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LOT 1234
Civil War Era Second
Model LeMat Percussion “Grape Shot”
Revolver - Serial no. 1620, 42 cal/ 16 ga cal., 6 1/2 inch octagon and 6 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The LeMat revolver was patented in 1856 by Dr. Jean Alexandre
Francois LeMat of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was a very distinctive handgun that combined a nine-shot .42 caliber percussion revolver with a 16 gauge smoothbore grapeshot barrel. The grapeshot barrel served as the center
axis for the cylinder. During the Civil War, the Confederate government awarded contracts for 900 LeMat revolvers for the Army and 600 revolvers for the Navy. Total production of LeMat revolvers in Liege, Paris, and London was less than 2,900 between 1856 and 1865. Many senior
Confederate officers, most notably cavalry commander General J.E.B. Stuart, carried LeMat revolvers. 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 “Col Le Mat Bte. s. g. d. g. Paris” in Old English style script. The right barrel flat is stamped with the serial number, “1620”, followed a star above the letters “LM” for LeMat. The serial number is also stamped on the right side of the loading lever, on the right side of the frame below the cylinder and on the side of the cylinder. A small case is included containing a few conical bullets and some buckshot. CONDITION: Good with a few small traces of original blue finish in the protected areas and otherwise mottled gray and brown patina and mild pitting throughout. The markings remain generally distinct. The hammer and striker are chipped. The grips are also good and have distinct checkering and mild scratches and dents. Mechanically functions, although the revolver work only when muzzle is pointed downward. Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
LOT 1235
Desirable Civil War Confederate Inspected London Armoury Co. Kerr
Patent Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 3763, 44 cal., 5 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Approximately 11,000 of these Kerr patent revolvers were manufactured
by the London Armoury Company between 1859 to 1866, and many were known to have
been exported for use by the Confederacy during the American Civil War, with some stopped by
the Union blockade. These revolvers were well regarded by the men who carried them. This example
has the desirable “JS/anchor” stamped on the front of the grip, found on known Confederate issued
examples. The Kerr revolver’s cylinder can be rotated by pulling the trigger, but the hammer must
be cocked manually and also revolves the cylinder when it is. The use of an older style back action
percussion lock meant that these revolvers were easier to work on and repair than more complicated
revolver actions. “L.A.C” London Armory Company marking followed by “crown/GP” and “crown/V” proofs on
the upper left barrel flat, “LONDON/ARMOURY” marked on the left of the frame, “KERR’S PATENT. 3763.” on the right of the frame, “LONDON ARMOURY.” on the lock plate, “3763” and London crown proofs marked on the outside of the cylinder, “D945” marked on the frame under the cylinder, “945” faintly marked on the front face of the cylinder and inside of the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very good with strong traces of the original blue finish in protected areas, scattered mild freckling, some scattered patches of light pitting, and legible markings. The grip is fine and has fairly crisp checkering with a few small nicks and handling marks. Mechanically functions fine although cylinder slightly loose on the lock up.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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