Handbook of the Lewis Machine Gun (Airplane Type) – Model 1917-18 - Caliber .30
Perfect Scanned copy. 67 pages scanned as High resolution TIF images and then digitally cleaned page by page. Guaranteed the best quality copy of this manual available. Packed with invaluable data including 12 B&W Photographic Plates and a magnificent 5 page fold out Colour Cut-away diagram. (See detailed contents list below) Manual printed circa 1918 by the Beck Engraving Company for the Savage Arms Corporation of Utica, New York, USA.
The Lewis Machine Gun Was produced in the United Kingdom and the United States and was one of the most important aircraft weapons used by most Allied airforces in World War I. It was also used by land and naval forces, however this manual is specifically for the Aircraft version. Many of these weapons were also utilised during the second world war. The Lewis has the distinction of being the first machine gun fired from an aircraft in 1912 and just some of the famous aircraft equipped with the Lewis included:
Bristol Scout
F.B.5
Airco D.H.2
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8
S.E.5a
Avro 504
Nieuport 11
Nieuport 17
S.E.5a
Sopwith Camel
Bristol F2b Fighter
Sopwith Dolphin

Table of Contents
General Description
Weights and Measurements
Dismounting and Stripping
Spade Grip
Feed Cover
Feed Operating Arm
Charging Handle
Piston and Rack and Bolt
Receiver
Gear Casing
Guard
Ejector
Gas Regulator Cup
Barrel Retaining Nut
Locking Piece
Gas Cylinder
Recoil Check
Gas Chamber Gland
Gas Chamber
Assembling
To Alter Mainspring Tension
Operation
To Fill Magazine with Loading Handle
To Fill Magazine with Loading Tool
To Load Gun
To Fire
Full Automatic Fire
Semi-Automatic Fire
Safety
To Put Gun at “Safe”
When at “Safe” To Put Gun in Action
To Unload Gun
Care and Adjustment
Inspection of Cartridges
Shell Deflector
Points before Flight
Points during Flight
Points after Flight
Points when Machine Gun is Placed in Box
Notice to Armourers
Cleaning and Oiling
Stoppages
Sequence of Immediate Action
Immediate Action in Replacing Parts
To Change Cartridge Guide
To Change Magazine Pawls
To Change Feed Pawl
To Change Extractors
To Change Gear Complete
To Change Receiver Locking Pin
To Change Charging Handle
To Change Ejector
Parts for Lewis Machine Gun

List of Illustrations
Plate I – Lewis Machine Gun (Airplane Type) Frontispiece
Plate II – Gun Complete, Showing Right & Left Sides
Plate III – Barrel Group
Plate IV – Feed Mechanism Group
Plate V – Spade Grip
Plate VI - Magazine
Plate VII – Loading Tool
Plate VIII – Shell Deflector
Plate IX – Back Sight
Plate X - Accessories
Plate XI – Gun Box & Magazine Container
Plate XII – Receiver Group, Mainspring &Trigger Mechanism
Colour Plate – Full Colour Cutaway of Gun