Original LeMat

[Obi1gr]

...alright, 3 more LeMats to add to the database...or at least credit under the George Ruben collection:

Girards Patent 8483
Transitional 693
Transitional 591

 

[Texas Johnny]

...alright, 3 more LeMats to add to the database...or at least credit under the George Ruben collection:

Girards Patent 8483
Transitional 693
Transitional 591

Thank you! I added these three to the database. Any other information on them? Are they listed anywhere online? Thanks again!

 

[CWLeadManiac]

I found this beauty for sale from secondhandcollectibles on Ebay for only a $1500 starting bid!!!
Was "Denix" a Sothern company that produced Civil War pistols?? I can't find it in any of my references. ()

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I found this beauty for sale from secondhandcollectibles on Ebay for only a $1500 starting bid!!!
Was "Denix" a Sothern company that produced Civil War pistols?? I can't find it in any of my references. ()

as a reference, try the dictionary where you'll find the word "Denix" and "Dream on" and "Dumbkoff" all in the "D" category.

 

[Papabyrd]

This looks like those pot metal display gun. it does not look real.

 

[CWLeadManiac]

This looks like those pot metal display gun. it does not look real.

Exactly!! I was trying to be funny

 

[Texas Johnny]

Exactly!! I was trying to be funny

Before I got my original Lemat I bought a Denix replica. I did a lot of handgun talks and I used as a prop, when I spoke I told people it wasn't an original. That said as a replica it isn't too bad, many errors in it, but it worked for me until I was able to purchase an original.

 

[beepster]

I have Lemat serial #1937 and have a little history I have developed...would like to establish communication with other owners in the upper serial ranges who have history on their guns.

 

[Greshamian]

Mine has a clue to its history, but I have not been able to decipher it! Who was the "P & Co" who had it as a sample?

 

[JackADriscoll]

Mine has a clue to its history, but I have not been able to decipher it! Who was the "P & Co" who had it as a sample?View attachment 507844

Ask The Civil War Appraiser - LeMat Revolver

Originally published in Civil War News, May 2016, p. 32.

www.historicalpublicationsllc.com

Here's a write up on this type

 

[Obi1gr]

Ask The Civil War Appraiser - LeMat Revolver

Originally published in Civil War News, May 2016, p. 32.

www.historicalpublicationsllc.com

Here's a write up on this type

It's the same gun if you match the scratch in the picture posted against the one in the article

 

[JackADriscoll]

It's the same gun if you match the scratch in the picture posted against the one in the article

Oh snap good pull

 

[Greshamian]

It has been eight years since that article was published but P&Co is still a bit of a mystery. It is of no great consequence but it would be interesting to know.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

If you compare the photos in the linked article from 2016 with the photo of the same area in the current photo posted in this thread, you will see that someone decided to clean off that brown rust seen in the earlier photo, and that cleaning also took off the original blue that was in that area.
This is a good example the results of choices made about cleaning or changing an antique that has some areas that look bad - is it better to leave it alone, or to clean it some!
That's the classic collector's choice.

 

[CWLeadManiac]

If you compare the photos in the linked article from 2016 with the photo of the same area in the current photo posted in this thread, you will see that someone decided to clean off that brown rust seen in the earlier photo, and that cleaning also took off the original blue that was in that area.
This is a good example the results of choices made about cleaning or changing an antique that has some areas that look bad - is it better to leave it alone, or to clean it some!
That's the classic collector's choice.

View attachment 508047

View attachment 508048

View attachment 508049

I would've left it the way it was. It's got history and rust, scratch and dents all tell a story just like scars on people. But like you said, that's up to the individual.

 

[Greshamian]

I must apologise for the older photographs, they do not flatter the revolver. Nothing has, in fact, been done to the LeMat for the last 80 or 90 years beyond wiping with a soft cloth moistened with Rangoon oil. I attach another couple of recent pictures for comparison. This just shows how difficult it is to assess finish from pictures.

 

[CW Appraiser]

Ask The Civil War Appraiser - LeMat Revolver

Originally published in Civil War News, May 2016, p. 32.

www.historicalpublicationsllc.com

Here's a write up on this type

That's a good article I wrote in early 2016, I see editor updated it for online edition, and removed some of the photos of a March 2016 auction of Lemats. SN 1432 was in that sale and the finest 2nd model known, cased in English box & accessories but no British proofs, 1473 is close SN and also fine condition. I want to buy it

 

[CW Appraiser]

I have Lemat serial #1937 and have a little history I have developed...would like to establish communication with other owners in the upper serial ranges who have history on their guns.

1906
1910
1914
1916
1918
1919
1927
1928
1929
1931
1935
1937
1942
1945
1947
1948
1950
1952
1953
1955
1957
1960
1968
1971
1974
1978
1984
1987
1992
I have your LeMat in database (from Ed Simmons old list), but don't have any history. RIA just sold 1948 last week which did have family tie to LA militia unit, which is very plausible. Finding 2nd model LeMats with any history is rare. Please share what you have & I will add to database.

 

[beepster]

Here is what little I know about Lemat #1937:

-Purchased in TX 3/2023 and was told it came from a "Texas Collection".

-Lemat #1942 (just 5 digits removed) has been identified to J. Costa of 6th Texas Cavalry (per Doug Adams' book, "The Confederate
Lemat Revolver".

-Very likely contained in the final recorded shipment of Lemat revolvers delivered 7/27/1864 to port of Wilmington, NC by blockade runner "Lynx". These guns were likely serialized in the 1800-1900's. (from same book as above).

I was advised by RIA that #1948 did not sell at auction last week...

 

[Obi1gr]

you can add first model LeMat 280 as well as a transitional LeMat 99 to the list. 99 is certainly an interesting gun, from the back, it's a first model, but it has a 2nd model front end on it, and all the numbers are original and matching.