36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured a rather unusual secondary 16 gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot, and saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861 - 1865. General Beauregard's personal engraved LeMat, which he carried throughout the war, is preserved at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA. LeMat - Black Powder Hand Guns - Hand Guns LeMat Home Hand Guns Black Powder Hand Guns LeMat LeMat Cavalry $1,448.22 Shop By Manufacturer Pietta You have no items in your wish list. The final models of the LeMat were produced in .36 or .44 caliber in response to these criticisms, but too few of them managed to get past the Union blockade of the South during the Civil War to be of any actual use. Your email address will not be published. Really. Considering single shot firearms were slow to load and most were without rifling thus not very accurate, people explored the possibilities of adding blades, axes, and even brass knuckles to their guns to have a backup in a close-quarter combat situation. Black Powder Revolver Starter Kit With Wonder Lube Components, Anti-Seize Thread Lube For Black Powder Guns, Large Universal Cross-Style Nipple Wrench, Olde Turkey Track Black Powder Solvent & Patch Lube, Revolver Pocket Cleaning Kit .44/.45 Caliber, Hand Cast Lead Round Balls For Black Powder Revolvers, 9 and 1 .20 Gauge shot out of bottom barrel. David begins the work by carefully removing all the modern markings from the cylinder, frame and both barrels. My only regret is that I did not buy two before the inevitable price increase. The Le Mat shot barrel is fired by cocking the hammer and flipping down the hammer nose to strike the lower nipple for the barrel. These revolvers were manufactured from 1856 to 1865, with less than 2,900 being produced. What was it, New England Firearms 'pardner' that was the break-action single-shot? [3], LeMat hoped to market his adaptable revolver as a primary sidearm for dragoons and other mounted troops. This iconic revolver was designed by southerner Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois LeMat of New Orleans. But it was referred to as a grapeshot barrel . 44 or . By the start of the Civil War, repeating firearms were growing in popularity. It is an expensively customized two barrelled weapon. View Quote. eCommerce Software by 3dcart. 7 of the Worst Military Weapons Youve Probably Never Heard Of. You will find the sale page for this carbine if you click here. 1 in 30" twist. "The LeMat revolver was a .42 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured a rather unusual secondary 16 gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot, and saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861-1865." of the National Firearms Act (NFA) and/or ATF Rule (etc.) The LeMat has two separate barrels, and I'd like to avoid the Judge's problem with rifling opening a hole in the center of the pattern. Checkered walnut grips. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Being over .50 does not automatically mean it's a DD - that's up to the AG. Taylor's Firearms markets historical reproductions as well as guns designed for modern day shooters' needs in The New West. I will post updates as I progress. [2], Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 00:27, armed forces of the Confederate States of America, U.S. Patent 15,925 issued on 21 October 1856, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LeMat_Revolver&oldid=1140415441, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 00:27. The Lemat revolver was a .42 or .36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of France, which featured an unusual secondary 20 gauge smooth-bore barrel capable of firing buckshot. Accurate details like the swivel lanyard ring and trigger-guard spur duplicate those found on originals. Click on the picture to enlarge. 1412 West Reelfoot Avenue There is an extraordinary collection of LeMats from the Clifford Young estate to be sold April 26, 2016, at Cowan's Auction in Cincinnati, and the remainder of his over 30 LeMats to be sold at a later sale. Civil War cavalrymen, particularly in the South, preferred to carry several pistols, as it was faster to draw another loaded weapon than to try to reload a cap and ball revolver in combat. Working closely with manufactures, Taylor's firearms are crafted to our specifications using high-quality machining, and innovative designs; all part of Keeping The Legend Alive! