3072

Excellent Cased Three Barrel Set Maynard Single Shot Percussion Rifle/Shotgun with Target Attributed

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:25,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
Excellent Cased Three Barrel Set Maynard Single Shot Percussion Rifle/Shotgun with Target Attributed
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This is an excellent example of a cased Maynard single shot percussion longarm with two rifle barrels, one shotgun barrel, and accessories. Included with the longarm is a 3 inch x 3 1/2 inch target signed with the initials "AL" and marked in pencil "10 Rds/[illegible]/20 in 4/10". It has been reported that the "AL" initials are that of Abraham Lincoln and that the 16th President of the United States fired this longarm. It is known that during the Civil War President Lincoln encouraged weapons development and even test fired longarms himself on an open area south of the White House. Lincoln promoted a wide range of military technologies which included rifles, body armor, gunpowder, shells, field artillery, and ironclad naval warships. His interest in military technology proved vital to the Union's weapons development efforts. For instance, he was instrumental in the development of the mortar boat which helped clear the Mississippi River and backed the development of John Ericsson's plan for turreted ironclad warships which helped the Union maintain its dominance at sea. Lincoln is known to have watched naval gun testing at the navy yard on the Anacostia River and watched the testing of the Parrott rifled artillery at Cold Spring Armory. At times, Lincoln would even function as chief of ordnance, testing new weapons himself. Lincoln test fired the "coffee-mill gun", an early hand-cranked machine gun and practiced his long distance skills with sharpshooters at a Union camp which resulted in Lincoln ordering breech loaders for the regiment. Perhaps Lincoln's most famous testing of military hardware came on August 18, 1863 when he personally test fired the Spencer seven shot rifle on the White House lawn at a distance of forty yards. The President made seven consecutive shots. Prior to firing the rifle, Lincoln was skeptical of the effectiveness and reliability of the Spencer. The objective of the demonstration was the reversal of Lincoln's negative opinion concerning the rifle. Although the demonstration resulted in good will towards the Spencer Company, there is no historical evidence to suggest that the demonstration promoted the purchase of the rifle. Presidential and Civil War historians have noted that it was common for inventors of rifles, artillery, and other weapons to invite President Lincoln to witness a trial or to send him a specimen. As historian Robert V. Bruce noted, "Consider how easily an assassin reckless of his own life might have entered Lincoln's office with a repeating rifle or a bomb. Many men did just that, although none, luckily, with murder in their hearts. 'On my arrival to the White House,' one inventor remarked matter-of-factly, 'I was ushered immediately into the reception room, with my repeating rifle in my hand and there I found the President alone.' The well established historical record confirming Lincoln's interest in firearms make it plausible that this Maynard was fired by the 16th President of the United States. This Maynard is pictured in Merrill Lindsay's book ONE HUNDRED GREAT GUNS (page 135). The photograph shows the rifle in its case with three barrels, accessories, and the "AL" marked target, all of which are included in this lot. Lindsay identifies this longarm as "Dr. Edward Maynard's own cap-lock gun". Built in 1845 to support his patent application". The Maynard primer door on this longarm is marked "MAYNARD'S PATENT/SEP. 22, 1845". It is equipped with a tang peep sight. The rifle is mounted on a straight grip walnut stock with a crescent buttplate and iron patch box. The patch box is marked "MAYNARD PATENTEE/MAY 27, 1851/JUNE 17, 1856". The inside of the patch box has a series of patent dates printed on a paper insert. The patent marking is as follows "MAYNARD,/Patentee,/MAY 27, 1851, JUNE 17, 1856,/JAN. 11, 1859,/OCT'R 4, 1859,/OCT'R 4, 1859,/DEC'R 6, 1859." As stated, this Maynard longarm comes with three part octagon barrels. The first barrel is 20 inches long and chambered for 50 percussion caliber with a combination Beach front sight and two leaf rear sight with the leafs marked "10" and "20". The underside of the barrel at the breech is marked with the number "10908" and the letter "J". The second barrel is 20 inches long and chambered for 40 percussion caliber with a combination Beach front sight and two leaf rear sight with leafs marks "10" and "20". The underside of the barrel at the breech is marked with the number "3" and the letter "J". The third barrel is a 20 gauge shotgun barrel which is 26 inches long and has a bead front sight. All barrels are blue with the 40 caliber barrel having a blue lever and the shotgun and 50 caliber barrels having a casehardened lever. The nicely figured case has brass corner protectors, a blank initial oval on top of the lid and lined with red velvet. The following accessories are included: a two cavity (40 and 50 caliber) Maynard bullet mold, three bore brushes, an American Flask and Cap Co. powder flask, a Maynard tape primer container with tape primer, a Maynard lubricator container, a package of spare parts marked "Spare parts of Maynard Rifle/for repairs when needed," in Dr. Maynard's own handwriting, screwdriver, reloadable brass cases with a hole in the back to admit the flash from the external cap primer, wad cutter, two bullet starters, key, and 8 page Maynard rifle testimonials and instructions pamphlet. The following Lincoln related items are also included: a Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln illustrated portrait card, a Lincoln illustrated portrait card, a framed portrait of Lincoln (frame 6 1/2"x6 1/2"), and George Bancroft's MEMORIAL ADDRESS ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1866). Overall this gun set, as Lindsay concluded, "would make any gunner's mouth water" (page 157).
BBL: 20, 20, 26 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Excellent. The 50 caliber barrel retains 97% original blue finish showing some mild thinning. The lever retains 70% original case colors. The 40 caliber barrel retains 95% thinning original blue finish with minor pitting on the lever. The shotgun barrel retains nearly 97% thinning original blue finish with a few small patches of light spotting. The lever retains 97% plus original case colors. The receiver and hammer retain 97% original blue finish showing some minor high edge and spot wear. The patch box and buttplate retain 50% original blue finish with the balance a smooth gray patina. There are a few patches of minor pitting. The highly figured deluxe burl walnut buttstock is also excellent with some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with some minor handling/storage wear and wear on the lining from the high spots of the rifle.