doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Long and lean Maynard

I know this is a RIFLE forum, but since Maynards often seem to have come with auxiliary shotgun barrels or had them added, does anybody know if they were made for conventional shotgun shells as well as the custom chambers (like MP's Neidner .38-55) and proprietary Maynard shells?

I've only seen them with Maynard proprietary "everlasting" shot shells, never chambered for regular paper, say 12 or 16 guage, shells.

Their 1881 catalog shows only 55 cal. and .64cal. shot barrels, I don't think anything larger would be feasable.From a few simple measurements,it looks like I can size brass 20 ga. down about .010 and use standard 20 bore wads.Maybe Maynard wanted to sell brass for standard wads?

I had the pleasure of shooting several California quail (and missing several...) and a cottontail with an 1865 Maynard's .55 shotgun barrel some years ago. The guy who owned it had original reloadable Maynard shells (about a dozen) and had loaded them with 1/2 oz of 7 1/2s and black powder, using (I think) 28 ga. wads. It seemed like shooting a (smoky) .410 to me and was about as quick (or slow depending on your POV) to load as a standard modern hammer "1/2 double" as one of our members calls 'em. He also had the rifle barrel, a .40-40 with a near perfect bore.

The buttstock of that gun was OK for the ".410-like loads," but I wouldn't have wanted to shoot it with a .64 or 18 ga. barrel and more powder and shot very much. Skinny and sharp edged; make your fillings wiggle. No forend to hang onto, either. But a great accessory for the rifle, if you had only the one gun.

Maynard did in fact offer an interchangeable shotgun barrel in 20 ga. They are mentioned in the later catalogs if memory serves. Over ten years ago I found the one I now have at the Baltimore show peeking out from under a pile of WWII web gear as I was on my way to the exit to head home. It has 100% original blue and truly a mirror bore. Further, it is complete with cased lever, a link with an unmolested extractor pawl and link screws which have not been turned out since they were set by the factory.

This condition has allowed me to make what I feel is an interesting Maynard observation about, at least , this barrel. It has a cylinder bore, however the muzzle is ever so slightly uniformly constricted, or choked, for a fraction of an inch by seemingly having been pressed or driven into a cone shaped die. There is no evidence that this was haphazardly or accidentally done. You can detect it on the outside by feel with your fingers and internally with a firm patch on a cleaning jag.

A second notable point is that 20 ga. shot shells of the period can be reprimed using the same plier tool made by or for Maynard to reprime their unique large base 1873 model bullet and shot cartridges. If your shot shells are of the Berdan type, the same is true that a Maynard cap picker will serve. This barrels is generally interchangeable with any 1882 model Maynard I have, but usually it is paired with a very late 1882 original .32-20 in nearly the same condition. Someday I hope to make a period style walnut case outfitted with all original loading tools for this two barrel small game set

That'll make a great combination; hope you shoot something with it! Not surprised that Maynard made a conventional shotgun barrel, but had never heard of one before. Can't remember if the .55 I shot was choked. Not very much choke if it was. "Swage" choking was common in the early days of cartridge shotguns, I think, especially in "1/2 doubles."

A person really hates to admit he was dumb. But a couple years ago a neighbor asked me to machine a special shaft for a old combine he was restoring. And when I delivered the shaft I noticed some guns standing in the corner and of course I had to look.And was informed they had all belonged to his dad. And if I was interested they was ready to go. Smile I traded the shaft for a 22LR LW.And among the Stevens etc there was a Maynard with 2 barrels and a PG cracked stock.?? And being honest it didn't urn my crank so informed a fellow member. But his top bid was 400 dollars and the guy wanted 450 so I passed and he later informed me he had found a shotgun barrel and sold it all to another neighbor for the 450.Guess I was not to smart.smile Whitey

Whitey, as fast as time passes for me at 70, I often think "that happened a couple of years ago."

But when that annoying woman, my wife of 48 years, figures it out, a "couple of years ago" turns out to be 1966.....

So maybe "a couple of years ago," $450 WAS a lot of dough?

Mike your right time flys.I had to go back on my ASSRA PM's. the 400 dollar final offer was rejected and sold to another neighbor on 4-21-011 for 450. Whitey

Your internal clock seems to be in good nick!