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LOT 235
Exceptional and Rare Second Model LeMat Two-Barrel
“Grapeshot” Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 18, 42/18
Gauge cal., 6 3/4 inch octagon and 6 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, checkered walnut grips. Offered here is
an exceptional example of a highly desirable Second Model
LeMat “Grapeshot” revolver, manufactured c. 1864-1865.
LeMat revolvers in their various forms were manufactured in
Liege, Paris, and Birmingham between 1856-1865 with total
production estimated at fewer than 2,900 revolvers, according
to “Flayderman’s Guide” (9th Edition, pages 643-644). This
LeMat revolver has the combination of a full octagon .42 caliber
revolver barrel and percussion nine-shot cylinder, a second
centrally mounted smoothbore .65 caliber/18 gauge “grapeshot”
or “buckshot” barrel, and a pivoting hammer nose with central
change lever on the hammer spur. The LeMat revolver was
developed by Dr. Jean LeMat of New Orleans, Louisiana,
and patented in 1856. Approximately 1,500 LeMat revolvers
are believed to have been purchased by the Confederate
government during the Civil War, with many senior Confederate
officers known to have carried them. However, the LeMat
revolver is most closely associated with the famed Confederate
cavalryman General J.E.B. Stuart who carried a LeMat revolver
when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Yellow Tavern,
Virginia in 1864. The LeMat two-barrel “Grapeshot” revolver
is the most distinctive of all the Confederate associated
firearms. This revolver has the distinctive Second Model
features including the rounded trigger guard with no spur,
octagon barrel, loading lever on the left side, pull-out assembly
latch, and integral lanyard ring hole in the butt of the frame.
Birmingham proof marks are stamped on the upper left barrel
flat and on the cylinder between each chamber. The underside
of the “grapeshot” barrel is stamped with “18” flanked by two
Birmingham proof marks. These markings are described on
page 84 of “The Confederate LeMat Revolver” by Adams, in
which the author states, “The ‘18’ refers to the gauge of the shot
barrel. This notation was present on London guns only.” The top
of the barrel on this LeMat has no markings, nor does it appear
to have ever had any, and the revolver does not have any visible
serial number markings. It has a high polish blue finish on the
frame, barrels, and trigger guard. The cylinder and hammer
are color casehardened. Fitted with finely checkered two-piece
walnut grips. The nine shot cylinder, 16 gauge “grapeshot”
barrel and association with Confederate cavalryman General
J.E.B. Stuart combined make the LeMat revolver one of the most
widely recognized and desirable Civil War era handguns.