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Civil War LeMat "Grape-Shot" Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Civil War LeMat  Grape-Shot  Revolver
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Civil War LeMat "Grape-Shot" Revolver

Second Model Paris LeMat revolver was manufactured circa 1864-1865. This revolver has the unique LeMat combination of a conventional .42 caliber barrel and percussion nine-shot cylinder which revolves on a centrally mounted, smoothbore, .63 caliber "buckshot barrel". The hammer is equipped with a pivoting striker that fires either the percussion nipples on the cylinder or the single percussion nipple of the buckshot barrel. The revolver has the distinctive Parisian Second Model features that include: full octagon revolver barrel, transitional lever frame securing mechanism, round trigger guard with no spur, loading lever on the left side of the barrel and boss with lanyard ring hole on the butt frame. The revolver has two-piece, finely checkered, European walnut grips. The top barrel flat is engraved "Col. LeMAT, BTE. S.q.d.g. PARIS" in a hand engraved panel with flourishes at either end. The right side of the barrel is stamped with the serial number "1122". The serial number "1122" is also stamped on the right side of the frame below the cylinder, left side of the locking lever and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The LeMat revolver was developed by Dr. Jean LeMat of New Orleans, Louisiana, and patented in 1856. LeMat revolvers were manufactured in Liege, Paris and Birmingham c. 1856-1866; total production is estimated at fewer than 2,900 revolvers. Approximately 1,500 LeMat revolvers are thought to have been purchased by the Confederate government during the Civil War. Many senior Confederate officers carried LeMat revolvers. However, the LeMat revolver is most closely associated with the famed Confederate cavalryman General J.E.B. Stuart who carried a LeMat revolver when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia, in 1864. The LeMat Two-Barrel revolver is the most distinctive of all Confederate associated firearms. The revolver is complete with a modern made, renumbered, spare cylinder 'in the white' that is engraved with the serial number "1122"..

Manufacture: Le Mat
Model: 2nd
BBL: 7 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 42 cal/ 16 ga
Finish: blued/case hardened
Grips: walnut checkered
Serial Number: 1122

Very good as restored. The revolver has a replacement loading lever. The barrel legend has some polishing marks and there are several small, polished dents in the upper barrel flats. There is moderate-heavy flash pitting on the percussion nipples and rear of the cylinder. Mechanically fine. The walnut grips are in very good condition. This is a good looking example of a scarce and desirable Civil War LeMat Grape-Shot revolver, which was carried by many senior Confederate officers.