FINE AND RARE EARLY PRODUCTION LEMAT REVOLVER

FINE AND RARE EARLY PRODUCTION LEMAT REVOLVER. SN 16. Cal .42/16ga, 7-1/2″ bbl. The LeMat story is among the most intriguing of American & Confederate gun manufacture. P. G. T. Beauregard, an American Officer from New Orleans and later Confederate General, was the original driving force on the manufacture of these guns from his friend & relative, Col. Alexander LeMat. Two trial guns were made by John Krider of Philadelphia that are known and so marked. Krider No. 1 LeMat is in the Liege Belgium Museum and has Auguste Francotte’s mark on the stock as does this gun. Francotte apparently modeled his guns from Kriders. There are only six known, and the gun presented here is possibly the finest specimen. Prior to Confederate production of the LeMat revolvers in France and later in England, and prior to the Civil War, in May of 1859 then Maj. Beauregard placed an ad which ran in several New Orleans newspapers attempting to market these guns in which Beauregard was a partner in the company. This gun is, in our opinion, most probably one such gun contracted by Francotte for this market. Alain Serpette, in his book collaborated with Val Forgett, lists this model as USA 1859 model in his French language 1995 text on LeMats. There is one known specimen identical to this which was presented as a Christmas present to a Maine soldier in 1863. This gun presented to Capt. John Conley of the 16th Maine was quite possibly taken from captured New Orleans and sent north as a present by a relative or another Maine soldier stationed in the Gulf. Regardless of history of this gun, it is in beautiful condition, retaining most all of its orig finish. Every major part is marked with various proofs, most with Francotte’s mark either an “AF” or an “AF” below a crown. On bottom of bbl above shotgun bbl there are two identical maker marks “A. FRANCOTTE / A. LIEGE”. Serial number or assembly number “16” is found on shotgun bbl & back of cyl. A roman numeral “VI” is found inside left stock. Internally, on trigger guard and back of frame are the initials “GC”. There is a Liege black powder proof externally on cyl. There is an unknown stamp inside trigger guard between stocks “NR / 309”. No further disassembly was attempted to find other assembly or serial numbers. This is a beautiful gun and we do not know of one ever coming to auction before. CONDITION: Gun retains 90 – 95% of its orig bright blue finish on bbls and frame & 50% bright blue finish on cyl with remainder being mostly plum. Hammer is finished bright, retains most of its orig shine with areas of staining. Hammer is missing selector tip for shotgun bbl. Brass backstrap & trigger guard retain about 20% of their orig silver plating with the balance a mustard yellow patina. Mechanically, gun functions well. Action is crisp and bore exhibits bright, well-defined rifling. 4-44914 JS32 (60,000-90,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2408	$69,000.00	FINE AND RARE EARLY PRODUCTION LEMAT REVOLVER. SN 16. Cal .42/16ga, 7-1/2″ bbl. The LeMat story is among the most intriguing of American & Confederate gun manufacture. P. G. T. Beauregard, an American Officer from New Orleans and later Confederate General, was the original driving force on the manufacture of these guns from his friend & relative, Col. Alexander LeMat. Two trial guns were made by John Krider of Philadelphia that are known and so marked. Krider No. 1 LeMat is in the Liege Belgium Museum and has Auguste Francotte’s mark on the stock as does this gun. Francotte apparently modeled his guns from Kriders. There are only six known, and the gun presented here is possibly the finest specimen. Prior to Confederate production of the LeMat revolvers in France and later in England, and prior to the Civil War, in May of 1859 then Maj. Beauregard placed an ad which ran in several New Orleans newspapers attempting to market these guns in which Beauregard was a partner in the company. This gun is, in our opinion, most probably one such gun contracted by Francotte for this market. Alain Serpette, in his book collaborated with Val Forgett, lists this model as USA 1859 model in his French language 1995 text on LeMats. There is one known specimen identical to this which was presented as a Christmas present to a Maine soldier in 1863. This gun presented to Capt. John Conley of the 16th Maine was quite possibly taken from captured New Orleans and sent north as a present by a relative or another Maine soldier stationed in the Gulf. Regardless of history of this gun, it is in beautiful condition, retaining most all of its orig finish. Every major part is marked with various proofs, most with Francotte’s mark either an “AF” or an “AF” below a crown. On bottom of bbl above shotgun bbl there are two identical maker marks “A. FRANCOTTE / A. LIEGE”. Serial number or assembly number “16” is found on shotgun bbl & back of cyl. A roman numeral “VI” is found inside left stock. Internally, on trigger guard and back of frame are the initials “GC”. There is a Liege black powder proof externally on cyl. There is an unknown stamp inside trigger guard between stocks “NR / 309”. No further disassembly was attempted to find other assembly or serial numbers. This is a beautiful gun and we do not know of one ever coming to auction before. CONDITION: Gun retains 90 – 95% of its orig bright blue finish on bbls and frame & 50% bright blue finish on cyl with remainder being mostly plum. Hammer is finished bright, retains most of its orig shine with areas of staining. Hammer is missing selector tip for shotgun bbl. Brass backstrap & trigger guard retain about 20% of their orig silver plating with the balance a mustard yellow patina. Mechanically, gun functions well. Action is crisp and bore exhibits bright, well-defined rifling. 4-44914 JS32 (60,000-90,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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