The Maynard Carbine was one of a multitude of weapons produced during the U.S. Civil War to meet the demand for usable firearms. As originally designed, the carbine was one of many "capping breech loaders", which would use some type of cartridge without any integral primer cap. In the case of the Maynard, it used a metallic cartridge with the powder and bullet already installed. There was a small hole in the center of the base, which would be ignited by a standard percussion cap fitted to a nipple, or by a tape primer system ignited by a firing pin. After the outbreak of the Civil War, a simplified Second Model was introduced and put into production in 1863, which did away with the Maynard tape primer, and used percussion caps only.

The cartridge, which had a wide rim permitting swift extraction, was reloadable up to 100 times. This proved to be a significant feature for the Confederate troops equipped with it. Another significant feature was that the use of a metallic cartridge prevented gas escape at the breech, a serious concern for many of the early externally primed breechloaders. The design was also advantageous in that it was easily converted to metallic cartridges, which had become increasingly popular by the end of the Civil War. The writing was on the wall that the day of separate-primed cartridge was over.

Edward Maynard and the Massachusetts Arms Co. realized they must do something about more modern cartridges. Early in February 1873, after considerable experimentation, Maynard had both the self-contained cartridge and the mechanism to fire it. This new cartridge had a very wide, thick base, beveled so that it resembled a saucer; it employed a special Berdan primer. The cartridge was wide enough so that it could be grasped with the fingers after being started from the chamber by the rather weak retractor patented some years earlier. Now the Maynard sporting rifle had ammunition that placed it in a better competitive position, and business began to pick up.

This is a lovely example of one of the "Improved Model" rifles, usually referred to as the "Model 1873". There was a later "Model 1882" that was made to use more of the commercially available cartridges. The right side of the action is crisply marked with the manufacturer information and reads:-

The left side is marked with the patent information the action is covered under:-

We do not see any "1873" stamp, which was a separate stamping, so this example may have missed being stamped. We also noted that the firing pin base is a bit offset, as it would be in percussion rifle, so this is probably an early example of the Model 1873, and is marked on the lower receiver tang with serial number 8106. We had considered that maybe it was converted from percussion, however .40 was not a caliber these were ever made in while available in percussion, and the barrel is fitted with an extractor, which were also not used during the percussion era. It is fitted with the correct long range aperture sight on the upper tang, as is correct for this model. There is also a sight dovetail on the barrel, which has been plugged with a piece of brass.

The rifle is in lovely condition, still retaining the original blued finish well, and the butt stock is in fantastic condition. We checked the functionality, and there were no deficiencies to note. The bore is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is just a bit of past fouling and wear, now cleaned away and polished bright.

If you were looking for a great example of an early design single shot Target Rifle descended from a Civil War carbine design, this is it!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1875
Caliber: .40-caliber
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 26 Inches
Overall Length: 42 5/8 Inches
Action: Top Break with Back Action Percussion Lock.
Feed System: Single Shot

More on the Maynard Carbine:
More than 20,000 Maynard Second Model Carbines were produced between 1863 and 1865 to arm Federal cavalry units. Unlike the First Model Maynard, the Second Model was produced exclusively in .50 caliber. In addition, the Maynard tape primer system, patchbox, and tang sight common to the First Model were omitted, and the profile of the buttstock differs between these two variants.

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. It has a 20-inch barrel and 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. Some were tinned for Navy use.

Dr. Edward Maynard (1813-1891) was both a brilliant dentist and a gifted inventor. Born in Madison, New York, Maynard entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, but was later forced to resign due to poor health. Prior to the Mexican War, Maynard invented a mechanical priming system for use with percussion arms which was intended to replace the copper primers that had been used almost since the invention of this ignition system.

The Maynard Tape Primer consisted of a thin shellacked paper tape which contained fulminate of mercury "packets" imbedded in its surface. When the hammer was cocked, a single primer would automatically advance over the ignition cone, or "nipple," thus eliminating the need to prime the arm as a separate step in the loading process. This system was incorporated into the U.S. Model 1855 rifle-musket, rifle, and pistol-carbine, and many older longarms were modified to employ the Maynard system as well. Tape primers were later abandoned due to their unsuitability for use in combat.

