Return Volley
Kymm,
First off, the picture looks like you did a fine job. If the opportunity arises, I would like to examine it in person.
Second, I like a good argument/debate. Even when I am proven wrong, I still enjoy it. I have enjoyed our exchange. I wish some of the more learned members would join in. I know that my little library is woefully inadequate to fully discuss the Lemat Carbine.
Now my turn.
I would like to have cites or references for the books. I have looked tonight in WM. Edwards, McAuleys, Dr. Murphy's book and a few minor references. The Lemat Carbine is not listed. Dr. Murphy's and Edwards book are considered some of the best, if not the best, on the subject of Confederate arms. I also Googled it and there was not a reference I could find documenting the arrival in quantity of a Lemat Carbine.
The only reference book I own that mentions the Lemat Carbine is Hill and Anthony "Confederate Longarms and Pistols". That reference states that there were 3000 pistols and carbines made. It does not distinguish between them. They state that they were delivered to agents of the Confederacy in France and England. No mention of their use or delivery on these shores. They state that only about 1500 of the first and second models were shipped to the Confederacy and approximately 100 of the baby Lemats were received. We know the pistols made it, but you can't assume the Carbines did without some more proof they arrived in the Confederacy. Until I see some sort of documentation of actual arrival on this shore, I will be a skeptic as to their use in quantity. I suspect a few may have made it, but again, not in quantity.
Show me something that shows they were inventoried into an arsenal somewhere. A shipping manifest showing arrival at a Confederate port. Anything. If your source is credible, it will reference where the information came from so you can guage its reliability.
Just because you saw it in a book doesn't make it so. Over the years, I have seen so much incorrect published information on various topics that I have begun to pay close attention to the reference materials used. The biggest farce I have seen was the "The Pocket Book of Civil War Weapons". The book was discussed on a BB posting a couple of years ago and it is still up if you want to read about it. If there are no references cited, I discount it considerably.
Give me some specific references I can go look at for myself.
The Hill/Anthony book is a great book as it includes EVERYTHING they could identify with a Confederate connection. They even include those that were mere curiousities. I suspect that they included the Lemat Carbine to be sure it was mentioned as a possible weapon of the Confederacy but made clear, they were not sure it arrived here in quantity.
How about building one of the real odd balls? The one I like best is the "Virginia Pacificator". There was only 1 or 2 of these ever made. It is a 28 caliber, 48 round repeater, with 8 magazines. It was deemed too expensive to make by the Confederacy to produce. It is a truly unique Confederate weapon and it was made on these shores.
How about the references?
Edwin Flint
14th Mississippi Infantry, N-SSA
Deputy Commander, DS Region
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