Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the light machine guns (lmg/saw) category.
01 / Overview
Lewis gun
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1914–1942
Quantity
152,050
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMG/SAW) · WORLD WAR I
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
90
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the light machine guns (lmg/saw) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1913
- Service Entry Year1915
- DesignerIsaac Newton Lewis (primary) and Samuel McClean
- Weight (Empty)12.7 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersBritish Empire forces, U.S. forces (limited), Soviet forces (captured), Japanese Navy (Type 92), German forces (captured)
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge{{ubl
- Calibre7.7 mm
- Case Length56 mm
- Calibre Classintermediate rifle
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeGas-Operated
- Fire Modesautomatic only
- Select FireNo
- Feed SystemDrum
- Drum / Belt Capacity47
- Cyclic Rate of Fire500
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typemanual safety
◇Ballistics3MOD.3
- Muzzle Velocity743 m/s
- Effective Range (point)800 m
- Maximum Range3,200 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length673 mm
- Sight TypeBlade and tangent leaf
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelYes
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood and metal
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularityaircraft and ground variants with different configurations
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost4MOD.4
- Total Production152,050
- Production Start1913
- Production End1942
- Unit Cost62 USD
◎Additional Dimensions1MOD.1
- Width114 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
- 1898First deployment: Banana Wars
- 1914Production started
- 1917Entered service
- 1942Production ended
112
years in service
28
years in production
152,050
units produced
0
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country no longer actively operates it. 38 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
LEWIS GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
3
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries38country
06 / MASS Score
LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMG/SAW) RANKING Light Machine Guns (LMG/SAW) · World War I
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
8LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMG/SAW)1WORLD WAR I · LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMG/SAW)630UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS6PERFORMANCE/PRICE · LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMG/SAW)
ⓘ Rankings are within theLight Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)category.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE7terms
A bayonet lug is a metal fitting on the barrel or muzzle of a firearm that provides a mounting point for a bayonet.
A cylindrical ammunition container, typically mounted on a firearm, that holds cartridges in a spiral arrangement for feeding into the chamber.
Firearm action type where expanding gas from a fired cartridge cycles the mechanism, typically via a piston or direct impingement.
Uses high-pressure gas to cycle the action, rather than recoil energy.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
A pistol barrel with external helical grooves allowing the attachment of a suppressor or other muzzle devices.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources