Navy Arms Col. LeMat .44 Cal. / 20 Ga 6.75″ 9 Shot Percussion Revolver
SOLD FOR: $1,004.00
LSB#: LSB251003GL020
Make: Navy Arms
Model: Col. LeMat
Serial#: 481
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1980’s -2000’s
Caliber: .44 Cal. / 20 Gauge
Action Type: Single-Action Revolver with 9-Round Cylinder, Single Shotgun Barrel, and Ramrod.
Markings: The right side of the barrel is marked “CL 44 / BLACK POWDER ONLY”. The top of the barrel is marked “Col. LeMat.”. The left side of the barrel is marked NAVY ARMS CO: RIDGEFIELD, N.J. U.S.A”. The right side of the frame is marked “481”.
Barrel Length: 6 3/4”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a conical blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a notch in the hammer.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip panels are two-piece checkered walnut. There is minor handling wear present. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip panels are in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with sharp rifling in the upper barrel. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates at a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are small scratches throughout. There is light operational wear from the lever. The screwheads are sharp. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, the revolver is in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. There is some light play in the cylinder lockup.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The LeMat revolver is one of the most distinctive sidearms of the 19th century, originally designed in the 1850s by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans and produced in Europe for Confederate officers during the American Civil War. Its unusual architecture—a nine-shot percussion cylinder and a central smoothbore barrel—set it apart from all contemporary revolvers, offering both a conventional revolver array and a single-shot shotgun charge in the same frame. This Navy Arms reproduction reflects that striking historical design, capturing the two-barrel layout, pivoting striker system, and solid martial proportions that made the LeMat an iconic symbol of mid-century American arms innovation.
The upper barrel is .44 caliber for round ball or conical projectiles, while the central 20-gauge smoothbore continues the hybrid concept that defined the original revolver’s battlefield role. These chamberings echo the percussion-era ballistics widely used in the 1850s and 1860s, when black-powder sidearms played a decisive part in close-range combat. With its sharp rifling, vibrant finish, and clean mechanics, this modern reproduction preserves the dramatic form and historical spirit of the LeMat system for contemporary shooters and collectors. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! -N.P
