"LeMAT GRAPESHOT REVOLVER. SN 1945. Cal. 42/16 ga. Nickel finish with 6-3/4" smoothbore oct bbl which was never rifled, usual tall dovetailed front sight with an uncommon tall fixed rear sight. Top flat is engraved in period script "Systeme Le Mat Bte sgdg Paris" surrounded by a line border engraving. Right flat has the serial number and Le Mat's logo of a star over "LM". It is very unusual in that it does not screw to the smoothbore bbl but simply slides on with a pressure fit in the front ring and is attached with a screw through the hole where link pin would normally be. Rammer on left side of bbl is about 1/8" thick flat steel with beveled outer edge and a circular area which would contact bullet nose secured with a normal sized blued screw. It has usual 9-shot percussion cylinder with serial number on outer diameter and a simple incised line around the front edge instead of the usual raised, knurled rim.. Smoothbore bbl is 6-1/8" long with only markings being serial number on right side at frame. Frame is slightly thinner in some places and trigger guard is also somewhat thinner. Trigger is also thinner with a lighter & shorter trigger guard. Hammer is about identical in contour to the 2nd Model LeMat revolver but it has an unusual articulated nose which is half exposed and without usual thumb lever. It has standard checkered walnut grips with screw from right side rather than usual left side. Bottom of each grip has inked serial number that appears to be "1701" and inside left grip is stamped "L. CHAPMAN" and inside right grip hand written in pencil is "L. CHAPMAN / COLLINSVILLE CONN". It is readily apparent that Le Mat was experimenting with this piece but to this cataloger's knowledge none of features found on this revolver were ever implemented in production. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & rammer retain most of their strong bright orig nickel with some flaking on left side and sharp edges. Pin retainer spring screw is missing half its head. Cylinder retains about 95-96% strong bright orig nickel. Smoothbore bbl, in exposed area, retains 93-95% orig bright nickel. Frame, hammer & trigger guard retain about 85% of their orig nickel with with most of the losses from heavy flaking on front & backstraps. Grips show light wear with a fine oiled patina. Mechanics are crisp, top bore is bright & shiny with a few spots of light pitting. Shotgun bore is fine with very fine pitting. Altogether a most unusual and rare revolver. 8-87519 JR210 (10,000-15,000)"
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