GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE PRE-CIVIL WAR EARLY PRODUCTION LEMAT REVOLVER. LeMat GRAPE SHOT REVOLVER 16 10mm/16.8mm Cal .42/16ga, 7-1/2" bbl. The LeMat story is among the most intriguing of American & Confederate gun manufacture. P. G. T. Beauregard, an American Officer from New Orleans and later Confederate General, was the original driving force on the manufacture of these guns from his friend & relative, Col. Alexander LeMat. Two trial guns were made by John Krider of Philadelphia that are known and so marked. Krider No. 1 LeMat is in the Liege Belgium Museum and has Auguste Francotte's mark on the stock as does this gun. Francotte modeled his guns from Krider prototypes supplied by LeMat. There are only six known, and the gun presented here is no doubt the finest specimen. Prior to Confederate production of the LeMat revolvers in France, later in England, and prior to the Civil War, in May of 1859 then Maj. Beauregard placed an ad which ran in several New Orleans newspapers attempting to market these guns in which Beauregard was a partner in the company. This gun no doubt was one such gun contracted by Francotte for this market. Alain Serpette, in his book collaborated with Val Forgett, lists this model as USA 1859 model in his French language 1995 text on LeMats. There is one known specimen very similar to this which was presented as a Christmas present to a Maine soldier in 1863. This gun presented to Capt. John Conley of the 16th Maine was quite possibly taken from captured New Orleans and sent north as a present by a relative or another Maine soldier stationed in the Gulf. Regardless of history of this gun, it is in beautiful condition, retaining most all of its orig finish. Every major part is marked with various proofs, most with Francotte's mark either an "AF" or an "AF" below a crown. On bottom of bbl above shotgun bbl there are two identical maker marks "A. FRANCOTTE / A. LIEGE". Serial number or assembly number "16" is found on shotgun bbl & back of cyl. A roman numeral "VI" is found inside left stock. Internally, on trigger guard and back of frame are the initials "GC". There is a Liege black powder proof externally on cyl. There is an unknown stamp inside trigger guard between stocks "NR / 309". No further disassembly was attempted to find other assembly or serial numbers. This is a truly beautiful and impressive firearm. PROVENANCE: Julia Lot #2408, March 2012; Paul Tudor Jones II Collection. CONDITION: Gun retains 90-95% of its orig bright blue finish on bbls and frame & 50% bright blue finish on cyl with remainder being mostly plum. Hammer is finished bright, retains most of its orig shine with areas of staining. Hammer is missing selector tip for shotgun bbl. Brass backstrap & trigger guard retain about 20% of their orig silver plating with the balance a mustard yellow patina. Mechanically, gun functions well. Action is crisp and bore exhibits bright, well-defined rifling. 49941-44 JS32 (50,000-75,000)