3586

SCARCE WARD HAMMER MOUNTED MAYNARD PRIMING SYSTEM

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
SCARCE WARD HAMMER MOUNTED MAYNARD PRIMING SYSTEM
ALTERATION. Cal. 69. NSN. This rarely seen alteration was done for the state of NY by Lt. James Noble Ward in 1857. His contract was to alter 1200 muskets, but Ward died December 6th 1858 & he had altered 300 muskets. The muskets were issued to the 12th NY infantry. The regimental inspector reported that the Ward altered muskets were not satisfactory & "are already condemned by the men" & recommended their recall. The 12th NY disbanded prior to the Civil War. 40 Of these muskets were issued to the 50th NY infantry in 1864. George Moller in his text "American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. 3" Pg. 76 states "Surviving examples indicate that a variety of muskets were altered by Lt. Ward." The alteration here is an 1823 dated ASA Waters Model 1816 musket which had already had an arsenal conversion to percussion. Ward added his patented mag. hammer marked "J.N.Ward U.S.A. / PATENTED JULY 1 1856". The patented hammer has 2 compartments, one holding a gear to advance a roll of caps & the other which is operated by a spring retained pivoting door & holds the caps. Small assembly numbers are stamped inside the primer mag., its cover & the upper surface of the lock's pan flange. Moller notes these alteration numbers do not match on any of the known examples. Along w/ the hammer, Ward also added unusual sights which consisted of a thick brass cone front sight fitted to front band & an adj. rear sight w/ a sm. leaf, the leaf is missing on this example. CONDITION: good to very good overall. Appears original & complete. The 39 1/2" ramrod is a later straight rod w/ tulip end. Metal is an overall mottled gray patina. Markings overall are very good, including the original flintlock breech markings on bbl. Mechanically sound, including the Maynard priming system & hammer. Bore is clear & smooth. (01-17454/JS). ANTIQUE. $2,000-3,000.