Description
This is a strong example of an early production cavalry carbine (note the military style saddle ring) in above average overall condition. All parts are original and it also has the long range tang sight present, which eliminates it as a Union Army purchased weapon.
A large number of famous (and soon to be famous) Southerners purchased the 1st Model Maynard arms. These men included South Carolina’s Wade Hampton, Georgia senator Robert Toombs and Vice President John Breckenridge of Kentucky; all of who became Confederate Generals during the American Civil War. The initial production goal of the Massachusetts Arms Company had been 5,000 arms. According to known records, as of October 1, 1860 the company had sold approximately 1,400 guns and had a total of 3,527 arms in inventory and this one, by serial number, is one of those.
Several thousand of these weapons were purchased by several Southern states in 1860 and 1861 as well, before Lincoln enforced the prohibition of arms to the Southern States. If you know what it is, you know how rare it is!