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A single .20 gauge shotgun barrel under the .44 caliber barrel makes the Lemat a unique firearm. Metal parts are richly blued. The capability available today, modern steel and technology, have contributed to build conversions again. The LeMat revolver was a .42 or .36 caliber cap ball black powder revolver invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured an unusual secondary 20 gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot. Ashley Hlebinsky so basically it would be illegal to make a cartridge version of the lemat? I heard all they got was approval to import the sample at SHOT. Back in the late '70's-early '80's there were a number of guns like these built on Smith N-frames but they were pricey then, let alone now. Apparently, guy who has made way too many posts. A forum community dedicated to survivalists and enthusiasts. The Manurhin MR73 probably holds the title of most durable revolver. The distinguishing characteristic of LeMats revolver is that its 9-shot .44 cylinder revolves around a separate central barrel of larger caliber than the chambers in the cylinder proper. Powered by Invision Community, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling. The LeMat revolver was a .42 or .36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured an unusual secondary 16 gauge smooth-bore barrel capable of firing buckshot. The loading lever is mounted on the left side. LeMat of New Orleans and manufactured in Paris, France, and Birhamingham, England. LeMat Cartridge Conversion. The player will need to acquire this weapon to achieve 100% completion. The Mossberg "Just in Case" is a Title 1 "firearm," not a "shotgun," because it does not possess a buttstock, and hence is not intended to be fired from the shoulder, but the barrel is 18" or greater and the OAL is 26" or greater so it is not a Title II firearm. The new model LeMat revolver: a modern iteration of a classic New Orleans design. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The AOW version would probably have a 8" barrel or so, with a ~5.5 to 6" rifled barrel for the pistol caliber. . Beauregard, who was to become a general with the Confederacy. Pistols and revolvers are the two classes of handguns in Red Dead Redemption 2. It was chambered in .42 and .63 (around 20-gauge) calibers and had a 6.75-inch barrel. That revolver fascinates me. Contact us to learn more about firearms that guarantee an awesome shooting experience. LeMat Revolver. [6], The LeMat revolver was manufactured from 1856 to 1865, with approximately 2,900 being produced. LeMat; 1836 Texas Paterson; 1851 Models; 1858 Army and Sheriff. The Cavalry model features include a case hardened hammer and trigger, blued steel parts, checkered walnut two-piece grip, lanyard ring, and spurred triggerguard. The central barrel is smoothbore and can function as a short-barreled shotgun (hence the name "Grape Shot Revolver"), with the shooter selecting whether to fire from the cylinder or the smoothbore barrel by flipping a lever on the end of the hammer. Would have to be 38 spcl or smaller to have any amount of ammo in the regular cylinder, still be pretty big. It left me amazed yet again. It is estimated that 2,900 were produced in Lige, Belgium, and Paris, France. October 2019 edited October 2019. This infamous revolver is must-have addition to any black powder collection! Beauregard, a respected army officer, did ultimately switch sides to fight for the Confederacy. The new rifling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling allowed the .50 gauge to drop thru the barrel bore, thus the reduction in bore size was done to get the pistol approved. The Lemat was a favorite sidearm of Confederate Generals Jeb Stuart and P.G.T. Later, during the American Civil War, a lighter .35-caliber pistol with a .55-caliber (28-gauge) smooth bore barrel was produced. The conical ball cast by the LeMat mold throws a heavy punch and the shot capacity is unmatched in any BP revolver. Dixie Gun Works You can post now and register later. He also removes the scroll engraving from the cylinder; which is correct for a Confederate-imported LeMat. Obviously, the LeMat revolver was not as successful as the namesake would have hoped. Revolvers were made by several companies during the war and came in many shapes and sizes, including one that added a shotgun barrel underneath the cylinder, known as the LeMat Revolver. With todays metallurgy it is totally unnecessary for a revolver to have a gap. The issue with 20 gauge is that it's over 1/2 inch bore, so it's a DD unless you get the ATF to agree that it is a "sporting weapon". It was a pain in my bottom & I will never do . EMF Company Copyright 2009-2023 All rights reserved. It saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861-65. High quality gun quite accurate with a 451 ball over 18 grains FFFG but somewhat on the heavy side at 3 and a half pounds. The LeMats that found their way through the U.S. Navy blockade were stamped with British proof marks from the Birmingham Proof House, leading to the misapprehension that the pistols were manufactured in the UK. Nope. This manufacturer was urged not to go into production, because doing so would reclassify all milsurp .50BMG ammo as handgun AP, illegal to sell, manufacture to sell, and illegal to possess in many states, including here in Florida. The modern "grapeshot revolver" movement was sparked in the 1990s by the MIL Thunder 5 revolver. Many firearms that do not see immense success become a forgotten chapter in history. For the Red Dead Redemption variant, see LeMat Revolver. In the end, the gun could not overcome flaws and was ill-timed as advanced technology would quickly soon surpass it. An accurate reproduction of the first model LeMat, this Cavalry version has a nine-shot, .44-cal. A 357 45 Colt/410 would be a bad ass pistol. The LeMat revolver, one of the coolest guns in Civil War collecting. