The Pietta LeMat Army Old West Black Powder Revolver has a deep and rich history. The LeMat was originally a .42 or .36 caliber, invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of France, which featured an unusual secondary 16-20 gauge smooth-bore barrel capable of firing buckshot. It saw service during the Civil War w/ the Confederate Army and later with the Franco-Prussian War. Pietta's model has the standard 9-shot, but is chambered in .44 cylinder and revolves around a separate, central barrel of larger caliber than the chambers in the cylinder proper. The central barrel is smooth-bore and can function as a short barreled 20 gauge shotgun, with the shooter selecting whether to fire from the cylinder or the smooth-bore barrel by flipping a lever on the end of the hammer. Truly, a masterpiece in design and functionality. Features.44 CaliberSmooth-bored central barrelAllows shooters to shoot from the cylinder or the smooth-bore barrel with the flip of a lever