Perhaps Maynard's most significant firearms invention was his tip-up single-shot metallic-cartridge breech loading rifle, which he patented in 1851. Early models employed the Maynard primer system, but by 1865, this ignition system was replaced by a conventional percussion cone. The Maynard First Model Carbine was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1856, which sparked the formation of the Maynard Arms Corporation during the following year. The Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, later undertook the manufacture the Maynard rifles and carbines. Approximately 5,000 First Model Carbines were produced in 1858-59 in .35 and .50 caliber. The larger-bore models saw service with Union troops in New Mexico, and some state troops and U.S. Marines were armed with these early in the Civil War. Several Southern states including Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina purchased Maynards from factory inventories prior to the outbreak of war, and contracts were given for production of additional arms.

All told, these orders accounted for nearly half of the total production for the First Model Carbine. In addition to prewar purchases, the Confederacy also acquired Maynards through the capture of Federal armories located in southern states. The Maynard Second Model Carbine was produced between 1864 and 1865, with more than 20,000 produced to arm Federal cavalry units. Unlike the First Model Maynard, the Second Model was produced exclusively in .50 caliber. In addition, the Maynard tape primer system, patchbox, and tang sight common to the First Model were omitted, and the profile of the buttstock differs between these two variants.

The Massachusetts Arms Company continued to produce Maynard rifles until 1890. These arms set a standard in both target and hunting activities in the United States. They proved to be extremely accurate, were well-fitted, and featured lapped barrels and interchangeable parts made of the best materials. Maynard rifles were available in a variety of grades ranging from an inexpensive gallery model to fancy-grade versions featuring adjustable long-range rear sights, engraving, and checkered pistol-grip stocks and forends, and in several models which ranged in caliber from .22 to .50. This proved to be a selling point, and customers were advised that, "You need not have several guns since you can buy interchangeable barrels for your Maynard action."

In 1873, the addition of a special accessory made it possible to quickly convert these arms to chamber a thick-based Maynard center-fire cartridge that could be extracted with the fingers. This marked an early successful transition between these two ignition systems. Model 1882 Maynard rifles featured an improved centrally-mounted hammer with integral firing pin, and chambered a rimmed-case center-fire Boxer-primed cartridge similar to those still in use today. The Massachusetts Arms Company failed during the 1890s, due in part to the firm's inability or unwillingness to convert to newer mass-production methods, as well as to the rising popularity of the repeating rifle. The firm's assets were purchased by the Stevens Arms & Tool Company, also located in Chicopee Falls.

After leaving West Point, Maynard served a brief apprenticeship in dentistry, establishing a practice in Washington, D. C. circa 1833. He proved to be a brilliant dental scientist, and helped bring dentistry from "the deplorable depths of quackery" to a science dedicated to the betterment of mankind. In eight short years he moved to a major position of prominence in the field of dentistry. By 1841, at age 28, he was one of the first recipients of the honorary degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from Baltimore College. Maynard was also awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Western Medical College. Maynard's contemporaries sometimes referred to him as the blacksmith dentist because he spent so much time at the forge making better dental tools, including drills and other surgical instruments.

A leading teacher, Dr. Maynard developed a number of ways to improve dental education. He was appointed Chairman of Theory and Practice at the Baltimore Dental College and held a similar position at the National University in Washington D.C. In these positions, Maynard insisted on aptitude testing which included not only academic aptitude but also the motor skills necessary in the field of dentistry. As a teaching aid, he produced a set of clear dentures complete with cavities to demonstrate to students the internal appearance of dental fillings.

Dr. Maynard was extremely gifted in his ability to calm and gain the confidence of his patients. Extremely concerned about pain, he sought and found ways to reduce suffering during dental surgery. Russia's Tsar Nicholas I was so impressed with Maynard's work on the royal root canal that he offered him the job of Imperial Dentist, a position of nobility which carried the rank of major in the Russian Army, to induce him to stay in St. Petersburg. Maynard declined but did accept a large ring with 60 diamonds as a token of the Tsar's appreciation. He also charged the Tsar a very heathy fee.

He also served as dentist for several presidents, ambassadors and many congressman and senators. Dr. Maynard died in Washington on May 4, 1891.

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