In this post I discussed modern revolvers that could hold more than the traditional 6 rounds. It reminded me of two antique revolvers which employed two barrels to increase firepower.
The first example is the best known, at least here in the United States. It is the LeMat revolver.
(Please click on all pictures to see if there is a larger image available.)
The design comes from a New Orleans physician named Dr. Jean Alexandre Francois LeMat, and they were manufactured in various European armories from 1856 to 1865. Records indicate that less than 2900 were produced, although the gun enjoyed some popularity amongst Confederate cavalry officers during the American Civil War.
This handgun was a .42 caliber percussion revolver, and the oversized cylinder held 9 rounds. Why was the cylinder so large? Because the lower barrel around which the cylinder revolved was actually a 16 gauge shotgun.
(The picture above came from this site, and it is worth your time to check it out because the author actually describes what it is like to load and fire the weapon.)
When I first saw a LeMat pistol many years ago, I was strongly reminded of howdah pistols that were used to hunt tigers in India during the 19th Century. These were usually double barreled shotguns that were cut down to make a rather clumsy 2-shot pistol.
The idea was to provide a measure of last ditch protection to the hunter if the tiger should decide that all this running-away-from-the-two-legs stuff was for the birds. I figure that the LeMat would have fit the bill nicely, allowing the hunter to fend off enraged tigers while also keeping a multi-shot handgun nearby in case the natives they hired to carry their stuff turned out to be Thugees.
But while the LeMat was a potent weapon that never gained wide popularity, the next gun I want to discuss is a paltry weapon that also didn't enjoy wide renown.
(All pictures of this particular gun were found at this site run by Belgian firearm enthusiasts. A great resource for those interested in antique arms.)
This 20 shot revolver was manufactured by the French firm of Henrion, Dassy & Heuschen (HDH) from 1911 to 1928. It was marketed under a variety of names that were supposed to denote power and manly coolness. Names such as "Wild West", "Terrible", "Redoubtable", or even "Machine-gun HDH" certainly have a get-down-to-business ring to them. The only problem was that the 20 shot version was chambered in the paltry Velo-Dog cartridge, a very poor choice for a defensive round that I discussed at length here.
They also produced a 12 shot version that was chambered for the .32 S&W cartridge. It was still underpowered for defensive use, but with all those rounds available before a reload was necessary meant that the gun edged it's way up to being barely adequate. Still, no matter what caliber you chose, you were still going to carry a very large pistol that was rather weak when it came to stopping power.
The way this pistol managed to fit all those rounds into such a small space is revealed when one looks at the cylinder.
So we have a double layer of chambers, which explains the two barrels. But how did the hammer know which cartridge needed to be struck?
The answer is that it really didn't.
The gun was a break top design, which meant that it could be loaded and unloaded very easily. It also explains why no one tried to chamber an HDH double for a more serious cartridge since break tops are notoriously weak when it comes to high pressure, high recoil rounds.
The level of craftsmanship of these guns is amazing, truly jewels of high tech Victorian mass manufacturing methods.
Comments (9)
Say Uncle linked to you. I'm adding you to my favorites list.
The 20 shot used a rimfire cartridge and fired through each barrel in succession, I surmise. Was the .32 also a rimfire ?
Posted by SCATTERSHOT | April 30, 2007 11:19 AM
Posted on April 30, 2007 11:19
Say Uncle linked to you. I'm adding you to my favorites list.
Thank you kindly.
The 20 shot used a rimfire cartridge and fired through each barrel in succession, I surmise.
That was exactly how it worked. It appears the lower barrel got more of a workout than the upper, judging by how there are more chambers lining up for that one.
Was the .32 also a rimfire ?
The .32 was actually a centerfire. it was the .32 S&W cartridge, which is still offered by most ammo manufacturers.
This meant that the 20 shot chambered for the Velo-dog would produce 53 ft/lbs at the muzzle, while the .32 S&W version would deliver 90 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.
This seems like a big improvement, until one realizes that the .22 Long Rifle cartridge delivers 140 ft/lbs at the muzzle. Why they just didn't chamber it for the LR I don't know.
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | April 30, 2007 11:29 AM
Posted on April 30, 2007 11:29
James: I count 10 holes in the inner circle and 10 in the outer. The trigger looks like it is double action too.
How was the .32S&W cylinder laid out ? Two bbls in that case too ? I puzzled over the two firing pins being so sharp until I realized it was a rimfire cartridge and their tips never hit the cylinder.
OT: are you kin to Judge Bartlett Rummel ?
Posted by SCATTERSHOT | April 30, 2007 10:47 PM
Posted on April 30, 2007 22:47
James: I count 10 holes in the inner circle and 10 in the outer.
You are, of course, correct. My mistake.
How was the .32S&W cylinder laid out ? Two bbls in that case too ?M/i>
Yes, but I think the firing pins were a bit more blunt.
OT: are you kin to Judge Bartlett Rummel ?
No, I'm afraid that I can't claim kinship to him.
There is an RJ Rummel who made a bit of a name for himself at the University of Hawaii. His claim to fame was that he proved scientifically that Communist regimes were the deadliest. But I'm not related to him and never met him.
There is a James Rummel who is a veterinarian in Pennsylvania, right next to my home state of Ohio. He has done quit a bit to support his profession and improve standards in that industry. No relation to him, either.
I suppose I have to resign myself to not only ever being able to do anything of note, but that I'm not related to anyone who did, either.
(Big heavy sigh!)
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | May 1, 2007 12:02 AM
Posted on May 1, 2007 00:02
I am looking for information on ten (10) shot revolvers. What websites would have such information?
Posted by Michael Mazzella | October 21, 2007 7:00 PM
Posted on October 21, 2007 19:00
hi there,i have one of those 20 shot revolversit says on it Niemeyer & co. Kreiensen harz wild west revolver, i live in south africa,we want to find out the value of it please email me on dev_delange@hotmail.com.
thank you
Posted by devon de lange | December 11, 2007 3:48 AM
Posted on December 11, 2007 03:48
I have a revolver like this but with 16 rounds in extremely good condition. The engravings on the side say: Nico-Werke, Niemeyer & Co Kreiensen. Could anybody tell me how much it is worth?
Thanks
Posted by Jose Antonio Cid | January 13, 2008 10:17 AM
Posted on January 13, 2008 10:17
Nice Post, Found it via google image search for
"handgun+ lemat".
The 20-shot is a knock-out. I've been a gunny
for 40 years, and it's a new one on me.
Iv'e fantasized about just such a gun in .22,
guess the old adage about nothing new but the
history you havn't read applies again.
Also, very nice close-up photography.
Posted by Geoff Hayes | February 7, 2008 10:56 AM
Posted on February 7, 2008 10:56
It can't fire both barrels at once. The two rows are staggered and it probably rotates half a slot per shot, alternating between the two barrels.
Posted by Felix | April 19, 2008 11:44 AM
Posted on April 19, 2008 11:44