Lewis Machine and Tool Company

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Lewis Machine and Tool Company
TypePrivate
IndustryDefense
Founded1980
HeadquartersEldridge, Iowa, United States
ProductsFirearms, weapons
Number of employees
100-150[citation needed]
Websitewww.LMTDefense.com

Lewis Machine and Tool Company (LMT) is an American armaments company founded by Karl Lewis, in 1980. LMT manufactures complete weapon systems, such as the M4 carbine, and the M203 grenade launcher.[1] LMT products are used not only by civilians but also by the military forces of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Estonia, and the United States.

Products

Bolt and bolt carrier groups

Lewis Machine and Tool Company produces a patented AR-15-pattern bolt design featuring a redesigned extractor intended to improve extraction of cartridges under adverse conditions. The company also produces a redesigned bolt carrier intended to improve the performance of the rifle's direct-impingement gas operation.[citation needed]

LM308MWS and CQB MRP Defender

Lewis Machine and Tool Company created the Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP),[2] a one-piece, Picatinny-topped AR-15-pattern upper receiver made from a forged aluminum block.[3] The MRP upper receiver has a quick-change barrel system.[4] Its top rail position matches M4 and E3-type weapons for optical and sight compatibility.[citation needed]

In late 2009, LMT introduced the .308 Modular Weapon System LM308MWS, which uses the 7.62×51mm NATO round.[5]

In February 2012, the British Transport Police began to use AR-pattern short-barreled rifles produced by LMT.[6][7][8]

L129A1

L129A1
L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle MOD 45162219.jpg
TypeDesignated marksman rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2010–present
Used byBritish Armed Forces
New Zealand Army
WarsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Production history
ManufacturerLewis Machine & Tool
Specifications
Mass4.4 kg
Length927 mm (stock collapsed)
990 mm (stock extended)
Cartridge7.62×51mm NATO
Barrels410 mm
ActionGas impingement, rotating bolt
Effective firing range800 m
Maximum firing range1,000 m
Feed system20-round magazine
SightsTA648-308 6×48 ACOG
Wikimedia Commons has media related to L129A1.

In 2009, Lewis Machine & Tool Co was contracted to supply the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) with 440 LM308MWS 7.62×51mm rifles[9] under the official service designation as the L129A1.[10] Its NATO Stock Number (NSN) is 1005-99-226-6708. As of December 2014, over 3,000 units have been supplied to UK forces.[11]

The LM308MWS was submitted for the British Ministry of Defence's Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for immediate deployment of a semiautomatic 7.62 NATO caliber sharpshooter rifle in Afghanistan. Other rifles submitted included the FN Herstal SCAR-H, Heckler & Koch HK417 and Sabre Defence XR-10. LMT's rifle was chosen, earning it the L129A1 designation and entered service April 2010 in Afghanistan. The standard optic for the L129A1 is the TA648-308 6×48 Trijicon ACOG. It can fire standard 7.62 mm ball ammunition, but the official issue rounds are 155-grain L42A1-A3 sniper and L59A1 "High Performance" ball ammunition.[12][13][14] The ACOG is fitted with a Picatinny rail to which is mounted a Trijicon RM01 1 x Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) for Close Quarters Battle use.

The LM308MWS standard US commercial model differs slightly from the UK issued L129A1 in barrel length and twist rate. Its muzzle device is a standard M16A2 flash suppressor. It uses detachable fixed sights instead of folding sights. Its furniture is black instead of brown. Finally, the designation on the receiver is "LM308MWS" instead of "L129A1."

There are also UK commercial variants of the L129A1 and the CQB MRP Defender. Designated the LMT308SP and CQB 5.56SP, the models are a straight pull action rifle, and not semi-automatic due to UK laws.[15][failed verification]

The New Zealand Army adopted the rifle in October 2011. It differs from its UK counterpart in the use of a Leupold adjustable 4.5-14× scope, canted iron sights and a foldable foregrip.[citation needed]

MARS-L

The LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS) - Light (MARS-L)
File:LMT R20 Rahe.jpg
Estonian R20 Rahe 14.5" (368 mm) barreled variant
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2015-Present
Used by
Production history
ManufacturerLewis Machine & Tool
Specifications
Mass3.3kg (empty)
Length
  • 914 mm (36.0 in)
("Maximum")
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston, not direct impingement)
or Short-stroke piston
Feed system5.56×45mm NATO: 30-round detachable box magazine

