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Back in the mid-80's Navy Arms (Pietta) offered a pre-production on the new to be produced LaMats
The deal was you sent $100 to NA and when the guns were available, you sent $250
and Navy Arms sent the gun of your choice Cavalry, Army or Navy Model.
I ordered two Cavalry models, I think the wait was just about a year.
When they arrived they were VERY nice, well finished beautiful blued examples and at the time $350 (shipped)
However not particularly practical, the Cavalry model had a flawed design in the barrel retention.
The locking lever would loosen under recoil ( the Navy & Army models had spring retained pin a much better retaining lock)
The hammer on all models was a reach and you had to alter your grip the cock the piece.
Also the detachable, ramrod for the Shot Barrel was just friction retained and would loosen & fall out under recoil....
As cool as they were, they were not practical (I was into mounded cavalry reenacting)
Difficult to handle, and on occasion I had to dismount to retrieve the lost rammer.
At one point I was not successful in finding the lost piece. and had to make a new replacement.
I learned to put a slight bend in the rod on both guns that increased the bind and snugged the hold.
After about a year, I sold both guns got my initial money back plus a bit.
Cool as they were, they were awkward to handle & shoot,
My guess is compared to the Colts, Smiths & Remington's readily available at the time,
The rarer LaMat would have been overlooked and dismissed.
They might have been regulated to an attic trunk, for future finds.
Edit: BTW I carried these two LaMats in Pommel holsters never as a side arm, that was a 2 Gen 1860 Army I still have today (purchased NIB in 1977).