The LeMat is one of the most distinctive and famous of all 19th century revolvers thanks to unusual central smoothbore "grape shot" barrel plus its use by well-known Confederate military generals and officers including P. G. T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, and J. E. B. Stuart. They were designed by Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans but mainly manufactured in Liege, Belgium and Paris, France. Period advertisements for the revolvers refer to them as "LeMat's Grape Shot Revolvers." This revolver is a 2nd Model manufactured in Paris c. 1864-1865. This revolver is accompanied by a Confederate States Amory & Museum analysis of this revolver listing all of the markings found during a detailed takedown of the revolver and concluding: "This LeMat revolver is in excellent, original, untouched condition. It is missing one percussion nipple, which has broken off, leaving the base in place [since replaced]: the loading lever spring catch is a replacement: the remainder of the piece is completely original. The analysis indicates the cylinder, barrels, loading lever arm, loading lever plunger, grapeshot rammer rod, rammer assembly screw, frame locking bolt, frame, frame plate, hammer, trigger, grips, grip screw, trigger guard, and cylinder ratchet arm all have matching serial numbers and that there are "21" assembly numbers on the frame plate and back strap. The barrel is signed "Col Le Mat Bte s.g.d.g. Paris" on top with lined borders and entwining finials and has the "*/LM" mark on the right side ahead of the serial number. The included affidavit from Courtney B. Wilson states that this revolver was passed down through the Kenneth Breeder's family of Breeder Farm, Mt. Carmel Church, Hanover County, Virginia, and that the revolver and its holster were found in the attic of the farmhouse along with several rifles and "a large quantity of Confederate currency, which was discovered in an old trunk..." 'These items were discovered while the attic was being cleared out after the death of Kenneth Breeder's grandmother, Laura Mitchell Binford [name handwritten], who had lived with the Breeder family, and who had been alive during the War Between The States." A second document from Kenneth Breeder attests that Wilson's information is correct. However, there seems to be some confusion in the details as the affidavit states the revolver was given to Kenneth Breeder by his father, John C. Breeder, in 1936 on his 18th birthday, but Laura Mitchell Binford (1866-1945) was born just following the Civil War, would have still been alive in 1936, and does not appear to have a daughter married to a member of the Breeder family. However, Laura Mitchell Binford was the second wife of Captain William Johnson Binford (1846-1904) who is noted in his obituary as being raised on the family farm in Hanover County, Virginia. His parents both came from wealthy Virginia families. When he was 16 he enlisted as a private in the Hanover Troop of Cavalry aka The Hanover Light Dragoon which formed Company G of the 4th Virginia which fought under General J.E.B. Stuart for part of the war and fought in the Army of Northern Virginia in numerous battles, including Williamsburg, Second Bull Run, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, and in the Shenandoah Valley. Binford was wounded by a saber blow at Kelly's Ford and at Trevellian's by a shot through the body. After spending 8 months recovering, the obituary indicates General Fitzhugh Lee made him a chief of scouts until the end of the war when he returned to the family farm for six years. He later worked for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and was active in state politics. After his first wife died in 1892, he remarried to Laura Mitchell, daughter of James C. Mitchell of Richmond. Census records list the couple and their sons Ross and Norman as living with Laura's mother in 1900. In later Census records she was living with her son Ross. Information on a Private William A. Binford (relation unknown) of Company K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry (2nd Virginia Cavalry) is also included with a note wondering if he was a relative of Laura Mitchell Binford. He enlisted on January 20, 1864, at Prince Edwards Court House as a private and is listed as wounded on May 28, 1864, via a shot through the chest exiting between is 7th and 8th ribs on the right. He was paroled on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House. Provenance: The John C. Breeder Collection; The Horse Soldier; The Greg Lampe Collection

Fine with 30% plus original blue remaining on the barrel rings and cylinder and otherwise mostly smooth brown patina throughout, some isolated minor pitting, very and generally rather light overall wear and minimal signs of actual use. The grips are very fine and have crisp checkering and minor wear. Mechanically fine. This is definitely a very attractive Civil War Confederate Second Model LeMat revolver. These revolvers are very hard to come by.