The Several Models

The Several Models
LeMats break down into models with the following general details:
First Model, First type Serial Numbers: 1-456.
Barrel: Half octagon, usually 7 inches long.
Guard: Spur.
Loading Lever: Right side of barrel.
Swivel: Separate in butt cap.
Hammer: Nose has two protective pegs, one each side; back curve smooth.
Barrel latch: Thumb type, pivoted in barrel lug.
Barrel marks: LeMat’s Patent
Col. LeMat’s Patent
Col. LeMat Bte. s.g.d.g. Paris
First Model, Second Type Serial Numbers: Up to 450-460.
Barrel Latch: Finger type, pivoted front of lower frame and notching into barrel leg.
Hammer: Pegs but back curve has upturn or “hook” profile.
Transition Model Serial Numbers: 450-950.
Barrels: Half octagon; full octagon; 7"; 6%
Guard: Spur.
Loading Lever: Right side compound; left side simple type. Swivel: Separate in butt; cast integral with butt frame. Hammer: Smooth side, no pegs; back curve has upturn.
Barrel latch: Finger, pivoted in frame.
Barrel marks: Col. LeMat’s Patent
Col. LeMat Bte. s.g.d.g. Paris Col. Lemat Bte. s.g.d.g. Paris
Second Model Serial Numbers: About 950-2500.
Barrel: Full octagon, 6-7/8".
Guard: Round (may find spur type also).
Loading lever: Left side of barrel. Plunger screwed to groove in lever moving arm; simple type.
Swivel: Cast integral with butt frame.
Hammer: Smooth side, rear upturn.
Barrel latch: Knob screw pin. Barrel lug new shape to accommodate.
Barrel marks: Col. LeMat Bte. s.g.d.g. Paris Syst. LeMat Bte s.g.d.g. Paris Systeme LeMat Bte. s.g.d.g. Paris SYSTme LEMAT Bte. s.g.d.g. PARIS (Birmingham proof)
LeMat & Girard’s Patent, London (Birmingham Proof)
Second Model, Second Type Cylinder Retard: Has spring screwed frame left side that retards too rapid throw of cylinder.
Loading Lever: Left side, new simple style, of flat lever arm, not round. All foregoing have round lever arm for shot plunger inside.
Barrel: May have screw-in extension for rifled or smoothbore tube.
Rifle
Loading lever: Left side.
Shotgun Rod: Right side in thimbles.
Barrels: 38" long, both shot and rifled. Rifled barrel is half octagon and half round. Shot barrel to muzzle.
Guard: Special shotgun type, flat in front.
Butt: Shotgun style.
Small details distinguish or individualize many LeMats. In the Val Forgett, Jr., collection, four LeMats show interesting variations, though all conform to the correct pattern for serial numbers, allowing for production overlap in serial numbering.
The earliest is a Model 1, Type 1, with thumb latch on the barrel lump and spur guard, “Army” model. Right side compound lever, of course; serial high for the type, No. 456. Distinctive is an irregular notch cut in the side plate with a corresponding shape of the frame, to help hold the plate in place. This is not uniform in all guns and suggests two things about LeMat production facilities. First, that considerable shaping of major parts was done by individual craftsmen with files. Secondly, that no fundamental attempt at interchangeability was planned, though major components such as barrels and cylinders will more or less interchange.
Forgett’s next LeMat is marked on the short octagon breech of its half-round barrel, “Col Le Mat Bte sgdg Paris.” The swivel is separate, but the turned barrel and loading lever placed on left side, as well as framepivoted latch, style this one a Transition model: serial No. 478. No frame-sideplate joint notch. Hammer nose has lugs. Spur “Army” guard.
Still in the Transition series, but with solid swivel lug is the next Forgett gun, No. 803, “Army” spur guard. Instead of lugs, the hammer movable nose piece has a spur sticking up through the blade of the hammer, so the shooter’s finger can move it quickly into firing position for the shot barrel. The barrel is engraved in Old English, capital and lower case letters, with “Col LeMat Bte s.g.d.g. Paris.” A loading lever catch was placed on the barrel forward of the shot bore positioning ring. This catch is a spring hook, not very permanent, and often damaged.
The last gun in the Forgett group is serial No. 943, and still a transition model, tending to bracket correctly the figure set forth by M. Clifford Young (American Arms Collector, July, 1957) as to range of numbers for the Model 2, from 950 up to 2500. Without a lever safety catch or spring, its barrel is engraved identical (by hand) to No. 803. The butt is moulded with a solid swivel base; spur “Army” guard. The sideplate is fitted to the frame by a variant of the notch seen on gun No. 456: this one has a groove filed in the sideplate top edge with a tongue integral with the frame.
Examples of the rounded guard gun appear in the higher serials. One such in the Robert Abel’s collection bears the surcharging of 1763. t. mercott, 68 haymarket London sw in one line on the right side of the shot barrel. Serial 2412, this bears clearly the usual LeMat factory stamp of M the right breech of the octagon barrel. With the “Navy” round guard, this model is marked systme lemat bte sgdg Paris but is Birmingham proved. Bearing so high a serial number, it suggests either that LeMat delivered the last of the lot to London gun shops when the Confederacy’s chances ran out, or that the gun was resold later by T. Mercott, he having possibly purchased it from some member of the late Confederate States Navy interned in London at the end of the War. Mercott is not listed in the usual compilations of London gunsmiths and gunmakers. One LeMat, with extension shot barrel, has a Tranter-type lever at left. Big LeMats are scarce enough. Whether the several are remaining items of regular production, prototype samples, remains for some later researcher to find out. Somewhere in France may remain records to tell us the full story of Dr. Jean A. F. LeMat and his formidable Confederate revolvers.

Distinctive “Baby LeMat” No. 35 in William Bacon collection, Richmond, was bought from Yankee gun collector dealers by present owner but where it fits into LeMat story is unknown. Though marked “Systeme” on barrel gun was not a contract-made piece but actually was made by LeMat and barrel side is marked star/LM.