lewis gun magazine auxiliary post

[gascheck]

another poser chaps, does anybody have details, working drawing of this item ? even easterly fails on this one

[woodsy]

I have been through my reasonably extensive selection of Lewis handbooks and found no mention of this item. The only reference was in "Instructions to Armourers 1931" which mentioned that the auxilliary post was needed to fit the No2 air service magazines, but no illustrations, even in the box of official drawings. Easterly does show it in two places in the "Belgian Rattlesnake", fitted to guns (page 161, plate 148, and page 169, plate 162) but makes no mention of them. The aux. post would appear to be a faily simple extension post with a spigot that fits down the centre of the normal post, and attached with a spring clip which engages the lip inside. I'll bet that a forum member has one and doesn't know what it is!

[tom]

Had a quick look at the LoC that introduced the aux' post 17998 of July 1916 and it doesn't list a drawing but in the same entry they cover the modifications to the guns feed arm and magazine stop pawl to accomodate the Mk II 97 rd mag and that does have a drawing, A.I.D. 1257 so maybe its on that although surely they would mention it?

Anyhow heres a bit from the LoC

"The post is arranged to fit into, and seat on, the upper surface of the existing post on the gun and is providedwith a hinged pawl, with axis pin, spring and plunger. which is held in engagement with the internal catch ledge in the existing post, by a split screw accessible from the top. A screwed plug closes the spring and plunger recess at the bottom."

ATB

Tom

[gascheck]

what do they say..................a picture is worth a thousand words

thanks for that chaps. I will find something else to exercise the grey cells

[gascheck]

PS