New Zealand

On 12 August 2015, the New Zealand Ministry of Defence announced that it would be replacing the current Steyr AUG rifle for the three branches of the New Zealand Defence Force with a rifle from LMT, one of eight companies that had submitted rifles for trials between March and June 2015.[16] Like the Steyr AUG, the submitted LMT design was also chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. A contract of NZD $59 million was awarded to LMT for 9,040 rifles, designated the MARS-L (Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Light).[17][18]

The rifles were delivered in May 2017, and soldiers began training with them at Waiouru Military Camp on 15 June 2017.[19]

In September 2018 it was reported that some of the rifles had experienced breakages, including 130 with cracks around the bolt, and that all 9,040 rifles had had their firing pins replaced under warranty.[20] LMT later claimed that the number of worn or broken firing pins was actually much smaller, in the range of "less than one tenth of one percent".[citation needed] The issue reportedly stemmed from improper tempering. While replacing the firing pins, a similar quantity of selector switches and bolt carriers had also been found to display premature wear and were replaced.[21]

Estonia

File:LMT TA-R20.jpg
7.62×51mm NATO designated marksman R20 L variant

In May 2019, the Estonian Defence Forces selected the MARS-L after two years of testing to replace their IMI Galil and Ak 4 rifles. 16,000 MARS-L rifles were ordered under the designation R20 Rahe ("Hail" in Estonian). The upper receiver has a Picatinny rail on the top and M-LOK compatible attachment points on its sides and uses a short-stroke gas piston system. The standard barrel length of the R20 is 14.3", but a 12.5" variant designated the R20 S is also produced.[22][23] A modified trigger design allows the trigger safety to be engaged without the hammer being cocked, which is not possible on a standard AR-15 pattern rifle.[24]

In June 2020, the first batch of 1,500 R20 Rahe rifles was delivered. The R20 is planned to fully replace the Galil and Ak 4 by 2022.[citation needed]

Estonia also acquired a designated marksman rifle variant of the MARS chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO with a 16" barrel. The official Estonian designation for the marksman rifle is the R20 L.

References

  1. ^ The National-Military Muscle on Display
  2. ^ "Lewis Machine & Tool Monolithic Rail Platform". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ^ Grassi, Rich (9 May 2009). "LMT CQB MRP Defender 5.56mm". Tactical Life. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  4. ^ "LMT's MRP 6.8 Battle Rifle". Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Multi-Mission LMT .308 MWS". Tactical Life. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  6. ^ "CQB 10.5 SBR". Lewis Machine & Tool Company. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Firearms used by British Transport Police - Freedom of Information Request 794-14" (PDF). British Transport Police. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  8. ^ Austin, Jon (17 October 2015). "Guns on the Underground: Armed police to routinely patrol Tube amid threat from ISIS". Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Global Defence News and Defence Headlines - IHS Jane's 360". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ^ "L129A1 sharpshooter rifle". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  11. ^ "LMT .308 AR Review". Guns & Ammo. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  12. ^ Sharpshooter: The UK’s New L129A1 7.62x51mm Rifle. Small Arms Defense Journal. 11 January 2012.
  13. ^ "New Ammo for British Troops: UK Develops More Effective 5.56mm and 7.62mm Ammunition -". The Firearm Blog. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  14. ^ Anthony G. Williams. "Cartridges for Long-Range Sniping Rifles". quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Lewis Machine & Tool Company, Inc. LM308SP-SS20 .308 Rifles". Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Individual Weapon Replacement". defence.govt.nz. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015.
  17. ^ New Zealand Army Selects LMT To Replace Steyr AUG - Thefirearmblog.com, 18 August 2015
  18. ^ Confirmed, LMT to supply NZDF with CQB16 - Thefirearmblog.com, 28 August 2015
  19. ^ New $59 million weapons package begins Defence Force rollout -Stuff.co.nz, 16 June 2017
  20. ^ David.Fisher@Nzherald.Co.Nz, David Fisher Senior Writer (19 September 2018). "NZDF's new rifles - all 9040 of them - get firing pin replacements after breakages". NZ Herald.
  21. ^ "LMT Warranties Components with New Zealand Defense Forces MARS-L". The Firearm Blog. 25 September 2018.
  22. ^ "LMT Defense Announces Award with Estonian Defence Forces -". 17 May 2019.
  23. ^ New Estonian LMT R20 RAHE Assault Rifle, 21 May 2021
  24. ^ "[TFB GUNFEST] New LMT Rifles, Uppers, and Triggers for 2021 -". 31 January 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis Machine and Tool Company.

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