✅ SOLVED Found a Gun Today !

[NVNutcase]

Not really sure of any specifics. The Barrel is 20" long and it appears to be .50 caliber. I'm pretty sure the Ball is still lodged in the chamber. Any details would be appreciated.

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Way cool find!

 

[G.I.B.]

Very nice find.

I could look at it for hours and wonder what the story was behind it.

Not many people had money when this rifle was serviceable. It has to have quite a story to it.

Where about (nothing too specific) did you dig it up? Old homestead? Trail? Ghost town? Camp?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

It appears to be a US .50-caliber Maynard Carbine, Model-1863 (also called "2nd model"). To see confirmation of that ID, go here (lots of photos):
Carbines, Maynard

It is a breechloader which used a brass cartridge, not a "ball." Unless what you are seeing in its breech is made of lead, it is the base of a Maynard cartridge... which had a small "pinhole" at its center.

It had a serial number stamped into the tang of its curved trigger-guard. If it could be CAREFULLY cleaned, the serial number could establish your .50 Maynard Carbine's year-of-manufacture.

 

[allen_idaho]

That looks like a confederate Maynard Carbine, which was available in either .50 or .52 caliber.

-----
Edit:

Looks like cannonball guy beat me to the punch.

 

[RustyGold]

Man that is such a cool find! Congratulations!

 

[NVNutcase]

I found this today around Pioche, Nevada, so it was probably something to do with Mining. I know we had Soldiers, both Blue and Grey, come in around the time when the Big Silver was booming, around 1870. Thanks for looking and I will look into some methods of carefully cleaning it up a bit.

 

[topdogintampa]

Very nice find old school find Nutty! Be carefull and hope you can date it! Beautiful piece with alot of history imo...

Well done and congrats on one of the best older complete finds I have seen on here this year! :thumbsup

T

 

[mirage83]

Looks like none of the rust is really deep-seated, so it may clean up fairly well. Great find, and let us know of any markings/stampings you find on it if you decide to take a swing at cleaning it up.

 

[Army of 1]

That is such a cool find ,finding a firearm is something i'm yet to strike off my bucket list , congrats ..cheers Mick

 

[cw0909]

thats a very nice dug find, i dont think ive ever seen a dug civil war rifle, in such good shape

interesting mine stories too

Lost Breyfogle Mine
Lost Mines of California - Page 2

Could it be http://www.legendsofamerica.com/gnv-treasures6.htmlrelated too the Lost Breyfogle

Or The Lost Gunsight Minei



Ed T

 

[releventchair]

Bingo! great score. Congrats.

 

[Goldiver]

Wow, super cool find! Congratulations!

Steve

 

[Breezie]

OUTSTANDING find! I look forward to seeing it after it has been carefully cleaned.

Way to go!!!

Breezie

 

[NVNutcase]

Thanks everyone. Doing a little research in order to find the Safest way to get to the Serial number .

 

[Tejaas]

"BANNER" IN MY BOOK!

Your Maynard -alone- is awesome, but the fact that it was found in the Trans-Mississippi Dept puts it over the top for me.

PLEASE post up any information you come up with.

I'm dying to know if it was a Florida/Mississippi/Georgia state purchase or not... and I'd also be interested to hear if it's a .50 or .52...

That cartridge can tell as much of the story as the carbine itself.

~Tejaas~

 

[Prospecting P.]

Got my attention! Lol very cool find, congrats and Good luck on finding more. hh

 

[jfreakofkorn]

has some cool patina .....

i would not clean it tho .... IMO it would affect any valve ( if any )

they has to be other means in obtaining the numbers off of it .... ? what comes to mind, any Xray ....

 

[uglymailman]

A guy wrote a book about finding a couple of KGC/Jesse James treasures. A buried gun was found pointing to the treasure in each. Cool find. Good luck.

 

[danimal03]

wow, amazing find. CannonBall guy is 100% on this being a 2nd model Maynard. The 1st models had a patchbox cover and a long range sight on the stock. The first models are almost exclusively associated with CS states as these states were ordering and buying firearms by the wagon and boatload for the perceived coming war.

When the war broke out only a few more shipments of war material were sent in the first few months of the war until the Lincoln administration put an end to it. 2nd model Maynards were not part of this. Your carbine would have been likely issued to Union cavalry sometime mid-late war.

It could have been captured and Confederate used but without any inscription/evidence there is no way to ever know this.

But regardless a super find. It would have had a buttplate and may be lurking about. I would work the area hard to complete it.

I would personally leave it as is and mount it on a board. Desert Iron comes out of the ground so beautiful I would leave it alone. over-cleaning it could potentially screw it up.

and yes this is 100% a banner find. I will nominate it as well. I have been told this post was posted in the 'today's finds' section but has already been buried. I will try and find it and resurrect it.

But being on the 'what is it?' forum it will not likely make banner as this forum gets less views. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!