THR Lemat club

[bprevolver]

Did you know that Pietta made the LeMat with with both a plain cylinder (early models) and an engraved cylinder? Did you also know that they were available with case hardened frames? There were also some fully engraved models and models in the white engraved but not readily available in the U.S. Little tid bits for the collector.

 

[col.lemat]

LeMats



Some of my confederate pistols.

 

[snidervolley]

lemat carbine

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=248762696

 

[snidervolley]

lemat carbine

heres a shot

 

[snidervolley]

other side of first carbine made to match patent dwg from 1861

 

[jolasa]

Purchased Pietta LeMat from Cabelas. I was aware of the shotgun cap misfire situation, but I see another problem.

I put a cap on the shotgun nipple, lower the swivelling hammer down, cock the hammer, pull the trigger. The hammer hits the shotgun cap, the cap does not fire, but then the hammer swivels up and returns to the "up" and then continues on to hit a nipple on the cylinder. So I sent this back to Cabelas and ordered a replacement.

The replacement does the SAME thing, shotgun cap misfires, hammer rotates up and hits the cylinder nipples.

Can I fix this? Or do I need to go to a gunsmith? Or should I just send it back again and give up on LeMats?

Any gunsmiths reading this?

Jon

 

[col.lemat]

LeMat fix

The Cavalry model is the most accerate of the reproductions as far as following the original design. The barrel locking lever is the biggest complaint. It was not made correctly and springs open when it should spring closed. The shotgun barrel nipple usually needs a slight modification for reliable ignition + I only use Remmington caps as I had misfires with CCI brand of caps. As far as cap size, I have found differnt sized nipples on the differnt model guns. Some are 11's while other are 10's = Use what fits the best

 

[jolasa]

Finally got to the range after Col LeMat made some excellent repairs so that the shotgun caps would fire, barrel could be removed easily, machined the barrel securing latch to work better, etc. (contact Col LeMat via this Forum - click on col. lemat in message above and send him an email or private message).

Firing cylinder rounds, no problems also. Used 20 grains of Swiss FFFg (with 25 grains, I could not get enough leverage on the loading handle to push the ball below the level of the top of the cylinder, so guess I will just use 20 grains under the 0.451” balls). I am using a lubricated wad about 1/8” thick which may be the problem with 25 grains in the cylinders to raise the ball too high (not deep enough in the cylinder holes).

And I got some ¼” cork, and cut some wads with a 5/8” cutter for the shotgun. Shotgun, as recommended by Col LeMat, 40 grains FFFg, then add a 1/4" cork wad, then add 1.5 oz. # 4 buckshot (about 33 of the 0.24" balls), then add a final 1/4" cork wad. Used remington # 11 blackpowder caps.

The pistol now works fine overall: fired shotgun 5 times, fired the first time every time; fired 4 full cylinders of 0.451" balls.

One minor problem, the loading handle still pops up when firing the shotgun with 40 grains of Swiss FFFg and 1.5 oz of # 4 buckshot, so guess I will use a loop of rawhide to tie it down each time like they used to do.

FUN STUFF!

 

[Indy4570]

I wish I could afford to join this club! been a fan of the Le Mat for many years.

 

[col.lemat]

LeMats

Cabelas raised their prices some months ago to about $850 on sale?
Dixie Gunworks is now the cheepest priced at $825.
I noticed Dixie lowered their prices some more last week for their Christmas sale.
Also I think there is one on Gunbroker with no reserve at $600

 

[Indy4570]

I just dropped about $550 for A NIB Uberti Walker with a spare cylinder and a shorty 1858 remmy from Cabelas. I buy anything else right now and I will be sleepin outside with the horse and the mule!

 

[JDBoardman]

Count me in as a new member. I just acquired a "Navy" LeMat. In my case, the purchase of this fine revolver was not only inevitable, but virtually required. I am a direct lineal descendant of Gen'l P.G.T. Beauregard, inherited the sword he was given at Graduation from West Point in 1838, which I carried as a Company Grade officer in the 1960's, so it became essential that I complement my cutlery with this firearm which he did much to promote.

 

[col.lemat]

spare cylinders

I still have a few spare cylinders left if any one is interested. 2 used in the blue engraved, 1 in the white no engraving that can be blued. $150. ea + postage.
Have several spare rammers complete, Pietta manufractured, plus some other small parts.
Should have heavy duty rammers by months end, manufractured to Lemat's origional specs for those of you who have bent their Pietta ones like i did.

 

[runs.for.beer]

Spare Cylinder Feedback

I was lucky enough to pick up one of the Col. Cylinder's and I am quite glad I did. It is quite nice to load two at a time on a loading stand.

I am looking forward to getting one o the heavy duty loading levers when they become available.

