Horst Held   =   Antique Handguns

  e-mail   held@ectisp.net
phone  972-351-8852           fax  972-775-3553
541 Lynnie Pennie Lane              Midlothian, Texas 76065

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Col. Le Mat - Jean François Alexander Le Mat
 Støckel:  born 1824 in Paris, moved 1840 to New Orleans, receives 1856 patent for his revolver where the base / cylinder pin is also used as a buckshot barrel. The revolvers started to be made 1859/1860 by Dr. Girard, Paris.

V. Forgett, Alain and Marie Serpette, Le Mat, The Man, The Gun, page 162: Belgian patent Feb. 16, 1869 for Center Fire Hammer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The last variation of the Le Mat revolvers based on a 1869 patent, serial # 25. While the upper barrel is for a cartridge caliber 12mm, the centre barrel is for 20 gauge buckshot. The cartridge barrel is octagonal with a fixed front sight, the shot barrel is round, both are 4 ⅝” long. The lower barrel firing pin centrally mounted in a slot in the hammer with a rear facing lever that flips forward to fire. The top of the barrel is marked Colonel Le Mat Patent. The face of the cylinder is marked with a "25", mandatory Belgian oval ELG proof stamp and crown P. There is a short ejector rod mounted on the right side of the frame. Under the frame is a lanyard ring and swivel stud mounted on the bottom of the frame directly ahead of the trigger guard. The stud is stamped with the # "25", also the inside of the loading gate is the # 25. Frame notch rear sights, swinging loading gate for the cylinder mounted on the recoil shield and hinge loading gate for the lower barrel mounted on the left side of the frame with RD. With smooth two piece walnut grips.
As fashionable at the period the metal was kept in the white, the metal surfaces have been cleaned bright with a small amount of minor pitting on the rear of the frame, breech end of the barrels and on the cylinder. The grips are good with dents on the bottom and overall a few scattered minor dents and dings. The markings are clear and crisp. Mechanically in excellent working  order and in very good condition.
one of the heaviest revolvers and extremely rare    sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lemat revolver for center fire cartridge,  mandatory Belgian ELG proof stamp documenting made in Belgium. The serial #146  is on frame, cylinder and barrel. The caliber of the cylinder is 11mm, the than popular French 11m  Ordnance of the army model 1874 fits well, the buck shot is 15mm = .60, probably 20 gauge short. The revolver is as fashionable at the time kept in the white, the function is perfect.
Very fine condition     sold

 

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