Author Topic: Karl Lewis (Read 834 times)

Deaf Smith · « **on:** May 10, 2004, 10:45:54 AM »

Does anyone reconise this name: Karl Lewis : Do you know what he accomplished in his lifetime? It may surprise you more than you know.
Does anybody know of the man? answers forthcoming.
Jim L

Gatofeo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2004, 07:57:33 AM »

um ... he invented the Lewis Lead Remover, which is still sold today? As well as other shooting accessories?
Also, there was a Carl Lewis (note the C and not the K) who was a big track star. In the 1984 Olympics he won four gold medals, duplicating the feat of Jesse Owens in 1936.
Some guy named Lewis invented the Lewis machine gun that was popular with the British in World Wars I and II. Don't know his first name.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2004, 10:14:07 AM »

Carl Lewis is the main inventer behind the Dan wesson Revolvers, the Colt Mark III series of revolvers also he invented the granade launcher which mounts under the M16 rifle and saved many lives in vietnam. Another inverntion was the Browning BLR series of rifles. Mr lewis has the honor of having more firearms patients than any man in history and his genius mat have even out stripped John Browning himself. without Mr lewis many of the guns we have today would not exist and many more Vets would not made it home from vietnam. He was a truely great man and deserves to be honored.
Jim L

paladyn · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2004, 10:36:21 AM »

I have a Dan Wesson .357. I am deeply indebted to Mr Lewis.

Gatofeo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:18:02 AM »

Deaf Smith, this Carl Lewis a relative of yours?

Last I heard, John Browning still held the record for firearms patents. I'm at work and don't have access to my John Browning book.
With all respect, I doubt anyone will ever equal what John Moses Browning did. He was born (1855) when muzzleloaders were the norm and cartridges were nearly unheard of.
By the time he died in 1926, he had created the Models 1886, 1892, 1894 and 1895 Winchesters, the .25 Auto vest pistol, the .32 Auto and .380 pocket pistols, the 37mm antiaircraft gun, a variety of machine guns still in use today, lever action shotguns, semi-auto .22 rimfire rifles and the famous .45 Auto.
Shortly before he died in 1926, he designed the Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol that was produced after his death.
To go from muzzleloaders to the machine gun is no small feat.
Not to fault Mr. Lewis, but he didn't have such technological canyons to leap. However, his work on the 40mm grenade launcher under the M16 was very valuable to this nation and its allies and remains so today.
Interesting that we have not heard of him. But then, were it not for a series of articles about John Garand in the American Rifleman of the 1930s through recent times, he would have been forgotten as well.
Where might I find more information on Mr. Lewis?

dawei · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2004, 03:54:54 AM »

Quote from: Deaf Smith

Carl Lewis is the main inventer behind the Dan wesson Revolvers, the Colt Mark III series of revolvers also he invented the granade launcher which mounts under the M16 rifle and saved many lives in vietnam. Another inverntion was the Browning BLR series of rifles. Mr lewis has the honor of having more firearms patients than any man in history and his genius mat have even out stripped John Browning himself. without Mr lewis many of the guns we have today would not exist and many more Vets would not made it home from vietnam. He was a truely great man and deserves to be honored.
Jim L

Jim:

I retired from the Army in 1990 & served two tours in RVN. I never saw the grenade launcher (M203) mounted on a M16 until after the war was over. That's not to say they were not used over there. I was the platoon grenadier my 1st tour but I used the M79.

Rest assured I'm not trying to give you crap; just relating my experience from a long time ago in a land far, far away.

Old Griz · « **Reply #6 on:** June 05, 2004, 07:25:13 PM »

:cb2: Hey Gatofeo--Don't forget the Browning A5 shotgun (aka, Remington Model 11 and I forgot what they called the Winchester version). It sure hung around for quite a few years.