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LOT 236
Historic Civil War Second Model London LeMat Two-Barrel Percussion “Grapeshot” Revolver with
Sword - Serial no. 1948, 16ga/.42 cal., 6 3/4 inch octagon and round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Patented
in 1856 by Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois LeMat of New Orleans, Louisiana, the LeMat revolver was a unique pistol
that combined a 9 shot .42 caliber percussion revolver with a 16 gauge smoothbore grapeshot barrel. The grapeshot barrel served as the center axis for the cylinder. The Second Model, Paris made, LeMat revolvers had a full octagon upper barrel with a loading lever mounted on the left side, rounded trigger guard with no spur, pull-out assembly latch, butt with a lanyard ring hole and hammer with center mounted pivoting striker. In the upper position, the
striker engages the percussion nipples in the cylinder, and, it contacts the percussion nipple for the shot barrel in the
lower position. The top of the barrel is engraved “Systeme Le Mat Bte. s. g. d. g. Paris” in Old English style script. The
right barrel flat is stamped with the serial number, “1949”, followed by the LeMat logo which consist of a star above
the letters “LM”. The serial number, “1948”, is also stamped on the right side of the frame below the cylinder and on the
side of the cylinder. Total production of LeMat revolvers in Liege, Paris, and London was less than 2,900 between 1856 and
1865, and this example was manufactured c. 1863. During the Civil War, the Confederate government awarded contracts for 900 LeMat revolvers for the Army and 600 revolvers for the Navy. Many senior Confederate officers, most notably cavalry commander General J.E.B. Stuart, carried LeMat revolvers. General Stuart carried a LeMat revolver when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia, in 1864. The unmarked Confederate officer’s pattern sword has a lightly curved 30 1/2 inch blade with a wide fuller, a dark leather blade washer, floral and scroll patterns on the hilt, and black leather and twisted wire wrapped grip. The revolver and sword are accompanied by a Sons of Confederate Veterans certificate indicated that the consignor was a descendant of Corporal Giovanni Batta Rossi of Co. F, Cazadores Espanoles, Louisiana Militia.
CONDITION: The revolver is very good overall and has an overcoat of golden varnish over much of the metal and wood and some patches of silver-gray patina showing through along with mild pitting. The markings are distinct, and the grips have distinct checkering with some worn spots. The sword is fair. The blade had mottled gray patina and patches of mild pitting. The hilt has a mix of aged patina and brick red coloration. The grip is worn and has only traces of wire wrap remaining.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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