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174
LOT 3227
Attractive Inscribed
Massachusetts Arms Co.
First Model Maynard
Patent Percussion
Sporting Carbine Two
Barrel Set with Case -
Serial no. 4544, 35 cal., 20
inch part octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish,
highly figured walnut stock.
Approximately 5,000 First
Model Maynard carbines
were manufactured c. 1858-
1859. Multiple Confederate
states are known to have
had contracts for Maynard
rifles and carbines in
both .35 and .50 caliber
including Mississippi,
Florida, and Georgia. For
example, in early 1861,
Jefferson Davis and J.
Thompson entered into
agreements for Maynard
arms and ammunition
that included 325 carbines and 175 rifles in .50 caliber and 300 carbines in .35 caliber along with one thousand rounds of ammunition for each gun. It has
the standard three-line Massachusetts Arms Co. address on the right of the frame, while the left is marked with the two-line Maynard Arms Co. marking. The
three-line Maynard patent marking is on the patchbox lid, and there is a label with the eight-line Maynard patent dates inside the patchbox. The bottom
of the currently fitted barrel is marked with the serial number, though the final two digits are mostly milled off due to the likely later fitting of a cartridge
extractor, which was patented around July of 1865. The other barrel in .50 caliber has the full serial number marked on the bottom and is also fitted
with the extractor. It is fitted with a blade front sight, a filler in the rear dovetail, and peep sight mounted on the upper
tang, and a double set trigger, the front being pushed forward to set. The stock is very finely figured and has a
silver inscription plate on the right which is engraved with “J.B.Morton, M.D./TO/J.F.Morton”. A
doctor J.B. Morton appears in multiple New York Times articles from 1857 as a witness
in a murder trial. Includes a hardwood case fitted for the rifle and both barrels when
disassembled as well as many accessories including a bullet mold, cap tins, cleaning
rod, oilers, reloading tools, and cartridges.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish, showing some slight
thinning, and patterns of the mostly silvered out original case colors with the balance
mostly a smooth grey patina and some light flash pitting around the nipple. The wood
is very fine with some scattered minor handling marks and retaining most of the
original varnish. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with some light handling/
storage evidence.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000