LeMat Revolver
LeMat · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1861
Also known as: Grape Shot Revolver, LeMat Grapeshot Revolver
Overview
The LeMat Revolver is a nine-shot cap-and-ball percussion revolver designed by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans. Its nine-round .42-caliber cylinder revolves around a central 16-gauge smoothbore barrel that serves as the cylinder axis pin, giving the shooter a tenth 'grape shot' load of buckshot. A hinged nose on the hammer selects between the rifled revolver barrel and the central shotgun barrel. Roughly 2,900 were built in Europe for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, making it one of the most distinctive sidearms of the conflict.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1410 g (49.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1860 g (65.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 356 mm (14.02") |
| Barrel Length | 172 mm (6.77") |
| Action Type | Single Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 9 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 190 m/s (623 fps) |
| Effective Range | 37 m (40 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 91 m (100 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .42 Cap and Ball · primary — also known as .42 caliber percussion, .42 ball, .44 reproduction
- 16 Gauge — also known as 16 bore, buckshot
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder, Single Shot Smoothbore Barrel
- Features: Percussion Cap Ignition, Nine Shot Revolving Cylinder, Underslung Smoothbore Shotgun Barrel, Hammer Nose Barrel Selector, Grapeshot Capability
Service history
Operators
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 2,900 · Production years: 1856-1865
About 2,900 produced in France, Belgium and England; only roughly half are believed to have reached Confederate hands through the Union naval blockade
Origin
Country of origin: France
Designer: Jean Alexandre LeMat
Discontinued: 1865
Notes
Often called the 'Grape Shot Revolver.' Most pistols used a .42-caliber main cylinder, though .36-caliber examples exist; the central barrel is typically cited as 16-gauge (some sources say 18 to 20 gauge). Total capacity is 9 revolver shots plus 1 shotgun blast. Black powder and percussion cap only.
Background
The LeMat was the personal sidearm of Confederate generals J.E.B. Stuart and P.G.T. Beauregard, the latter being LeMat's cousin by marriage, who lent his name to promote the design. With nine pistol balls and a blast of buckshot on tap, it offered unmatched close-range firepower for its era, though its weight and complexity kept it from outselling simpler Colt and Remington designs.