2016 LeMat Revolver

An exploration of New Orleans industrial design heritage always includes the work of Jean Alexander LeMat. A true Creole gentleman and underrated design genius.

A modern interpretation of his concept using cartridge ammunition, combined with a loading system similar to the Smith and Wesson Model 3, was worth exploring. The trigger is a straight pull using a rack and pinion and reversible elliptical gears to adjust mechanical advantage on the trigger in double action mode.

two men working on cad
3d render of lemat revolver

Nine rounds of .357 surround a central barrel chambered in 45 Long Colt, but headspaced to accept a .410 shotgun shell, yielded a package that is only slightly larger than an N-frame Smith and Wesson. The ejector is spring loaded to automatically eject cartridges, then automatically retracts to prepare for reloading using a 10-round speed-loader.

The project got to the prototype phase, but after some soul-searching, I decided that I did not want to be in the gun business.

Concept
Process
Outcome
Concept
Process
Outcome