| Name | Street | Town | State | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Mat, Alexandre | New Orleans | Louisiana | 1856 |
| Patent | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 15,925 | October 21,1856 | Revolver view patent To note that William Billinghurst manufactured a Miller Patent Rifle with a shotugn barrel as cylinder arbor already in 1852. 4 years earlier as Le Mat's claim. |
| 16,124 | October 21,1856 | Lock for Ordnance view patent |
| 24,312 | June 7, 1859 | Hammer for Fire-Arms view patent |
| 97,780 | December 14, 1869 | Revolving Fire-Arms, assigned to Charles Pietroni, London, England view patent |
| Contract | for |
|---|---|
| Product |
|---|
|
P.G.T. Beauregard (later General in the Civil War) assisted in developing manufacture and sales.
John Krider of Philadelphia is believed to have manufactured the first (25?) prototypes of
Le Mat's revolvers in 1859. Except for prototypes and the model revolver perhaps 300 revolvers have been made in New Orleans prior to the Civil War by a certain Baguet. The others were made in England or France. It is said, that during the Civil War about 900 revolvers were shipped to the Confederate Army and 600 to their Navy. Due to the Southern Naval Blockade shippment was don through Bermuda. Known owners of LeMats are: - General Stonewall Jackson with No. 2 but this seems not being confirmed so far - Thomas Henderson with No. 8 - the gun was first owned by Beuregard and presented by him to his friend Henderson in 1862, sold in 2016 for $224,250 - Major General John Lawson Lewis with No. 88 - General J. E. B. Stuart with No. 115 - Major Henry Wirz with No. 189 - General P.G. T. Beauregard with No. 427 - at the Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA .32 caliber percussion, 9 shot single action recolver, the cylinder rotates around an 1 shot buckshot barrel in .41 caliber. However, against of the standard LeMats this buckshot barrel is rifled and not smoothbore. It is named the "Baby" LeMat. These revolvers would have been made in Great Britain under contract for the confederate Navy. Production was very slow and the contract was cancelled when even the first shipment have not been receiver. It is believed that 100 guns were made in 1861. In spite of the revoked contract they still were delivered and inspected to a Confederate representative in London and finally agreed by the CSA. .35 caliber percussion, 9 shot single action revolver, the cylinder rotates around an 1 shot buckshot barrel. which is .55 caliber (some said .50 caliber) or 28 gauge smoothbore. CSA LeMat. .40 caliber percussion, 9 shot single action revolver, the cylinder rotates around an 1 shot buckshot barrel, the buckshot barrel was .60 to .63 smoothbore. .42 caliber percussion, 9 shot single action revolver, the cylinder rotates around an 1 shot buckshot barrel, which is .60 caliber smoothbore (16 gauge) up to .63 caliber (18 gauge) charged with 11 to 15 buckshot or a 406 grain ball. This is the standard LeMat gun configuration. .42 caliber, right side Overall production was about 2900 revolvers. Used during the Civil War. The owners of LeMat revolvers in .35, .40 or .42 calibers were confronted to make their bullets or amunition themselves as the standard calibers of that time was .36 or .44. Therefore the later LeMats were were also produced in this calibers. Le Mat carbine Carbine, right side Confederate Le Mat Confederate, right side Confederate, 1st Model, right side Confederate, transition 1st Model, right side Confederate, 2nd Model, right side |
