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LOT 172
Very Scarce and Desirable Civil War Confederate 1st Model LeMat “Grape Shot” Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 262,
42/63 cal., 7 inch part octagon and 7 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The 1st Model LeMat revolves were produced for
the Confederacy during the Civil War and run through the Union blockades. Only around 450 of these 1st Models were manufactured in Liege, Belgium. Though LeMat production was limited overall,
the is certainly one of the most distinctive and famous of all 19th century revolvers thanks to unusual central smoothbore “grape shot” barrel and its use by well-known Confederate military
generals and officers, including P. G. T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, and J. E. B. Stuart. They were designed by Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans but mainly manufactured in Liege and Paris. Period advertisements for the revolvers refer to them as “LeMat’s Grape Shot Revolvers.”This revolver features the improved barrel latch pinned in the front of the frame and fitted with a spring and has the interrupted threads on the “grape shot” barrel allowing the rifled barrel and cylinder to be removed easily. It also has a triangular front sight, the loading lever fitted on the right side, selector on the hammer tip with projections to the sides to change the striker angle for switching between the cylinder and the smoothbore shot barrel, groove on the hammer for a rear sight, and a spurred trigger guard. The top of the rifled barrel has “COL. LEMAT’S PATENT” inscribed in an engraved panel, and the serial number and encircled script “LM”
on the right of the breech. The serial number is repeated on the bottom of the rifled barrel just ahead of the “grape shot” barrel, the “grape shot” barrel at the breech, loading lever, barrel latch, cylinder, recoil shield, and right side
of the frame. The “grape shot” barrel has an “M” on the right just behind the threads. The checkered walnut grips have light engraving on the washer, screw, and nut. The butt has a lanyard loop
secured with a cross-pin.
CONDITION: Very good plus with smooth plum brown tone overall from the original blue finish fading with age, distinct markings, and fairly minimal overall wear. The grips are fine and have distinct checkering with mild handling wear. Mechanically excellent. This is certainly one of the finest examples of a 1st Model LeMat revolver we have ever offered at auction. They are hard to find
in general, and most available today show significant signs of use. The consignor wrote that this revolver’s “early serial number suggests that it was probably issued to a high ranking Confederate officer
and saw little use.”
Provenance: The Donald Bryan Collection;
The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000