Original Item: Very limited availability. When originally issued, the butt stock of the Lewis ground gun consisted only of a wooden stock, a butt plate with screws, and the butt cap with its screw. This was the Mark I. There was no provision for a sling, nor was there an oil bottle. In July, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, the addition of a swivel and oiler was approved, creating the Mark I*. Six months later, in January of 1917, a reinforcing bracket was added to the butt cap. This was the final version and was called the Mark II. All models are very scarce.

The oiler is identical to the oilers in the spade grips of the Vickers machine gun. The only difference is that the Lewis adds a retaining ring to the bottom. These examples do not have patent dates on the butt plate. The condition of all examples is in remarkably good condition, although most of the stocks need cleaning.