The LeMat "grapeshot” revolver was a highly prized sidearm among Confederate officers. There were less than 3,000 made for the Confederacy. It was a very high quality firearm and delivered an unprecedented amount of firepower having nine .42 caliber charges rotating around one .63 or 18 gauge shotgun barrel. The hammer could be converted from striking the revolving pistol caps to striking the central shotgun cap with the flick of a thumb.

The weapon offered here is a Second Model. The most recognizable differences between the First and Second Models are the lack of a spur trigger guard, swivel lanyard ring on a Second Model, and having a left side mounted loading lever assembly. The revolver is well marked. The barrel reads "LEMAT & GIRARD’S PATENT LONDON” Serial number 8426 is stamped into the pistol barrel, the frame, the cylinder, the shotgun barrel, the frame extension and the loading lever. The cylinder has the additional numbers 443 and 7 stamped into its back face. The shotgun barrel is also stamped 18.

The revolver’s action works perfectly. The grips are solid but the checkering is well worn. The whole gun looks well used, but not abused. Only traces of the finish remain.

The London LeMats are considered late War Confederate purchases but only limited numbers reached the Confederacy before the fall. The only London LeMat I could find to be documented in Confederate hands was on the Alabama. Serial number 8484 London LeMat, 58 numbers after this example, belonged to Lt. Simeon Cummings of the Confederate Raider C.S.S. Alabama (reference page 189 of the book "LeMat, The Man, The Gun" by Forgett and Serpette).