This unique Maynard rifle has a buttstock from a First Model Carbine made c. 1859 with a brass compass inlaid on the left side that has detailed scroll engraving and is marked "Presented/to/Edward Stabler/by the Maynard Arms Co./May 1st/1859". The consignor has included a research file with information on Maynard firearms, message exchanges concerning this rifles, and a brief biography of Edward Stabler. The biography explains that Stabler was imprisoned during the War of 1812 for refusing to serve in the militia due to his pacifist views and was then released when his mother wrote to her childhood friend, then First Lady, Dolley Madison. The document also notes that Stabler was innovative and invented several devices, formed the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, worked as the Sandy Spring postmaster for 53 years, and took to seal making. Seals designed or made by Stabler were used by both houses of Congress, the Treasury, Post Office, Supreme Court, and others. This brief biography oddly leaves out several significant designs of Stabler's including the "Stabler cut off" used on post war altered Spencer carbines and what is arguably Stabler's most important design: the Seal of the President of the United States which he designed based on crude instructions from President Millard Fillmore. Stabler's design has been changed slightly over the years to accommodate for the number of states and thus stars in the design. Under the cap, it has a white and black compass marked "HUNTER'S PATENT". The stock also has the First Model buttplate with a patch box marked "MAYNARD PATENTEE/SEP 22 1845/MAY 27 1851/JUNE 17 1856". The left side of the frame is marked with faint three-line patent information followed by "1873". The action is clearly one of the sporting models developed in the post war years that was at some point fitted with the stock of an older rifle. It has a part round, part octagon barrel equipped with a blade front sight followed by a band with a "hood" the sight and "hood" have grooves that allow for the attachment of the two-piece scope shade stored in the patch box. The barrel also has a notch rear sight with two folding leaves marked "2" and "4" similar to those used on Second Model carbines, and it has an adjustable tang mounted peep sight of the type used on the First Model Carbines. It also has a smooth Schnabel end forearm.

Fine as assembled. The barrel retains 60% of the original blue finish mixed with a brown patina. The other components retains 40% of the faded case colors with a brown patina on the balance. The compass has an aged patina. The wood is very good with some slight cracks at the tip of the forearm and in the finish on the right side of the butt and otherwise only light scratches and handling marks. The action is excellent. The compass is non-functional, and the front sight pieces have one broken lens. This is a unique piece connected to the designer of the Seal of the President of the United States!