| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Milan, Illinois, USA |
| Products | Firearms, weapons |
| Employees | 100-150 |
| Website | www.LMTDefense.com |
Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT)[1] was founded by Karl Lewis in 1980. LMT started its business by providing law enforcement and government agencies with military type weapons and accessories. Today, LMT still provides law enforcement and government agencies with weapons, but they have now also expanded their services to foreign military and commercial retailers. All of LMT's engineering and manufacturing is done in house at the Milan, IL facility. LMT manufactures complete weapon systems such as the M4/AR15 and the M203 grenade launcher.[2] Today, both the US military and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence utilize many of the products that LMT makes.
Contents |
| L129A1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Service rifle |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010-Present |
| Used by | British Armed Forces |
| Wars | Afghanistan |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Lewis Machine & Tool |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 9.8 pounds (4.4 kg) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Barrels | 16 inches (410 mm) |
| Effective range | 800m |
| Maximum range | 900m |
| Sights | ACOG 6x magnification |
LMT created the Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP).[3] The MRP is a one piece upper receiver for the AR-15/M4/M16 platform and is made from a single aluminum forging. The LMT MRP has a quad rail system that utilizes the Mil-Std 1913 rail. It is available in two different lengths, one standard rifle length and the other for Close Quarters Battle (CQB). The MRP upper receiver has a quick change barrel system that allows the operator to change the caliber or the barrel length of the weapon in a very short period of time.[4] The MRP also features a free-floating barrel, relatively low temperature to handguard & optics, long barrel life, easy-to-access/clean design, a straight gas tube resists bending and retains better alignment with gas key as compared to other designs, and a relatively low number of parts (13). Also, its top rail position matches M4 & E3-type weapons ensuring optics and sight compatibility and accepts standard & enhanced M16-type (Stoner design) components
In late 2009, LMT introduced the LM308MWS (L129A1).[5] The LM308MWS uses the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The L129A1 is based on the proven Stoner Rifle design with some new features that including a one piece upper receiver and a completely free-floating barrel design for improved accuracy. LMT integrated their MRP design into the large AR platform. Since the LM308MWS has the MRP design, the barrel is completely free floating, thus increasing its accuracy and its ability to stay cool. This design also allows changing the barrel to a different size in around one minute. Reports have shown that this rifle has an effective range of 800m and can easily achieve a Sub-MOA grouping.
The LM308MWS standard US commercial model differs slightly from the UK issued L129A1 in the following aspects: 1) the barrel is a 16" fully chrome-lined, cryogenically treated, polygonal rifled 1:10 right-hand twist chrome-moly machinegun grade steel. It is crowned with LMT's special crown design, designed for maximum accuracy with ordinary ball ammunition. 2) the muzzle device is a standard M16A2 type flash suppressor instead of the SureFire suppressor mount. 3) the sights are the LMT detachable fixed sights instead of the Knight's Armament folding battle sights. 4) the supplied furniture is black instead of the coyote brown supplied to the UK MoD.
LMT is currently supplying 16", 18" and 20" 1:11.25 blackened stainless match barrels, as well as 16" and 20" chrome-lined chromemoly 1:10 battle barrels available for civilian purchase.
In 2009 Lewis Machine and Tool Co was chosen to supply the UK Ministry of Defence with 440 of the LM308MWS 7.62x51mm rifle.[6] under the official service designation as the L129A1.[7]