GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
VERY FINE CONFEDERATE SECOND MODEL LEMAT GRAPESHOT REVOLVER. LEMAT 2ND 1318 42/18 This is a beautiful orig example of the standard production Confederate contracted LeMat grape-shot revolver retaining much original finish. Standard production Paris guns, often called 2nd Models, feature some improvements made by LeMat that worked the best after service in the field by Confederates in the field reporting problems in the early Civil War years. This gun still retains the reciprocating pin system for turning cylinder which would eventually be changed to the cog & ratchet system. (note: previous lot SN 1309 is the earliest noted gun with a experimental cog & ratchet). The revolver has the distinctive LeMat 9-shot cyl. 42 caliber rifled bbl with smooth bore 'grape-shot' 18 ga bbl for firing buckshot. Top bbl flat is engraved "Col. LeMat Bte s.g.d.g. Paris" which is the typical address on standard production revolvers. Wiley Sword in his text Firepower From Abroad notes that probably only the first 1450 LeMats made it to the Confederacy in time for the Gettysburg Campaign. If that is the case this would have been one of the last shipments to make it through blockade for the major 1863 and 1864 Campaigns of the Civil War. LeMat revolvers were prized by their Confederate owners (and Yankee capturers too). Many notable Confederate Generals and Officers were known to have carried these unique weapons as noted by General Beauregard's and General Lewis's sold by Julia's in a previous sale. In Charles Frazier's 1997 National Book Awards winning Cold Mountain the book's hero Inman proudly owned a pair of LeMat revolvers showing how well known this particular revolver is among modern culture. This is very fine example, all matching with fine aesthetics and high finish. CONDITION: Very Fine overall, orig bright blue finish is retained on about 50% of gun, balance of surface is mottled plum/gray with some staining, scratches and other minor cosmetic blemishes. Gun appears 100% original, authentic and matching. Matching SN 1318 was found on bbl, shotgun bbl, loading arm & loading arm screw, plunger, cleaning rod, cylinder, frame, trigger, frame pin, each grip and grip screw. Gun was not further disassembled for other matching numbers, which many other small parts would be numbered. Mechanics are fine, bright well discerned shotgun and rifled bores. 52554-1 JS (15,000-20,000)