Description
One week after the state of Mississippi severed all ties with the union, two senators in Washington contracted to purchase arms from the Maynard Arms Company. The first contract was for 325 “Rifles … 20 in. barrel” (actually carbines) and 175 “Rifles…26-in barrel. In addition to the first order was a second agreement for 300 carbines with 20-in barrels and in .35 caliber. On 30 January 1861 the first shipment of eleven crates were delivered to Jackson, Mississippi. Deliveries continued until they has received 749 of the 800 ordered. Between March and June 1861, 725 arms had been issued to Mississippi volunteers, most of which were cavalry units. Documents show that on 26 February Georgia also received 620 rifles. While no documents exists that confirms Florida’s purchase of Maynard rifles, in January 1861 the New York Herald reported that Florida’s acquisition of arms included 1000 Maynards. To date, the highest serial number encountered on a first model Maynard is 4960. Since most of 2000 to 2600 Maynards purchased by the south were shipped prior to the end of the first quarter of 1861, it is fair to assume that nearly all of the production unsold from 1860 and all new production for the first three months of 1861 went south. If the 1859 production ceased between serial numbers 1600 and 1900, and if production on an annual basis reached 150 arms per month during the period from January, 1860 to April, 1861, ALL arms within the serial numbers range from approximately 1 through 4100 could have seen Confederate military service.
Offered is a fine example of one of the 1st model Maynards very likely used by Southern troopers which came directly from an estate in central Florida.
The gun is a 20” barreled, .50 caliber, and military configuration carbine. The gun is mechanically fine and fully functional in every way, including the Maynard Tape Priming System. The action of the carbine remains crisp and tight, with solid and secure lock up. The breech device lever screw is worn a bit making the action loose unless firmly latched. The carbine is clearly marked in two lines on the lower right side of the frame: MAYNARD ARMS CO. / WASHINGTON. It is additionally marked on the lower left side of the frame: MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS. On the patchbox door markings are clear and you can make out MAYNARD PATENTEE / SEP 22 1850 / MAY 27 1851 / JUNE 17 1856. The carbine is clearly marked with serial number 1663 inside the tape primer door.
The frame retains some light traces of color case hardening, most of which has faded and blended to a smoky dark gray patina. The original cone (nipple) is in place. The large rounded buttplate and patchbox both have a mixed plum brown and gray patina as well. The gun is in the “military” configuration and is equipped a 1” sling ring on the rear of the trigger plate tang. It also has the stock military sight package (a long-range tang sight and the fixed “quick acquisition” rear sight on the breech of the barrel). The original front sight is present. The bore of the carbine is in fine to excellent condition. The bore is bright and retains fine, crisp rifling. The bore shows only some light to moderate scattered frosting in the grooves. The buttstock is in very fine to excellent condition. The stock is solid and free of any breaks cracks or repairs. The buttstock shows the usual minor bumps and dings from handling and use, but shows no abuse or damage. Overall this is a really wonderful, complete and extremely attractive example of an early 1st Model Maynard carbine. This carbine is clearly a military model as are all the known and documented ones used by the south.
DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector’s items only – we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of listing length. We want satisfied customers & often “under” describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are “mechanically fine” unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!
