1st Model Maynard Carbine a Likely Florida Confederate Purchase

American Civil War

.35 caliber. 20" barrel. SN: 2155. Blued and color casehardened finish, iron furniture, walnut butt stock with iron patchbox. Single shot, tilting barrel breechloading percussion ignition carbine with Maynard tape priming system, fixed "quick acquisition" rear sight on barrel, as well as an adjustable tang sight and a half-moon front sight blade. Military carbine configuration with sling ring in lower tang. Standard Mass Arms Co and Maynard patent markings on frame and patch box door. Matching serial numbers inside tape primer door and on bottom of barrel. A spare modern brass nipple is in the patch box, which does not have a paper label. A likely more modern, rather than period of use "CS" is stamped in the wood behind the triggerguard tang, but the gun was almost certainly a southern purchase. The letters are individually stamped and from two different types of dies.Another "C" from the same die as the lower "C" is stamped behind the upper frame tang. According to research by noted US military carbine author John D. McAulay, the Mass Arms Company had 1,326 Sporting and 425 Military configuration.35 caliber 20" carbines in inventory on October 1 of 1860. The state of Florida subsequently acquired 1,030 20" .35 caliber Maynard Carbines for the use of their state troops, suggesting that this gun was likely among those purchased by Florida. The only other major purchase of 20" .35 caliber carbines was by Mississippi who acquired 325 of the short barreled .35 guns. That accounts for most of the .35 caliber 20" guns. The state of Florida is known to have issued the guns to the 1st and 6th Florida Special Battalions of Infantry, as well as to the 2nd Florida Cavalry. A scarce Civil War carbine that was almost certainly sold south in the months prior to the outbreak of the war. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.