This is an example of a solid frame installed Lewis Mark I non-gun machine gun parts as produced by the Savage Arms company. The Lewis Mark I machine gun was originally developed by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Lewis in the 1910 era. Lewis a 1884 graduate from West Point used the original Dr. McClean machine gun along with several of his own innovative improvements, one being the air cooling fins around the barrel, to develop and produce this excellent weapon. After being ignored/non-accepted by the U.S. Ordnance Board, this MG was adopted by the British in 1915 and by the end of the year it was produced in vast quantities in both the BSA and Vickers factories, intending to support the on-going trench warfare in Europe. It was not until late 1916 that the US Ordnance Board finally adopted the Lewis machine gun and began producing it in limited quantities by the Savage Arms Company. These weapons proved to be a highly reliable and very effective machine gun eventually being used by the US ARMY and US Marine Corp throughout WWI as well as by the British Military and British Flying Corps throughout WWI and well into WWII, as well as by other European countries. This example as noted is a non-firing display piece that uses a combination of original parts, mated to a cast dummy receiver. The top rear receiver plate is marked "LEWIS MACHINE GUN /MFG. BY THE SAVAGE ARMS CORP. UTICA N.Y. U.S.A./.30 U.S. GOVT". As noted it appears that the example has a complete original front barrel, cooling fins, barrel jacket and bi-pod, an original lower trigger and pistol grip group, and buttstock assembly, along with the rear top plate and partial magazine on top. The non capable of firing receiver is solid and has no internal parts, but closely duplicates the shape and weight of an original Lewis Mark I MG.

Very fine overall with the original parts noted above containing 85% plus of their original parkerized type finish with the cast receiver having 95% of it's black painted finish overall. The walnut stock and pistol grip plates are also in excellent condition with nice original finish. This would certainly be an excellent display piece for an advanced WWI British or American display, requiring no transfer paper work.