The Le Mat revolver was invented and patented by Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois Le Mat of New Orleans in 1857. Production took place in Liege, Belgium, Paris, France and Birmingham, England. The unique Le Mat Revolver featured a conventional .42 caliber revolver barrel with 9-shot cylinder and a 16 gauge shotgun barrel mounted directly below it. The barrels were selected by shifting the hammer nose up or down with a lever attached to the nose. Le Mat revolvers were popular with Confederate officers during the Civil War. The most famous Le Mat owner was General J.E.B. Stuart. The Le Mat revolvers were initially manufactured in Paris, France. Later models were manufactured in England and featured London markings. This revolver is a Second Model Le Mat with the loading lever located on the left side of the revolver barrel. The top barrel flat is marked: "LEMAT & GIRARD'S PATENT LONDON". Birmingham proofmarks are stamped on the upper left barrel flat, the bottom of the lower barrel and on the cylinder between each chamber. The serial number "8545" is on the right barrel flat, right side of the frame below the cylinder and on the cylinder. The bottom of the lower barrel is also marked "18". It has a sliding pin barrel/frame connection and is fitted with checkered two piece walnut grips with a Fleur-de-Lis proof on left raised, smooth panel. The front end of frame, back of the cylinder and inside face of the barrel boss are marked with the assembly number "599". Inspector or assembly number "02" is also found on the front of the frame and on rear of cylinder. This revolver, while not documented as a specific Confederate used sidearm, is only 39 numbers away from a known Confederate revolver, serial number 8584, which was used by Lt. Simeon Cummings of the C.S.S. Alabama to commit suicide or accidentally shoot himself on board the Alabama while in port in South Africa. This story is related in "LeMat The Man The Gun", Forgett & Serpette. Complete in an early pine casing that may or may not be original to this revolver. It has coarse green wool fabric lining that appears to be period. Compartmented in bottom for revolver, an original LeMat brass bullet mold with sprue cutter for a conical bullet and two small round balls. It also has a small decorative brass and copper flask, what appears to be a maple handled original nipple wrench with half of original ebony cap and a turned maple tamping rod for the shot barrel. It is generally accepted that the London LeMats are Confederate firearms.

Fine, all numbers are matching. The barrel retains approximately 75% of the original bright high polished blue with flaked areas a smooth brown patina. The cylinder retains 70% original blue mixed with smooth brownish patina. One percussion nipple is missing, the remaining eight are very good with some minor flash pitting. The frame has flaked to a smooth brown patina with strong traces of original blue. The grips are excellent showing light wear with crisp checkering and retaining most of their original oil finish. The loading lever has a welded repair on the angle portion of the screw attachment on the left side of the barrel. The period case (see above) is good with a couple of cracks in lid and another in bottom and shows heavy wear. Interior is faded with moth damage inside lid with wear and soil in bottom. Flask is fine, mold is very fine. A rare set that would fit into any Civil War or Confederate collection.