GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RARE AND VERY EARLY 1ST MODEL LEMAT CONFEDERATE GRAPESHOT REVOLVER.LEMAT1ST MODEL2242/18gaCal. 42/18ga. This is a fine and complete orig example of a rarely offered 1st Model LeMat. This gun is same SN range of two identified South Carolina 1st Model LeMat's. SN "21" was carried by a Private in the Eutaw Regiment and SN "25" was carried by T.B. Memminger, a Confederate surgeon and son of the Confederate Secretary of the Treasury. SN "22" 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. Fred Edmunds, well known Confederate revolver expert and late collector, wrote his observations which describe this gun well: "On December 7, 2002, I had the occasion of partially disassembling and examining your LeMat pistol, serial number 22, with a view toward verifying its authenticity. This statement is a result of my findings and conclusions. Barrel is correct and original, being half round and half octagonal, with the script-type engraving on the top flat breech-end reading, "Col. LeMat's Patent". Serial Number "22" is stamped on the right side barrel flat near the breech end. Front sight is original. No other barrel marks are observed. The loading lever assembly is located on the right side, as is correct for the First Model. It was not disassembled, but appears to be original. The loading lever catch could be a replacement, but if that is so, it is an excellent replacement. The frame is original and has the serial number "22", stamped on the lower right side with an "M" in a circle. Spur trigger guard and backstrap are original with "22 stamped on inside surfaces. Mainspring and tension screw are original. Swiveling lanyard ring is original. Hammer is original and has the early "ears" on the top striking surface allowing it to be lowered on a pivot to discharge the grapeshot barrel; hammer is also numbered "22". The 2-pc walnut grips with escutcheons are in excellent condition and are stamped "Baquet", inside as, are many early LeMats. Another early feature in LeMat #22 is the rabbetted slip-fit joint between the grapeshot barrel and the regular barrel; later models were held together by a series of threads and were screwed off in disassembly. The cylinder is original and shows the same deep patina as the remainder of the piece. It is in excellent untouched condition. LeMat #22 has a very pleasing deep patina on all parts and is in excellent condition: it has a finer finish than most models, which were not highly polished before blueing was applied. Most LeMats have minor surface roughness when examined closely. They were not highly polished like the Colt products. The piece at hand is an excellent example of perhaps the most intriguing firearm used in the War Between the States." PROVENANCE: Lifetime Collection of Dr. Zack Catterton. CONDITION: Very good-fine overall as described in Fred Edmund's Letter of Authenticity. Gun does appear, however to have been re-colored to a pleasing overall dark, smooth plum color and bbl address has possibly been freshened in this cataloger's opinion. Mechanically gun is sound and functional. 51566-2 JS (25,000-30,000)