RARE & FINE EARLY CONFEDERATE 1ST MODEL LEMAT REVOLVER.
inv # 01-18461

Cal. 42/18ga.
S# 97/113/135.

This early war “grapeshot” revolver has all the rare 1st Model features, including earliest engraved bbl markings of “COL. LeMAT’S PATENT”, loading assembly attached to bbl on right side of gun, spring loaded latch to attach bbl to frame, spur trigger guard, pinned lanyard ring stud, double eared hammer pivot for shotgun, reciprocating pin rotation system noted by series of holes on back of cylinder, and rabbeted not screwed on shotgun bbl assembly. This gun is all orig, complete and functional, only the first contract of about 200 revolvers have all these characteristics. We can only document about 20 examples below SN 200. There are more identified examples among these 1st 200 than all other LeMat revolvers combined.

Important Confederate personalities such as P.G.T. Beauregard (SN 8), Maj. Gen. John Lewis (SN 88), Stonewall Jackson (SN unknown), JEB Stuart (SN 115) and Henry Wirz (SN 189), Commander of Andersonville Prison. SN 7 was captured on the CSS Atlanta and 183 was captured on the CSS Florida. SN 21 and 25 have known South Carolina connections. Several of these early examples are found with mismatched numbers. This gun has cylinder 113 which is only 2 serial numbers removed from JEB Stewart’s, and loading assembly is 135. Regardless of the different numbers, this revolver has matching patina and no doubt grew up this way. The delicate engraved screws do not appear to have been turned which is so unusual, as most have seen hard use.

STATUS: ANTIQUE