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LOT 3273
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: 8,500 - 12,000
LOT 3275
Desirable Civil War Courtney & Tennent
Imported Robert Mole Confederate Naval
Cutlass - This Confederate Naval Cutlass
was manufactured by Robert Mole & Son’s
of Birmingham, England, and imported by
Courtney & Tennent of Charleston, South
Carolina. These are one of the finest cutlasses
ever produced for the Confederate Navy.
Features include a double-edged, 20 inch
wasp wristed blade with single fuller. The
obverse ricasso is stamped “COURTNEY &
TENNENT/CHARLESTON, S.C” in a rectangle.
“MOLE” is stamped on the back of the blade.
The cutlass has a two-branch brass guard
with down-turned quillian and two-piece
checkered, hard rubber grip. These Courtney
& Tennent Naval Cutlasses are described on
pages 61-63 of the book “A Photographic
Supplement of Confederate Swords” by
William A. Albaugh III, and on page 39 of
“Confederate Edged Weapons” by William A.
Albaugh III.
CONDITION: Very good as Confederate issued,
with scattered dark colored pitting on the
iron blade with a mix of smooth brown and
gray patina, a few nicks on the edge of the
blade, and distinct markings. The brass guard
retains an attractive untouched golden aged
patina, with a few dings. The hard rubber grips
are good with some age related wear, handling
marks and some warping. A desirable cutlass for
a Confederate arms collector!
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3274
Scarce South Carolina Palmetto Armory Model 1842 Percussion Pistol - NSN, 54 cal., 8 1/2
inch round bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. 1,000 Model 1842 pistols were manufactured c. 1852-
1853 at the Palmetto Armory by William Glaze and Benjamin Flagg for the South Carolina militia.
The latter was previously the superintendent of Asa Waters’s factory in Milbury, Massachusetts. They
are believed to have been assembled from condemned and overrun parts from Aston and Johnson from
the U.S. contracts. There are far less surviving examples today than originally made, as many saw heavy use with the
Confederacy throughout the Civil War. The barrel has a brass blade front sight, captive ramrod, “P/V/(palmetto tree)”
on the upper left, “Wm. GLAZE & CO.” on the left flat, and “1853” date marking on the upper tang. The lock is marked
“PALMETTO, ARMORY/(palmetto tree)/S*C.” at the center and “COLUMBIA/S C 1852” at the tail, with no visible markings
on the interior of the lock or on the bolster. The pistol is accompanied by a scanned copy
of the Man at Arms article “The Origin of the Palmetto Pistols” by Lewis F. Southard, and
various consignor supplied research papers, and an extra mainspring.
CONDITION: Good with applied brown patina on the iron surfaces, moderate flash pitting
with filing marks visible on top of the percussion nipple, clear lock markings, and a bright
golden appearance on the brass with numerous scattered dings and scuffs. Stock is very
good as professionally restored, with areas of discoloration, various spliced repaired
sections and filler, some cracks, and scattered light handling marks. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Rick Word Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
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