Gun of the Day: Early Maynard Rifle

This separately primed cartridge breechloader was offered in both .35 and .50 caliber and could be easily swapped for caliber by changing barrels. About 2,000 prewar Maynards went to southern states that included Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi.

The innovative Maynard could be fired with a proprietary tape primer (much like a modern day roll of toy pistol caps) or with regular percussion caps. The patchbox in the buttstock could hold either item. Even today in North South Skirmish Association matches, the Maynard carbine is a gun that still gives a good account of itself in the accuracy department thanks to its rear tang sight.