The Confederate LeMat Revolver

Secret Weapon of the Confederacy? The LeMat Revolver has always held a special place in the hearts of Civil War enthusiasts. No other weapon is so emblematic of the Confederacy. The LeMat wasn't just a revolver - in addition to its bullets, it packed a unique last ditch wallop in the form of a shotgun blast from under the barrel.

Begun as a partnership between Alexander LeMat, a French inventor from New Orleans, and P.G.T. Beauregard, a highly prominent Confederate officer, the LeMat revolver project quickly because a tale of international intrigue and espionage worthy of a spy novel. Operating from Southern port cities, European capitals and Caribbean islands, LeMat and his associates gave the Confederacy a "French Connection," not just to supply revolvers, but to aid the Rebel cause through supplies, financial shenanigans and propaganda.

This exciting new book, described as having "the intrigue of a spy novel", tells the story of LeMat's wartime adventures aboard blockade runners and alongside the famous leaders of the Confederacy, as well as exploring, as never before, the unique revolvers that he manufactured for the Southern Cause.

Illustrated in FULL COLOR with over 250 pictures.

...an essential, and affordable, addition to any Civil War arms library. -- Military Trader, February 1, 2006

The book addresses all aspects of LeMat's unique handgun and weapons system in all models and variations... --North South Traders Civil War, March 1, 2006

This book is loaded with... patent drawings, documents... outstanding photos, [including] a photo of a Civil War soldier with his LeMat, photos of disassembled weapons, bullet molds, lots of close-ups showing design changes, and a photo of the cartridge, bullet and ball. The text is well-written and the paper quality is excellent. This book will be of significant use to the gun collector, general Civil War historian, students of the Confederacy and those interested in firearms development and technology. --The Civil War News, May 2006

The Confederate LeMat Revolver is the illustrated chronicle of the wartime adventures of inventer Jean Francois Alexander LeMat... His efforts evolved into a tale full of intrigue and espionage worthy of a spy novel. Adams' book, however, is not fiction -- he has woven an engrossing story of all of the shenanigans... that were a part of LeMat's efforts to supply weapons to the Confederacy into a finely crafted work. Entwined with this narrative are exacting photos of LeMat's revolvers, specifications and details that will assist any collector with identifying these unique revolvers that so many Confederate officers seemed to favor. The Confederate LeMat Revolver is an essential -- and affordable -- addition to any Civil War arms library." --Military Trader, February 2006