The Knights LAMG, or the Light Assault Machine Gun, was first introduced in 2017. Produced by the well-known American arms making company Knights Armament co, this weapon is an evolutionary design based on the Stoner 96 light machine gun, designed late in 20th century by Eugene Stoner of the M16 rifle fame.
The 5.56mm Knights LAMG Light Assault Machine Gun
Since the introduction of the LAMG a slightly enlarged variant, chambered for the 7.62x51mm, 6.5mm Creedmoor and possibly several other similar cartridges was introduced as the Knights AMG, or the Assault Machine Gun. Both 5.56mm LAMG and 7.62 AMG are intended for use by mobile light infantry or special forces units, to provide sustained / suppressive fire capabilities in a lightweight, one-man portable weapon. At the moment of this writing, that is, mid-2024, there were no official reports of any military force adopting either a 5.56mm LAMG or a 7.62 AMG, but it is believed that some were tested in Afghanistan by US Army Rangers and possibly some other SF units.
The 7.62x51mm Knights AMG Assault Machine Gun
The Knights LAMG machine gun is a gas operated weapon, which fires from open bolt and only in full automatic mode. It uses a now-traditional multi-lug rotary bolt, operated by a long stroke gas piston located below the barrel. Bolt locks directly to the barrel extension, allowing for the quick-change barrels and also permitting a lightweight, aluminum alloy receiver, machined from a bar stock. Another not so usual feature of the Knights LAMG / AMG machine gun is that it uses a so-called “constant recoil” principle, similar to that found, for example, in an Ultimax 100 machine gun. In this system the bolt group does not bounce against the rear end of the receiver; instead, it gradually slows down until its stops completely by a long main spring, and then starts forward for another cycle. This requires a relatively long receiver but the key benefit is that the felt recoil is decreased noticeably. Another benefit of this system is that it allows for a smaller dispersion, especially when firing from off-hand position.
The 5.56mm Knights LAMG Light Assault Machine Gun disassembled into its major components
The Knights LAMG / AMG machine gun is a belt-fed weapon, using standard issue M27 links for 5.56x45mm ammunition and M13 links for 7.62x51mm ammunition. Feed direction is from the left side only. The belt feed unit features a short, flip-up top cover, and its operating mechanism is located on the left side of the receiver, with some key parts being uncovered and left open to the elements. The feed lever is operated by an angled track, cut into the top surface of the long gas piston rod / bolt carrier. This cam track forces the operating lever in and out, pulling the belt for one round each time the gun is fired and the bolt is cycling back, and resetting the feed pawls for the next cycle when the bolt returns forward. Belts can be fed from detachable containers with capacities of 100, 150 or 200 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, or 50 and 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The 5.56mm Knights LAMG Light Assault Machine Gun with a 200-round belt box attached
Both AMG and LAMG machine guns feature pistol grips and can be fitted with a variety of telescoping or folding shoulder stocks. Various bipods, assault grips and other such accessories can be attached to the bottom Picatinny rail on the aluminum-alloy forend. Two lengths of a top Picatinny rails (before and aft of the feed cover) can be used to mount various day and night sights, or any practical combination of these. Other advertised options include the integrally suppressed barrels with gas blocks factory-tuned for suppressed operation.
The 7.62x51mm Knights AMG Assault Machine Gun
The Knights LAMG and AMG machine guns, basic specifications
Encyclopedia of firearms and ammunition of the XX and XXI centuries
All texts are written by Maxim Popenker © 1999-2024
