LeMat carbine

[major bill]

One of the rarer Confederate arms is the LeMat carbine. We are well aware of the LeMat revolvers but the carbine version is less known. Any thought on the use of these.

 

[UCVRelics]

There were only a little over a 100 made and I don't ever recall reading where they were really ever used during the CW. If they were it couldn't have been by many.

 

[zburkett]

My guess is they would have had the same problems as the revolving Colt's rifles. Neat carbine though.

 

[major bill]

Some claim they are from the Civil War. Perhaps from the Civil War era might be a better statement unless someone has information that some were used by the Confederacy.

 

[UCVRelics]

From Forgotten Weapons. I was wrong 200 were made
There is big debate as to its use in the Civil War, which seems silly to me. The gun was produced to a number of 200 hundred and all existing (18) are stamped with British proof stamp for Confederacy. While existing orders for the actual guns have not been found, there is a receipt from the Confederate Richmond Arsenal for the ammunition used by the LeMat carbine, suggesting that they may have been used. And truly, if put yourself in the builders' and Confederates' situation the gun was built (no question) and the Confederates would certainly have taken whatever was available. The documentation suggests that the Confederate government rejected the carbines on the basis of price, but a small number may well have been acquired by individuals or small units.