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CONFEDERATE ENGRAVED LEMAT TRANSITION MODEL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
CONFEDERATE ENGRAVED LEMAT TRANSITION MODEL

GRAPESHOT REVOLVER. Cal. 42/63. S# 281. Bbl. 6 3/4" round with the first 1 1/8" being octagon above, and 5" round barrel beneath. Upper barrel is used w/ the 9 shot cylinder to fire 42 cal. ammo. Lower barrel is used for firing a single charge of buckshot. Top of barrel is marked in a panel, "COL. LEMAT BTE SCDC PARIS" with flourishes at the ends. The right flat of the barrel is marked, "281 (star) / L M", all numbered parts match. 9 Shot revolving cylinder with engraved flourishes in front of each nipple. The loading lever, normally on the left side of the barrel, is missing. The hammer is fitted with a pivoting striker to accommodate the 9 cylinder nipples along with a single nipple at the top of the frame to fire the buckshot barrel. 2 Piece checkered walnut grips. The left grip has an old paper collection number "15" attached. Lanyard ring intact. Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois Lemat from New Orleans, LA, patented this type of revolver in 1856. His initial business partner was P.G.T. Beauregard, who was to become one of the most famous Confederate generals of the war. This type of revolver was made from 1856-1865 w/ a total quantity produced of less than 2,900. At the outbreak of the Civil War, it quickly became the favored sidearm of many high ranking Confederate officers. Captured examples were quite prized by Union officers as well. CONDITION: this is a well used veteran of many battles and skirmishes of the Civil War. The entire gun has a medium gray finish with light mottling. The front sight is missing, as well as the entire loading arm assembly. The revolver shows some scattered areas of very light pitting but most of the patina comes from good, honest hard use. Grips are worn almost to the point of erasing the checkering on one side. Gun holds both full and half cock but needs some adjustment for proper cylinder rotation. Fair bore with reasonable rifling. (01-20981/BF). ANTIQUE. $8,000-12,000.