US Civil War .32" Caliber BABY LeMat Revolvers:

The .42" cap'n'ball LeMats with the 20 gauge shot barrel in the middle have a confusing history of variations. Around 2,900 only were built in France for the Confederate Forces in the American Civil War 1861 to 1865. Designed by Jean Alexandre LeMat 1856 in New Orleans - around only 100 of the first model were made in Philadelphia plus maybe a handful of samples were actually built later in England - likely by the London Armory Company.

 Known as "Grape Shot Revolvers" these "open top" guns were shipped from Paris to the Southern States via England - where they were all proof tested and marked with British proof marks.

Scary Huh? - A big bore Double Barreled Revolver in Southern hands.

These nine shot +1 cap'n'ball revolvers went through several variations:

LeMat Improved Second Model:

Such as this TRANSITIONAL MODEL above:

Then there's This PINFIRE Version above:

and the final, very different 11 mm CENTERFIRE MODEL:

All reputed to be deadly weapons at close range - despite being poorly balanced and heavyweight .. however there's another variation that is much handier to use - but is even more rare:

The BABY LE MAT was designed for the Confederate Navy and is sensibly downsized while still having nine chambers plus the shot barrel - it is in .32" caliber with the central shot barrel bore measuring .41" rather than the full sized .63"

Engraved Second Model Black Powder 'cap'n'ball BABY LEMAT:

- A quick check to confirm that the image is of a 'Baby' .. the rammer extender in the heel is needed to load the baby's center shot barrel.

This Confederate Navy 'Baby' model was too slow being delivered - leading to cancellation of the order when only 100 had been made in France. But they are probably a much better weapon than the bigger original New Orleans designed guns.

As usual Ian McCollum knows how to review this handgun properly without any crappy music.

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/confederate-baby-lemat/

Marty K.