Page 247 - 4092-BOOK1-FLIPBOOK

LOT 235
LeMat Center Fire Combination Revolving Rifle and Shotgun - Serial no. 3, 11 mm cal., 23 1/4 inch part octagon bbl.,
blue finish, walnut stock. Frenchman Dr. Jean Francois Alexander LeMat (1821-1895) is primarily remembered for his unusual
percussion and pinfire handguns from the Civil War era that were used by some Confederates including General J.E.B. Stuart. However,
after the war, LeMat continued to design more advanced versions of his distinctive firearms and returned to France in 1868. In France,
he also led an American volunteer legion during Franco-Prussian War, was a negotiator during the French Insurrection in 1871, and
developed early airships. Production totals for the LeMat firearms are not known. However, given that production of the more well-
known and more often seen percussion revolvers numbered only in the low thousands, the centerfire carbines from the late 1860s to the 1880s production totals were likely very
low, possibly only a few hundred. There are very few surviving examples. Though there is at least one known example with a serial number in the thousands, it may have been continued from
percussion, pinfire, and rimfire ranges, and most known centerfire LeMat carbines have fairly low serial numbers like this example. Revolving rifles, carbines, and shotguns were never very popular
and were essentially obsolete when compared to repeating arms manufactured by Winchester and others in the same period. Similar Belgian LeMat centerfire carbines are illustrated and described on pages 127-131 of “LeMat, The Man, The Gun” by Forgett and Serpette. The carbine features a blade front sight built into the upper barrel band and a notch and folding leaf rear sight fitted to the dovetail just behind the “COLONEL LEMAT PATENT” marking on the octagonal breech section. The barrel bands, rifled barrel, smoothbore barrel, arbor, loading gates, saddle ring stud, and trigger guard are all marked “3”. The arbor also has an oval “RD” marking, and the barrels have “crown/U” proofs. The smoothbore barrel has the “EL” proof and “15.2” bore marking.
CONDITION: Very good with mostly gray and artificially applied brown patina and general mild overall wear. The stock has a spliced toe section and is otherwise very good with a few small worm holes
and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 236
Very Scarce Belgian LeMat Patent Single Action Centerfire “Grapeshot” Revolver - NSN, 44/20 cal., 4 3/4 inch octagon and round bbl.,
bright finish, walnut grips. LeMat revolvers are most famously associated with the Confederacy during the Civil War as percussion revolvers, but they remained
in production well-after the war ended. Centerfire LeMat revolvers were manufactured from the late 1860s until the early 1880s. Dr. Jean Alexander Francois LeMat received patents in the U.S. and Belgium in 1869
that covered a centerfire version of his famous double barrel handgun that combined a revolver with a central shotgun
barrel that also served as the cylinder pin. He also received patents in France, led an American volunteer legion during the Franco-Prussian War, was a negotiator during the French Insurrection in 1871, and developed early airships. Production totals for the LeMat firearms are not known. However, given that production
of the more well-known and more often seen percussion revolvers numbered only in the low thousands, the centerfire revolvers from the late 1860s to the
1880s production totals were likely very low, possibly only a few hundred. There are very few surviving examples. The 1869 patented LeMats have separate loading gates for the shot chambers and the revolver cylinders, and utilize pivoting arms on the hammers in order to allow the hammer to strike the firing pins
at the rear of the shot chambers. The upper barrel is stamped “COLONEL LE MAT. PATENT” on top, “crown/U” proofs and “6 11” stamped on both barrels and on
the front of the nine-shot cylinder which also has a circled “E/LG” Liege proof. Lanyard ring in bottom front of frame, and a removable screwdriver inside the butt.
CONDITION: Good overall with smooth gray and light brown patina, scattered freckling and light pitting, legible markings, artificially aged modern made ejector rod assembly, and light scratches and handling marks. Mechanically fine. This is a unique opportunity to acquire a centerfire LeMat “Grapeshot” revolver!
Estimate: 9,500 - 13,000
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