12mm LE MAT REVOLVER

Research notes

This unique revolver was designed by Dr. Jean Alexander Francois LeMat of Louisiana for the Confederate Army, who developed a uniquely powerful revolver that combined a 9-shot cylinder firing a .42cal (approx 12mm) cartridge centered around a .63cal (approx 20 gauge) shotgun barrel. By flipping a lever on top of the hammer, the shooter could change between a revolver or a shotgun, giving a cavalry soldier a devastating 10 shot weapon. The gun was massive, weighing almost 3.5 pounds and almost 14 inches long. The first model LeMat was produced in Belgium from around 1862 with second model produced in France from around 1864 onwards. Final production was moved to England but that happened at the end of the Civil War, so very few, if any of the English manufactured guns ended up in the Confederate Army. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 175B).