Manual, Blagonravov’s Reference Book, German Captured Equipment Manuals.
Polls
- Yes
- No
- USA (French Resistance)
- Germany (lMG 107 (f))
- Tech Tree
- Event — Standalone Weapon
- Event — Squad Weapon
- Battle Pass
- Premium Squad
- BR 2
- BR 3
- BR 4
Sources
Sources
Book The Lewis Automatic Machine Gun: A Social and Technical Biography of the Gun and Its Inventors.
Société des Armes Lewis Manual — Fusil-Mitrailleur Lewis Modèle 1924
Book Materiel of Automatic Firearms. Part 2, Voenizdat, 1940. A. A. Blagonravov.
Imperial War Museums Catalog Card.
D 50/2 — Kennblätter fremden Geräts: Maschinengewehre.