Lot 75

Exceptional Civil War US Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard Carbine

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Exceptional Civil War US Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard Carbine

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

Starting Bid: $3,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exceptional As-Issued Civil War U.S. Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard Second Model Breech Loading Percussion Carbine The Maynard carbine was designed by Dr. Edward Maynard, a dentist by trade who took out a number of firearms patents including the Maynard tape primer system and the Maynard carbine. His carbine design bridged the gap between muzzleloading percussion firearms and breech loading metallic cartridge firearms. They still used external percussion ignition via either Maynard tape primers (first model only) or percussion caps, but the ammunition itself was otherwise a self-contained brass cartridge. The casings could be reloaded multiple times which made them more desirable than rimfire cartridges, especially for the Confederates who could capture Maynard carbines and keep using them without capturing additional ammunition unlike the Spencer and Henry repeating rifles. They were well-regarded by the men who used them on the battlefield. A small number of the early carbines are known to have been sold to southern clients near the beginning of the Civil War, but the vast majority were manufactured under U.S. government contracts for use by the Union cavalry. They were produced by the Massachusetts Arms Co. until the factory suffered a fire in 1861. Production resumed again later in 1863 through the end of the war in 1865. They are known to have been issued to the 6th, 9th, and 11th Indiana Cavalry and the 10th and 11th Tennessee Cavalry. According to James Serven in the American Rifleman article "The Guns of Dr. Maynard," 20,202 carbines and 2,157,000 Maynard cartridges were supplied to the Union. After the war, the design was adapted to use metallic cartridges and remained in production until the assets of the Massachusetts Arms Co. were purchased by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in the 1890s. This incredible Second Model Maynard has remained in as-issued condition. It has the three-line "MANUFACTURED BY/MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS" marking on the right front of the frame and the four-line "EDWARD MAYNARD/PATENTEE/MAY 27, 1851/DEC 6, 1859" patent marking on the left side. The lower tang is marked "1865" suggesting it was manufactured towards the end of the war. The Mass. Arms Co. is known to have made their final delivery on May 19, 1865. The left barrel flat is marked "S". The barrel, hammer, and buttplate are blued, and the frame and lever are casehardened. The carbine is equipped with a pinched front sight, a three-leaf folding rear sight, a saddle ring and bar mounted on the left side of the frame, and a straight grip stock marked with the boxed "GWP" and "JM" script cartouches on the left side of the wrist.

Manufacturer: Massachusetts Arms Co

Model: Maynard

BBL: 20 inch part round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 50

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number25101

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Excellent, as-issued overall with 98% plus original blue and vivid casehardened finish with some very minor fading at the heel, dried dark grease in protected area of receiver, sharp markings and cartouches, and minimal handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. This is a truly extraordinary Maynard carbine that looks just like these carbines when they were issued to the cavalry the Civil War.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000