ULTRA-RARE BABY LEMAT PINFIRE REVOLVER.

ULTRA-RARE BABY LEMAT PINFIRE REVOLVER. SN 3188. Cal. About 9 mm pinfire cylinder and 12 mm percussion grapeshot bbl. According to the book LeMAT THE MAN, THE GUN, Forgett & Serpette, only about 1,000 pinfire LeMats were ever made in all sizes and types with extremely few being baby size. Having catalogued & appraised many LeMat revolvers & carbines of all types, this cataloguer believes it safe to say that fewer than 100 baby size LeMats were ever produced in all types including percussion, center fire & rim fire. This little revolver has a 4″ oct bbl with LeMat’s tall front sight and uses the groove in the hammer nose as a rear sight. It has a 9-shot fluted cylinder with the grapeshot bbl utilized as the cylinder arbor. Hammer nose is the central pivoting type with a long knurled spur. Grip frame is of the first model style with tapered sloping frame and checkered walnut panels. It has an integral steel grip cap with pivoting lanyard stud & ring. Trigger guard is attached with two screws and the trigger has the scallop & notch rear edge. There are various numbers found on different parts, but the number “1” assembly number is found on the bbl, cylinder and face of recoil shield. Right side of bbl is marked in block letters “COLL A. LEMAT BRte”. Left side of bbl has a crown over “Y” proof and a crown over “EL” proof. Rear bbl lug is secured to frame by a screw, not the usual friction pin and front bbl lug is threaded for the end of the grapeshot bbl. Face of cylinder has an identical crown over “Y” proof along with the “ELG” over a star in an oval Belgian proof. The rear bbl lug has a small detent just below the large opening which corresponds with indexing recesses in face of cylinder. It apparently was originally spring loaded but has since lost the spring and is easily removed with one’s finger. There is also a small engraved screw on right side of the rear lug, the purpose of which has not been determined, although it is likely that it would have held the retainer spring for the friction lock pin had there been one. The revolver is made without ejector or ramrod and no provision for mounting one. There is a spring-loaded loading gate in right recoil shield. CONDITION: Good to very good. Bbl retains traces of orig finish, mostly on rear lug with balance a cleaned bright metal finish with fine pitting. Cylinder retains about 70% strong orig blue with most of losses over four of chambers with fine pitting in that area, probably from laying in a holster. Frame retains strong case colors in sheltered areas, being mostly a bright metal color. Grips show light to moderate wear with strong checkering and a few chipped diamonds. Mechanics are fine, strong bright pistol bore with scattered pitting and strong bright grapeshot bore. 4-33827 JR304 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1421	$20,700.00	ULTRA-RARE BABY LEMAT PINFIRE REVOLVER. SN 3188. Cal. About 9 mm pinfire cylinder and 12 mm percussion grapeshot bbl. According to the book LeMAT THE MAN, THE GUN, Forgett & Serpette, only about 1,000 pinfire LeMats were ever made in all sizes and types with extremely few being baby size. Having catalogued & appraised many LeMat revolvers & carbines of all types, this cataloguer believes it safe to say that fewer than 100 baby size LeMats were ever produced in all types including percussion, center fire & rim fire. This little revolver has a 4″ oct bbl with LeMat’s tall front sight and uses the groove in the hammer nose as a rear sight. It has a 9-shot fluted cylinder with the grapeshot bbl utilized as the cylinder arbor. Hammer nose is the central pivoting type with a long knurled spur. Grip frame is of the first model style with tapered sloping frame and checkered walnut panels. It has an integral steel grip cap with pivoting lanyard stud & ring. Trigger guard is attached with two screws and the trigger has the scallop & notch rear edge. There are various numbers found on different parts, but the number “1” assembly number is found on the bbl, cylinder and face of recoil shield. Right side of bbl is marked in block letters “COLL A. LEMAT BRte”. Left side of bbl has a crown over “Y” proof and a crown over “EL” proof. Rear bbl lug is secured to frame by a screw, not the usual friction pin and front bbl lug is threaded for the end of the grapeshot bbl. Face of cylinder has an identical crown over “Y” proof along with the “ELG” over a star in an oval Belgian proof. The rear bbl lug has a small detent just below the large opening which corresponds with indexing recesses in face of cylinder. It apparently was originally spring loaded but has since lost the spring and is easily removed with one’s finger. There is also a small engraved screw on right side of the rear lug, the purpose of which has not been determined, although it is likely that it would have held the retainer spring for the friction lock pin had there been one. The revolver is made without ejector or ramrod and no provision for mounting one. There is a spring-loaded loading gate in right recoil shield. CONDITION: Good to very good. Bbl retains traces of orig finish, mostly on rear lug with balance a cleaned bright metal finish with fine pitting. Cylinder retains about 70% strong orig blue with most of losses over four of chambers with fine pitting in that area, probably from laying in a holster. Frame retains strong case colors in sheltered areas, being mostly a bright metal color. Grips show light to moderate wear with strong checkering and a few chipped diamonds. Mechanics are fine, strong bright pistol bore with scattered pitting and strong bright grapeshot bore. 4-33827 JR304 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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