Chief, how'd you keep up with all those "greats" ?! The curator pointed out Alden's wheel lock was one of the very first firearms in America, and that Alden kept it in a secret compartment by the door. Talk about being ready for home defense! Back in those days, men were REQUIRED to carry their firearms to Church, in case of attack. No gun free zones for our forefathers.

The winter quarter issue of Guns of the Old West had an article about Confederate pistols and their currently made replicas. Spiller and Burr, as copied by the South, the Dance Brothers' version of the 1851 Navy, both models of the Starr, and the Le Mat were featured. Officers who carried the Le Mat were mentioned, including those of "the famed 18th Georgia"! I just found out, from Charles Foster, that my folks' Company CO, Captain James Lile Lemon, carried a Le Mat, losing it as he was captured at Knoxville. Mr. Foster now owns this pistol. He and I were discussing this via e-mail when I read the magazine article. What a coincidence! Stan