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Le Mat Revolver . BATFE is willing to say that the rifling keeps them from being shotguns no matter what you load into the revolver. What makes the LeMatt so strong is that the shotgun barrel is the axle for the revolver cylinder. Could offset the 410 barrel thus enabling it to be a DA/SA gun with swing out cylinder. They were made in Paris, France, and Birmingham, England. Chamber one in .308 over 3" 12ga. I guess I need to mess around with some pieces of pipe, see if I can lay out a modern version mechanically. It is slightly slower than some of the speed-demons on this list, like the Mauser, but a well-placed headshot will drop anything that stands in Arthur's way. The finished pistol is a near perfect copy of the original Confederate-imported LeMats. An accurate reproduction of the First Model LeMat, our Cavalry version has a nine-shot, .44-caliber cylinder and rifled 6-3/4 barrel. Uberti cartridge revolvers are true replicas of original historical designs. Made in Italy by Pietta. Reloading on the fly really didnt work to well in a front stuffer, you fired your shots and were effectively out, unless you had a spare loaded cylinder. , Dixie Gun Works. The original was a 16 guage shotgun, but besides being very rare, this would be quite a handfull. Once the action arrived to my FFL Dealer, I was required to register it either as a handgun or a long gun. With these you could have a double barrel or even a drilling, but it's not a "revolver.". I think 20 guage is the limit of what could be reasonably handled, and even that may be too much. The LeMat was designed in 1855 (patent received in 1856). This new 10mm from FN is rugged, versatile, and effective. Wilderness Survival, Hiking and Camping Forum. I live in Boise, so there are a couple (small) firearms manufacturers in the area, and CCI is up in Lewiston. cylinder and rifled 6.75 octagonal barrel with 1:30 twist. However, with the advent of revolvers there was a rise in the sidearms soldiers and officers carried. I know they originally had problems with low qualitty steel which led to barrels busting, but we have higher quality materials now. The original LeMat revolver was a 9-shot cap & ball black powder revolver chambered in .42 caliber with a second single shot smooth bore barrel in .60 caliber (roughly the same as a modern 20 Gauge shotgun in dimension). Come join the discussion about collections, gear, DIY projects, hobbies, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Home; About EMF . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In combat, the firepower from the pistol barrel plus a hefty dose of blue whistlers from the 20-ga. smoothbore 6.75 round barrel made the LeMat a fearsome weapon to face. The cylinder held both .40 and .42 ammunition and a larger .60 caliber/20 gauge shotgun ammunition. Copyright var date = new Date(); document.write(date.getFullYear()) [store_name]. [3], LeMat originally chambered his pistol for .40 (or .42) caliber revolver bullets, with a .60 (20 gauge) smoothbore barrel, and had a jointed ramrod (mounted on the right-hand side of the frame), which was used to load both barrels. Fewer production numbers may be unflattering at the time of an invention, but it makes the guns rare. It would be a big heavy ungainly thing in anything modern vs a front stuffer. absolutely great handgun beautiful piece of history. The gun is a nice, solid example of a well-marked, functional 2nd Model LeMat with a nice Paris address. If Scott Kenny (this thread's OP) is fabricating a firearm "from scratch", i.e., not using pre-existing firearm component parts with serial numbers, then it's my understanding he can fabricate either a handgun or long gun in whatever caliber fancies him, as long as the characteristics of the firearm fall within the legal requirements designating either a handgun or long gun. hrm that'd make for a roughly 16" barrel for the pistol cartridges Might be able to chamber the beast for .454 Casull, since you'd be talking about a cylinder at least 2.5" in diameter anyway. This percussion revolver was designed by Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois LeMat, of New Orleans. Beauregard, who was to become a general with the Confederacy. The Le Mat shot barrel