Massachusetts Arms Co. 1863 2nd Model Maynard Patent Carbine, Army Marked Blue & Case Colored 20” Single Shot Percussion Rifle, MFD 1865 Antique

Sold For: $1,505.00
LSB#:
151230DW11

Make: Massachusetts Arms Company

Model: Maynard Patent Carbine, 2nd Model (Model 1863)

Serial Number: 20124

Year of Manufacture: ca 1865 (A total of 20202 carbines were produced between 1863 and 1865).

Caliber: .50 Caliber Percussion

Action Type: Single Shot Breechloading Rifle with Lever Operated Break-Open Action

Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / MAY 27. 1851. / DEC. 6. 1859.”. The right side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED B Y / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS.”. The lower tang is marked “20124”. The left side of the barrel at the receiver is marked “S”. The left side of the wrist has a horizontal rectangular cartouche marked “AGP” in script (Anson G. Perkins 1859-1863) and a vertical rectangular cartouche, but if there are markings inside the 2nd cartouche, they are too faint to read. The top tang on the buttplate in front of the mounting screw, the rear base of the sling bar and the left side of the rear sight base are marked “N”.

Barrel Length: The barrel is octagon with its bottom three eighths round at the receiver, and the rest of the 20” barrel is round.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into the top of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding leaf sight that is dovetailed into the octagon portion of the barrel. There are three leafs, each with a “U” notch in the top edge. The rear leaf and the center leaf pivot together and are set at 90 degrees from each other. The front leaf can be pivoted up or down once the middle leaf is raised. The rear face of the middle leaf is marked “3” and the front leaf is marked “5”.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock consists of a rather thin walnut buttstock held between long tangs on the receiver. It has a straight grip and a steel crescent shaped buttplate. There is oil staining at the receiver and along the lower left side of the stock. The stock shows numerous bruises on its left side with numerous light scratches and a few dings on its right side. There are tiny chips out of the edges of the stock at the butt on both sides and a short hairline crack at the back edge of the lower tang. The LOP measures 14 9/16” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows surface loss with light to moderate wear at the heel and toe and light pitting. The buttplate rates in about Good condition. The stock rates in about Good to Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: The barrel is blued. The frame and lever are case colored. Blued

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with shallow rifling. There is light erosion the length of the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The barrel shows thinning with streaks of finish loss and a plum colored patina forming over the areas where the finish is missing. There are several tiny dings scattered over the barrel with a deeper ding on the left side 4” from the muzzle, a few more in the top of the barrel at about the mid-way point and an assortment of dings in the underside of the barrel just in front of the octagonal section. There are small spots of solid erosion on the octagon part of the barrel and the sides of the receiver, with a few tiny spots of pitting in the receiver. The lever shows a few scabs of solid erosion and there are a few dings in the sling bar. The screw heads are disfigured and the markings are clear, except for the cartouche on the stock, which is faint. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and the barrel lockup is solid. The nipple, which is offset slightly to the right on the top of the receiver, is clear and not deformed. However, the lower tang is cracked at the back of the receiver. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle has a sling bar with a saddle ring attached.

Our Assessment: The Maynard Patent Carbines used during the Civil War were designed by Dr. Edward Maynard, a dentist, who was best known for his invention of a mechanical priming system used in several different rifles and carbines, one of the first being the U.S. Model 1855 rifle. Many older rifles were also modified to use this system. The Maynard Patent Carbines were made by the Massachusetts Arms Company. The first model was made with the Maynard priming system and were sold to the U.S. Army and Navy in .50 caliber, and were also used by the Internal Revenue Service. The Massachusetts Arms Co. had a stock of carbines for commercial sale in various calibers, and were eager to dispose of their inventory in the months just preceding the hostilities, with the Confederate states buying .35 and .50 caliber carbines. The second model, also known as the Model 1863, omitted the Maynard priming system to increase production rates, and was sold primarily to the U.S. Army in .50 caliber. About 20,202 were made, and were used by the 9th and 11th Indiana and the 11th Tennessee cavalry regiments, in addition to others. This is a 2nd Model carbine, with an “AGP” cartouche on the left side of the wrist signifying U.S. Army acceptance. The rifle is in about Good condition with about 35% of its original finish remaining. The bore is gray with shallow rifling and light erosion throughout. The action functions correctly and the barrel lockup is solid, but the lower tang is cracked at the back of the receiver. This is a very interesting rifle, and like all breechloading carbines, played an important part in the Civil War. With only 20,202 being made and far fewer having survived the war, this carbine is rare today. This will be a great addition to any collection of Civil War carbines, and deserves a spot next to all of the other single shot breechloading carbines used in the war.

Massachusetts Arms Co. 1863 2nd Model Maynard Patent Carbine, Army Marked Blue & Case Colored 20” Single Shot Percussion Rifle, MFD 1865 Antique
Massachusetts Arms Co. 1863 2nd Model Maynard Patent Carbine, Army Marked Blue & Case Colored 20” Single Shot Percussion Rifle, MFD 1865 Antique