GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
RARE AND VERY FINE "AS FOUND" EARLY 1ST MODEL LEMAT CONFEDERATE REVOLVER FRESH TO MARKET.LEMATREVOLVER17842/18GCal. 42/18. This is a fine and complete orig example of a rarely offered 1st Model LeMat just discovered in a New York estate and was unknown to collecting community until now. The family has no idea of where the gun came from, but know that it has been in the family for a very long time. Ironically, this gun is only a few SNs removed from several famous identified LeMat revolvers. This gun has all the rare 1st Model features, including earliest bbl markings of "COL. LeMAT'S PATENT", loading assembly attached to bbl on right side of gun, spur trigger guard and pinned lanyard ring stud, reciprocating pin cylinder rotation system. This gun is all orig, complete and functional. SN "178" is found on every part where SN's are normally found including shotgun bbl, loading arm, frame and cylinder. 1st Model LeMat's are rarely found today, especially complete with loading assembly, of which there are probably no more than 10 or 20 fine examples known. There are several 1st Model LeMat's in various museum collections identified to important Confederate personalities, such as P.G.T. Beauregard (SNs 8 & 427), Maj. Gen. John Lewis (SN 88), Stonewall Jackson (SN unknown), JEB Stuart (SN 115) and Henry Wirz (189), Commander of Andersonville Prison. SN 183 just 5 SNs apart from subject gun was captured on the CSS Florida. PROVENANCE: Estate of Norman Weiss, New York. CONDITION: Fine overall. Strong traces of orig blue finish on bbl, cylinder, frame, trigger guard and backstrap, with balance a dark plum/grey. Gun was not disassembled, but appears all orig and matching with exception of one professional restored screw. Stocks are crisp, well fit with light diamond point wear and scuffing, hand worn patina. Mechanically crisp with defined bores. 50949-1 JS (25,000-30,000)