Maynard Carbine / Sold

Maynard Carbine - Inventory Number: RIF 114 / Sold

This percussion carbine was patented by Edward Maynard of Washington, D.C., December 6, 1859, and manufactured by the Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Introduced into United States service in the late 1850s, it was put into mass production in 1861 and performed well in the hands of Federal troops. Its 20-inch barrel measures 36 7/8 inches in overall length, and has no forestock. The barrel tips for loading when the trigger guard lever is lowered. Percussion caps were required to fire a perforated .50 caliber brass cartridge that required hand extraction. Early versions included the Maynard tape primer system, but wartime exigencies forced its elimination. Both barrel and buttplate were blued, and the receiver of this arm was casehardened. 

Serial #23447 is located on the trigger guard tang.   There are two very fine and sharp government cartouches on the left side wrist area. Stampings on the obverse frame reads, “MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS” in three lines. Reverse side clearly stamped “EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / MAY 27, 1851 / DEC. 6, 1859” in four lines.

The 2nd Model Maynard carbine is widely regarded as one of the best performing and most accurate of all the cavalry arms used during the Civil War.

Inventory Number: RIF 114 / Sold