Originally developed prior to World War One, the Lewis was one of the lightest machine guns of the era, weighing in at about 28 pounds. The inventor, Lieutenant Colonel Issac Newton Lewis, established a firm in Belgium to license the design to arms manufacturers, finding interested parties at Birmingham Small Arms of Britain and Savage Arms of the United States, and both countries would take the Lewis into combat during World War One as infantry machine guns and in aircraft and vehicle mountings. Later, the Japanese would show an interest, with the Imperial Japanese Navy adapting an unshrouded variant as the Type 92 and reportedly issuing standard models to the Naval Landing Forces; this particular Lewis is attributed by the consignor as a trophy taken by an unnamed American Marine following the amphibious landing on Saipan. Research provided by the consignor attributes 3 IJN units as active on Saipan during the battle; the 55th and 41st Naval Guard Forces and the 1st Yokosuka Special Landing Force. Brought back to the United States, the first hard documentation for the gun is a 1968 Amnesty Registration that puts it in Portland, Oregon, with a claimed acquisition date of January 1 of the same year. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights are installed, the latter also featuring an attached brass volley sight on top of the staff. The distinctive aluminum cooling fins and barrel shroud are present, the latter bearing a prominent untranslated Japanese marking on top, with a leather wrap on the swiveling front grip, a hardwood pistol grip, and a leather wrapped "spade" grip at the rear. The spade configuration was traditionally used for fixed positions, like aircraft mounts or bunkers, granting good control of the weapon in spaces too tight for a conventional stock. Also included with the lot is a brass-cornered hardwood custom case, extra barrel, two loading tools, a detached buttstock, two user manuals, and two extra magazines in a canvas case.

Fine with 50% of the original blue finish, showing a mixed brown patina, scattered spotting and handling marks. The top of the barrel shroud has a small hole, possibly a former mounting point for an anti-aircraft sight. The grips show mild wear, and the included buttstock shows numerous dents and some bending of the buttplate. The case is very good. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.