{{Short description|American firearms manufacturer}} {{Multiple issues| {{promotional|date=November 2013}} {{missing information|reason=Needs history|date=August 2023}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Lewis Machine & Tool Company | logo = Lewis Machine & Tool Company logo.svg | type = Private | foundation = 1980 | location = Eldridge, Iowa, U.S. | industry = Arms | products = Firearms | revenue = | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''Lewis Machine & Tool Company''' ('''LMT''') is an American armaments company founded by Karl R. Lewis, in 1980. It manufactures weapon systems, including a variant of the M4 carbine and the M203 grenade launcher.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090226073345/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090223/PAGETHREE/313906336/1119 The National-Military Muscle on Display]</ref> Its products are used by the military forces of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Estonia, Switzerland, Lebanon and the United States. It formerly produced forged FN FAL receivers for Illinois-based DS Arms. The company founder has several arms related inventions assigned to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/?inventor=Karl+R.+Lewis|title=Google Patents|website=patents.google.com}}</ref>
LMT does business as '''LMT Defense'''.<ref>https://newswire.ciras.iastate.edu/2021/04/01/lmt-defense-finds-bigger-role-in-government-contracting/</ref>
==History== LMT was established by Karl Lewis in 1980 from Milan, Illinois in order to manufacture firearm components.<ref name="NRA">https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-rifles-of-karl-lewis/</ref> In 1986, LMT began to manufacture small arms for overseas sale.<ref name="NRA"/>
==Products== ===Bolt and bolt carrier groups=== A patented AR-15-pattern is produced with a bolt design featuring a redesigned extractor intended to improve the extraction of cartridges under adverse conditions. The company also produces a redesigned bolt carrier intended to improve the reliable performance of the rifle's “internal piston” system by obtaining a similar timing sequence with 14.5-inch carbine-length barrels compared to 20-inch rifle-length barrels for AR-15-pattern arms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140075807A1/en|title=Firearm bolt}}</ref>
===LM308MWS and CQB MRP Defender=== The Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP)<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewis Machine & Tool Monolithic Rail Platform |url=http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Weapons/Articles/2006/01/Arsenal.aspx |access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref> was created by the company, a one-piece, Picatinny-topped AR-15-pattern upper receiver made from a forged aluminum block.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grassi|first1=Rich|title=LMT CQB MRP Defender 5.56mm|url=http://www.tactical-life.com/gear/lmt-cqb-mrp-defender-556mm/|access-date=31 May 2017|work=Tactical Life|date=9 May 2009}}</ref> The MRP upper receiver has a quick-change barrel system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-18 |title=LMT's MRP 6.8 Battle Rifle |url=https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/lmt’s-mrp-68-battle-rifle/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews |language=en-US}}</ref> Its top rail position matches with the M4 carbine and KAC SR-15/SR-16 E3, for optical and sights compatibility.<ref>{{Cite patent|number=US8234808B2|title=Monolithic rail platform and bolt assemblies for a firearm|gdate=2012-08-07|invent1=Lewis|invent2=Bargren|invent3=Schafer|invent4=Hohl|inventor1-first=Karl R.|inventor2-first=James Arend Seabold|inventor3-first=Jacob A.|inventor4-first=Neal David|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8234808B2/en}}</ref>
In late 2009, LMT introduced the .308 Modular Weapon System LM308MWS, which uses the 7.62×51mm NATO round.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/multi-mission-lmt-308-mws/|title=Multi-Mission LMT .308 MWS|work=Tactical Life|access-date=25 December 2014|date=2009-11-03}}</ref>
In February 2012, the British Transport Police began to use AR-pattern short-barreled rifles produced by LMT.<ref>{{cite web|title=CQB 10.5 SBR|url=http://www.lmtstore.com/complete-weapon-systems-firearms-guns/cqb-10-5-sbr.html|website=Lewis Machine & Tool Company|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Firearms used by British Transport Police - Freedom of Information Request 794-14|url=https://www.btp.police.uk/pdf/FOI%20Response%20794-14%20Firearms%20used%20by%20BTP.pdf|website=British Transport Police|access-date=31 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727044814/https://www.btp.police.uk/pdf/FOI%20Response%20794-14%20Firearms%20used%20by%20BTP.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Austin|first1=Jon|title=Guns on the Underground: Armed police to routinely patrol Tube amid threat from ISIS|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/612619/ISIS-armed-police-tube-London-Underground|access-date=31 May 2017|work=Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express|date=17 October 2015}}</ref>
===L129A1=== {{Main|L129A1}}
=== LMT MARS === {{Main|LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis Machine and Tool Company}} Category:Firearm manufacturers of the United States Category:Companies based in the Quad Cities