is fired by cocking the hammer and flipping down the hammer nose to strike the lower nipple for the barrel. The distinguishing characteristic of LeMats revolver is that its 9-shot .44 cylinder revolves around a separate central barrel of larger caliber than the chambers in the cylinder proper. Confederate gun runners were able to slip shipments of the gun through the Union naval blockade and it is estimated that about 2,500 made it into Confederate service. The LeMat Revolver was a .42 calibre revolver invented by Dr. Jean Alexandre of New Orleans. Nothing about Title II designation came up. All LeMat firearms are scarce and desirable, and this carbine is a particularly attractive example of the rare and lesser encountered LeMat centerfire carbines. If that is so, wonder why they let that R&D go to waste? Accepted Payment Methods: Returns: 3 Days Any of y'all know of a modern day LeMat style revolver that shoots smokeless powder/modern cartridges? A handful are known to have been made illegitimately in the UK by an unknown manufacturer, believed to be the London Armoury Company, but only two examples survive to the present day, and it is doubtful any of the English-made LeMats ever saw service during the U.S. Civil War.[7]. However, if youre unable to acquire or afford the original, reproductions are available from Pietta and EMF Company. The user of this pistol was able to switch between revolver and shotgun using a pivoting striker on the hammer. At least with rifle calibers. The Civil War-era LeMat revolver is one of those rare oddity weapons that is so rare, collectors might consider a modern reproduction model for two reasons: Not only does it cost much less than an original antique-you can fire it too. If you want a 20 ga shotgun in a pistol without it being considered a title II weapon, make the shotgun barrel a muzzle loader. A few years before the nuclear war broke out, people who loved the LeMat revolver made a model with modern improvements. Beauregard, who was to become a general with the Confederacy. It will also shoot .32 S&W short, .32 Colt short, .32 Colt long & .32 ACP. [4], top view showing the ramming rod parallel to the barrel and the lever of the pivoting striker, A close-up of the hammer on a LeMat Pinfire Revolver shows the pivoting striker that could be used to fire the pinfire cartridges in the revolving chambers or the secondary smoothbore barrel. The LeMat Revolver is a weapon featured in Red Dead Online and Red Dead Redemption 2. This weapon's high capacity allows for more shots between reloads and . Confederate Major General J. E. B. Stuart "was known to favor the LeMat revolver". Prototype .50 BMG pistols have been made. The drilling though was the opposite of a LeMat, typically featuring a double barrel shotgun with a single rifled barrel below, creating an upside-down triangle. Left side view of the centerfire Le Mat revolving carbine. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 64,557 ******. Trying to picture that. 1.1M views 8 years ago Colonel LeMat is best known for his 9-shot muzzleloading .42 caliber revolver with its 20 gauge shot barrel acting as cylinder axis pin - several thousand of these. LeMat revolvers were set apart from the common Colt and Starr revolvers of the day (1860s) by a single .68" bore smoothbore barrel affixed to the bottom of the main barrel, loaded with a charge of shot. 20 gauge won't work unless it is 18" long or an AOW. This is a great way to add a bit of "authenticity" to your pistol collection. If it were labeled in a shotgun gauge it would not be legal. Beauregard, roughly 2,900 were produced. Once I get the laptop fixed, time to write a letter to ATF, I guess. It saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861-65. The LeMat revolver is a very powerful but very slow . It saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 18611865 and the Army of the Government of National Defense during the Franco-Prussian War. This nine-shot revolver with a 20GA single-shot barrel was a favorite among Confederate cavalry officers. By It's the paperwork and the wait. The outbreak of the American Civil War provided a rare opportunity for all manner of weapons inventors and arms manufacturers to profit by offering their products to the war departments of either the Union or . that addresses what you've just written. [1][2], The distinguishing characteristic of LeMat's revolver is that its 9-shot cylinder revolves around a separate central barrel of larger caliber than the chambers in the cylinder proper. Stored in a silicone sock but has very LIGHT rust on some of the bluing. The LeMat was a private venture development begun in 1855 intended as a heavy weapon for mounted (cavalry) officers with design attributed to Dr. Jean Alexander Francois LeMat of New Orleans, Louisiana. What sets it apart from other revolver designs is the 20-gauge, .643+ diameter 5-7/8 smoothbore