May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
Offered is a simply marvelous French fitted cased multi-barrel set, Maynard First Model Sporting Rifle given in appreciation for service to then-secretary William G. Freeman. Maynard was well-known in the arms industry with respect for their contribution to the war between the states. At the secession of hostilities the company continued to make some of the finest quality single shot sporting rifles as well as target rifles ever manufactured. The innovative design of the Maynard allowed the user to have a single gun with multi-barrels for multiple purposes that could be easily and quickly changed for any situation. This is a spectacular cased set with all the original accessories, each partitioned in the fitted and specially made walnut casing. The rifle features the early style stock of fiery grain walnut with an oval presentation plaque of either silver or white gold in the right side that is engraved "Maynard Arms Co. to / Wm. G. Freeman". This rifle shows no signs of having ever been fired. The polish on the breech face, the bores, the muzzles and at breech is perfect. Frame retains literally all of the fiery case colors with the hammer, trigger, lever pin and screws retaining all of their original fire blue, even the pin that was used to attach the barrels retains virtually all of its finish, indicating the barrels were seldom, if ever, taken off or put on. The buttplate and patchbox, with the stamped patent date of 1856, still exhibits 90% of the high polish fire blue finish with some flaking at toe, and the left side shows flaking and a 2" area that has been lightly cleaned of some minor blemishes(virtually the only blemish on the entire outfit). The stock retains all of the original high gloss finish. All three barrels retain 99% original blue finish with all three levers retaining virtually all of their original case colors. The accessories are as new. The three barrels all have matching numbers. The .35 caliber barrel has the iron ring sight protector, while the other two barrels have a single and folding rear sight. While Colt and Winchester are well-known for having a multitude of presentation firearms given to important personages, this is the only such Maynard that this writer has ever seen. There are a few cased sets with multi-barrels and accessories but another does not exist that has been so meticulously outfitted and finely finished. This presentation set would be a prize gem in any single shot rifle collection or for some one who just enjoys owning the very best and the most rare of all classic firearms manufactured in the 19th century. Contents of the set include the following: 20" barrel in .35 Maynard, 20" barrel in .50 Maynard, 26" barrel with a .54 smooth bore, Maynard marked bullet mould, loading tools for each barrel, cleaning brushes for each barrel, patch cutter, rosewood handled turnscrew, two cartridge inserts complete with leather lanyards, powder flask which retains all of its original lacquer, four tin canisters with embossed brass caps, one contains nine rolls of Maynard tape primers, a tin of Eley percussion caps, and a cleaning kit. Truly breathtaking one of a kind Civil War era presentation Maynard case set worthy of the finest collection and never will another be seen like it.