Got my Maynard in the mail today!!!

WaddWatsonEllis · September 13, 2012, 11:47:36 PM

I am so chuffed!I got my new Maynard from Larry Romano today ... what a lovely piece!

Next SSKI check will order a new bullet rammer for reloading, and the next SSKI should bring about some bullet molds ...
Then in the long run I will have to look into some real calvary pants, boots and spurs....now if I could only rent a horse...*S*

This will allow me to perform in the personna of my great grandfather, Watt (Wadd) Watson Ellis

Mogorilla · September 14, 2012, 06:55:09 AM

Excellant! Are Maynard's the ones that use the paper primers? Or are the Burnside's the ones that use the paper primers. I have looked at Romano's web page numerous times. Beautiful looking carbine.

Caleb Hobbs · September 14, 2012, 09:42:44 AM

Congratulations, Wadd. That's a beautiful firearm. When you get it shooting, let us know how it does.

Tascosa Joe · September 14, 2012, 10:07:20 AM

Great Looking weapon! Did he send any cartridge cases with it?

WaddWatsonEllis · September 14, 2012, 10:23:58 AM

Quote from: Tascosa Joe on September 14, 2012, 10:07:20 AM
Great Looking weapon! Did he send any cartridge cases with it?

Tascosa Joe,

He sent me two brass ones ... and I plan to make 'dummy' cartridges (i.e. caps) using cream of wheat for powder and putting a disc of 1/2" plastic down first (to keep the cream of wheat from coming out the end and to show that they are 'dummies'). That way I can practice loading quickly and use them for show and tell .... that is once I get some .515 (Maynard) bullets ....

WaddWatsonEllis · September 14, 2012, 10:42:41 AM

Quote from: Mogorilla on September 14, 2012, 06:55:09 AM
Excellant! Are Maynard's the ones that use the paper primers? Or are the Burnside's the ones that use the paper primers. I have looked at Romano's web page numerous times. Beautiful looking carbine.

Mogorilla,

Gee, thanks! They were kind of a missing link in rifles ... they had a cartridge that had a small hole where the primer usually was ... then they were ignited by a hammer falling on a cap-gun like paper roll(filled with fulminate of mercury) ... or a standard black powder (#11) cap that sat on the trigger ... in the humid south, the rolls often turned to a paper mache type thing and then caps were used; in the Southwest with it's dryer weather, I am told that the rolls worked quite well.

In any case, the explosion from the paper 'Cap' or the explosion from the traditional 'cap' went down a small tube/tunnel in the rifle, through the hole in the back of the cartridge, and ignited the powder within ... a better system than cap-and-balll, but still open to the weather (slightly) for the powder to get moist ....

See the shells in the earlier post ... these are actually battlefield finds from the War of the Northern Aggression...

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · September 14, 2012, 10:48:00 AM

WWE; Not really a missing link;

There were several evolutions before the arrival of the central-fire, self-contained, breach-sealing brass cartridge that we know today. Your Maynard was one of the steps, shared with a few others, along the way. The history of firearms technology around this time is facinating.

WaddWatsonEllis · September 14, 2012, 10:48:48 AM

Quote from: WaddWatsonEllis on September 14, 2012, 10:42:41 AM
Mogorilla,

Gee, thanks! They were kind of a missing link in rifles ... they had a cartridge that had a small hole where the primer usually was ... then they were ignited by a hammer falling on a cap-gun like paper roll(filled with fulminate of mercury) ... or a standard black powder (#11) cap that sat on the trigger ... in the humid south, the rolls often turned to a paper mache type thing and then caps were used; in the Southwest with it's dryer weather, I am told that the rolls worked quite well.

In any case, the explosion from the paper 'Cap' or the explosion from the traditional 'cap' went down a small tube/tunnel in the rifle, through the hole in the back of the cartridge, and ignited the powder within ... a better system than cap-and-balll, but still open to the weather (slightly) for the powder to get moist ....

See the shells in the earlier post ... these are actually battlefield finds from the War of the Northern Aggression...

Mogorilla,

Here is a really good post on the Maynards ....

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/civil-war/Maynard-carbine.pdf

WaddWatsonEllis · September 14, 2012, 11:29:30 AM

Hi,

I just found these pics online ... they explain far better than my humble words ...

Ottawa Creek Bill · September 19, 2012, 05:08:39 PM

WW....Great Looking weapon! Like to see it in action.

OCB

WaddWatsonEllis · September 19, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Ottawa Creek Bill on September 19, 2012, 05:08:39 PM
WW....Great Looking weapon! Like to see it in action.

OCB

OCB<

You certainly will ... Caleb Hobbs has asked me if I might write a note about Maynards ... but at $2.50/shell (and I haven't even discussed bullets yet *S*), it is looking like sometime after the New Year before I can get it to the range .... but when I do, I will be sure to get pics of it in action!

Oregon Bill · September 21, 2012, 11:29:00 AM

Wadd, I used to shoot an original. I got my brass from Dixie in those days, but their Maynard cast bullets were very sloppy. I would recommend you contact Dakota Widowmaker here at CAS City to see if he is still offering his modified Lee mold for the .56-50 Spencers. It drops a .515 bullet, which a little heavier than the original, should still give you very good service in your Maynard. I used to shoot an original Merrill as well, but preferred that little Maynard.