barrel, originally intended for firing buckshot. Just $1 per month , The LeMat fires a .42-caliber bullet from a rifled barrel, and 20-gauge from a second barrel below, By The cylinder is 9 shot .44 caliber. Been thinking about how to overcome the size of the center shotgun barrel with a cylinder revolving around it. Early second model French-made LeMat revolvers are even rarer to come across, making them extremely desirable for collectors. Yes, 12gauge would be more impressive, but last thing I want to have is a gun prone to kabooms because of poor design. per usual, it's not the NFA but the friggen ATF that plagues Americans with nefarious problems. The loading lever is mounted on the left side. What is the Mossberg "Just in Case" considered? Really? [5] General Beauregard's personal engraved LeMat, which he carried throughout the war, is preserved at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. An accurate reproduction of the first model LeMat, this Cavalry version has a nine-shot. The idea of a repeating firearm dates to the first handgun, known as a hand cannon. And it might be more than a 9-shot cylinder, since the cylinder would rotate around the shotgun barrel! What sets it apart from other revolver designs is the 20-gauge, .645 diameter 5-7/8 smoothbore barrel, originally intended for firing buckshot. Clear editor. Taylor's Firearms markets historical reproductions as well as guns designed for modern day shooters' needs in The New West. Unlike other wedge retained black powder revolvers, the Le Mat is . 90% of reviewers recommended this product. you can load cartridges in through the back. The closest I can think of would be the Judge and it's copycats, but I don't know of one that has the two barrels like the LeMat. The first models were manufactured by John Krider of Philadelphia, with the second model (the first overseas model) being produced by Charles Frederic Girard and Son of Paris. This is a 10 shot handgun, it fires nine .38 Short Colt cartridges and a single, brass shotgun shell in an underbarrel shotgun. I defer to superior knowledge citing cases and statutes. Dr. Jean Francois Alexander LeMat (1821-1895) was a New Orleans innovator and kindred spirit. Buy Vintage Navy Arms LeMat Cavalry Model Pistol: GunBroker is the largest seller of Black Powder Pistols & Muzzleloader Pistols Black Powder & Muzzleloaders All: 973461809 . But what about its design? Ste., 1-D, Santa Ana, CA 92705 | 800-430-1310 | 949-261-6611 | Fax 949-756-0133. Russian Slug Reload Accuracy With Fired Extra High Brass Hulls At The Range, Pistol Z Challenge: Franken Pistol: S&W Victory TandemKross Volquartsen: Sk Pistol match Special. The LeMat, however, married a legacy of repeating and multi-purpose arms to create, what he had hoped, would be the ultimate side arm of the military. Flipping the lever up caused the movable striker to fall upon the primer set directly under the hammer, discharging the lower barrel while leaving it in the standard position would fire the chambers in the cylinder, much like any other revolver. David lightly sands the checkering to simulate wear before the grips are stained dark and sealed with an oil finish. I'd like to see if it would be commercially viable for a company to make a carbine version and then the AOW version. I say imagine because I am not a ballistics expert, I'm just weird enough that I like math. He also replicates the original */LM proof mark stamps on the barrel using a die that was copied from rubbings taken off an original LeMat. It is one of the five Rare Weapons of the game. Now, I get that a Taurus Judge avoids the AOW/SBS definition by having a rifled barrel. Pietta literature claims it takes a 454 ball but don't belive it. But that means a smoothbore barrel. I am by no means an expert here. Handguns are the most common group of firearms. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Man in Black is seen reloading his LeMat by breaking the weapon in half (the barrel and cylinder assembly from the frame), showing that the pistol has a . (Photo by Alex Landeen) Soon, the Odin's Workshop gun arrived. Arthur can wield one handgun at the beginning of the game . It's been suggested more than once by people in the forums, and I figured it would make a great backup gun. The LeMat was popular in the day as you had 4 more shots than everybody else. My Lemat is one of the finest revolvers produced. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The Custom LeMat revolver is used by the Man in Black. The black-Powder Revolver is a faithful reproduction of the original LeMat revolver, also known as the Grape Shot Revolver., The mid-1800s were a time in American history that gave birth to a number of innovative firearm designs, including this truly unique sidearm, also known as the Grape Shot Revolver. Roughly 2,900 were produced, developed in New Orleans in 1856 by Dr. Jean LeMat and backed by Pierre G.T.