A regulation, military issue Second Model Maynard cavalry carbine rating Very Good for condition, with all original parts, 30 percent or better original finish, smooth metal, good edges, clear markings in metal and wood, just some scratches to the buttstock, etc. This is the standard configuration, manufactured without patch box, forestock, or tape priming system, using instead standard percussion caps, fitted with a 20-inch .50 caliber barrel that tips up at the breech for insertion of a brass-cased cartridge made with a flame-hole at bottom to be ignited by a percussion cap. The mechanics are good and the bore is clean, with good rifling.

The metal is smooth overall. The barrel is full length with both front and rear sights in place and shows mostly as plum forward and more pronounced blue on the breech flats and rear sight. The receiver shows gray forward and a thin brown mixed with gray toward the wrist, with the hammer showing blue, the lever/triggerguard more brown, the triggerguard tang plum, with the buttplate showing plum tones and the screws some blue. The wood to metal fit is tight, with good edges at the wrist. The right butt flat has a number of light scratches. The left is better, but with a small chip at the at the upper edge of the comb.

The markings in the metal and wood are very good. The serial number “7654’ is very clear on the triggerguard tang;“MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO / CHICOPEE FALLS” on the right frame; “EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / MAY 27. 1851. / DEC 6. 1859.” on left frame; with “G.W.S.” barrel proof above on the left breech flat of George W. Sherman, whose script initials as sub-inspector of contract arms also appear in a horizontal rectangular cartouche in the wood at the wrist, to the rear of which in a vertical cartouche are the script initials “JM” of  James Mills, listed both as a sub-inspector of contract arms and occasionally as a principal sub-inspector, the position of the stamp here indicating his is the final acceptance stamp. (See Daum and Pate, 136-137; contra Daum and Pate p.181!)

Regarded during his lifetime as a leading scientist, Dr. Edward Maynard (1813-1891) had two passions: dentistry and weapons. Guided by the former, he developed several surgical techniques and tools. Guided by the latter he developed the tape-primer and a patented breech-loading carbine and rifle. Earlier versions of the carbine with patch boxes and different calibers made their way into military hands, including many southern militia units, who had an eye for modern weapons and were not prohibited from purchasing patent arms. Wartime reports credited them with accuracy and ease of loading.

The first of this wartime production model, made under a June 8, 1863, US government contract for 20,000, began arriving in the field in 1864, with the last delivery made May 19, 1865, and the total reaching 20,002 including two pattern carbines. Commercial sales expanded the military serial number range into the 23000s by most accounts and total production likely further: we handled one in the 25000 range with an 1865 date, for example. In any case, #7654 would in theory fall in the 1,000 paid for on, and hence delivered by, Oct. 27, 1864, but commercial weapons occasionally in the mix may have pushed it slightly later.  Units known to have carried Maynards included the 6^th and 11^th Indiana and 10^th and 12^th Tennessee Cavalry.

This is a very good example of a regulation issue Union Civil War cavalry carbine.  [sr][ph:L]

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