 

[JDBoardman]

Went to the range for the first time yesterday after work - what a hoot. Recoil with the revolver cylinders was no big deal (25 gr. fffg, .454 ball) but the shotgun barrel - well that's another kettle of fish (45 gr fffg, 9 .32 balls). My question now is how do I get the shotty barrel loose for cleaning. I know it is threaded but mine won't come loose. All 10 nipples came out with no problem, but that dang big tube just won't come loose. Should I use a strap wrench maybe, or just leave well enough alone.

This sucker is surprisingly accurate as a revolver - easy 4" groups "duelist style" at 17 yards, and the shotgun is certainly intimidating, if not very long range. Besides, you can always run away ('strategically advance in a retrograde direction') behind the smokescreen.

 

[lionrobe77]

Hi all, as french owner of a Lemat, let me show you original photos I made of the graveyard of Dr Lemat, buried near Eiffel tower (?) cemetary of Passy :

-

and some pics extracted from french comics :

- -



-

BTW do you know Alain Serpette and his books about Lemat ?

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Howdy from Bandera, Texas. I havn't seen a post here fir some time. I just scored a brand new 20 year old Pietta Le Mat at a local gun show for barely $200 U.S. Do these things really go for like $1,000 Euros over in Europe.

 

[PRD1]

FWIW...

a friend bought a LeMat repro from Cabellas a while back. It looked good and we shot it with fair results.
Recently, I borrowed it as a companion piece for a 'movie LeMat' (a crudely-made simulation probably from Mexico, which would fire blank charges, but did not have the mechanism to automatically rotate the cylinder, etc.) which I wanted to show-and-tell at a meeting of the Historical Arms Society of Tucson.
I discovered that the manufacturer of the Cabellas repro had overlooked a minor detail in producing the gun: the .44 barrel was unrifled. It was smooth reamed, but had never had any rifling in the bore.
Cabellas refused to make it good, and there appears to be no interest in doing so by the manufacturer.
If you buy one from Cabellas, check it closely.

PRD1 - mhb - Mike

 

[FiveStrings]

Lionrobe thank you for an excellent post. I really enjoyed the comics.

 

[WardenWolf]

a friend bought a LeMat repro from Cabellas a while back. It looked good and we shot it with fair results.
Recently, I borrowed it as a companion piece for a 'movie LeMat' (a crudely-made simulation probably from Mexico, which would fire blank charges, but did not have the mechanism to automatically rotate the cylinder, etc.) which I wanted to show-and-tell at a meeting of the Historical Arms Society of Tucson.
I discovered that the manufacturer of the Cabellas repro had overlooked a minor detail in producing the gun: the .44 barrel was unrifled. It was smooth reamed, but had never had any rifling in the bore.
Cabellas refused to make it good, and there appears to be no interest in doing so by the manufacturer.
If you buy one from Cabellas, check it closely.

PRD1 - mhb - Mike

A smoothbore pistol is an NFA item, and I don't think black powder is exempted. You may have a problem.

 

[col.lemat]

The LeMat is exempt. It already has a smooth bore shotgun barrel. Besides who is to say the rifling is not just shot out.

 

[PRD1]

col.lemat:

I am saying there was never any rifling in the pistol barrel - the piece was bought new from Cabellas, and is still in essentially new condition, having been fired fewer than 30 rounds altogether.
I am, myself, a barrel maker, and have the means to inspect, measure and otherwise evaluate barrels, as well as the experience in doing so.
I know well what worn and damaged barrels look like, and this wasn't one.
I have no idea how many rounds it would take to wear a rifled barrel smooth with BP and pure lead, but doubt it could be accomplished in a lifetime of shooting, if ever, or that the piece would endure the mechanical wear and tear to permit such a number of rounds to be fired.

 

[WardenWolf]

The LeMat is exempt. It already has a smooth bore shotgun barrel. Besides who is to say the rifling is not just shot out.

It's exempt for the shotgun barrel. Not the revolver barrels.

All I can say is, you have a problem. I would strongly recommend you be rid of the piece.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Well my LM has rifling, came from DGW 20 years ago.

On the related topic of smoothbore pistols etc, Cabelas and many others online sell the smoothbore Pedersoli sxs 20 gauge Howdah 11 inch long barrel pistol and detachable stock and the Pedersoli 12" barrel 20 gauge sxs baker Cavalry shotgun. I know for a fact you can walk into Cabelas or order from DGW, etc. and buy either of these with no FFL paperwork. If you're an old guy like me they won't even ask for your DL. From what I understand these short barrelled percussion c&b muzzle loaders are not a regulated item, not SBOs. nor even a firearm, under NFA , the GCA, or Texas state law. Likewise the Pietta Buffalo Revolver with the detachable stock is not considered a SBR. Your milege may vary considerably in other states/local jurisdictions.

 

[WardenWolf]

The difference is that these are accurate replicas of old firearms. An unrifled Lemat, on the other hand, is not an accurate replica and thus would not receive the same exemptions. In that case, it is making a change to the weapon's design that would make it an NFA weapon, specifically an AOW. Fortunately, the solution is just a $5 tax stamp. But having it in the mean time is just trouble.