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LOT 82
Very Rare Centerfire LeMat “Grape Shot” Combination Revolving
Carbine - Serial no. 0, 44/20 cal., 23 1/4 inch part octagon and 23 1/4
inch round bbl., bright/blue finish, walnut stock. The centerfire carbines
manufactured in the late 1860s to the 1880s are very rare; production
totals were likely very low, possibly only a few hundred, and there are very few surviving examples. Cartridge loading revolving rifles, carbines, and shotguns never
achieved great popularity 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 in “LeMat: The Man, The Gun” by Forgett and Serpette where they are noted as chambered for 12 mm cartridges and 15.2 mm shot shells (approximately .44 caliber and 20 gauge). The blade front sight is on the upper barrel band, and the two-leaf rear sight has 100, 200, 300, and 400 marked notches and “TI” on the left side of the base. The upper barrel is marked “COLONEL LEMAT. PATENT.” The barrels and cylinder have Liege proofs, including a “15.2” bore marking on the bottom of the shot barrel. “0” is marked on most of the various components, and “83” is stamped on the left side of the wrist. The flat fronted trigger guard has a spur at the front to aid in holding without placing a hand in front of the cylinder and has a lanyard ring on the left side. Sling swivels are mounted to the bottom of the upper barrel band and bottom of the stock. A takedown cleaning rod is stored in the stock.
CONDITION: Fine with mostly silver-gray patina, some isolated minor oxidation and pitting, cold blue on the trigger guard, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and 110 has smooth oiled finish, light dings and scratches, and a crack on the left at the junction with the frame. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500