heres a question, whats easier to work with the starr or the lemat/ they both have complicated lockwork, but what one can be worked on at home without causing undue migraines?
I think it well depend on your level of experience. The Starr may be more familiar to some one that was worked on Colts and Remingtons. The Starr uses a similar bolt and cylinder notch. The LeMat cylinder lock is a pin the protrudes from the recoil shield into the back of the cylinder. The LeMat requires a special spanner tip to disassemble. Neither one is really that complicated....thirty years ago I'm sure both would have made me swear.....a lot.
"Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West" by David Chicoine
Both of these cover C&B, the bates/cumpston book has a chapter on the LeMat. The chicoine book goes into much more detail, good hardcore gunsmithing.
Having a complete set of Jerry Kuhnhausen's books are a worth while investment. They don't cover C&B revolvers but the general knowledge from them is invaluable. They are the Gunsmiths Bible IMHO.