Edward Maynard originally intended to join the military but was forced to drop out of West Point due to ill health. He subsequently became arguably the nation's leading dentist and was also an active inventor. He is most famous today for his automatic tape primer which ultimately proved too unreliable for sustained military use and his more dependable breech loading single shot rifles and carbines. Only 2,000 of these muskets were converted by D.S. Nippes of Philadelphia in the late 1840s using Maynard's patented tape primer. These conversion muskets helped pave the way in development of the subsequent Maynard primed Model 1855 rifle-muskets. It has a bayonet stud on the bottom of the barrel, brass blade front sight on the forward strap of the front barrel band, trumpet head ram rod, "US/JH/P" marked at the breech, "1843" dated barrel tang, "MILL CREEK/PA/1844" marked at the tail of the lock, "EDWARD MAYNARD/PATENTEE/1845" marked on the primer door, and two oval script inspection cartouches including "JH" (either Joseph Hannis or John Hawkins) and "WAT" (William A. Thornton). A "GDM" collection stamp is present at the toe. Includes a US socket bayonet and R. W. Oliver Pittsburg, PA leather sling. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Very good with some mild flash pitting, scattered light pitting, mottled brown patina on the lock, and sharp markings in the metal. The stock is fine as re-oiled with some scattered dents, some light scratches, some chips ahead of the rear lock screw, a minor crack behind the lock, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good with scattered light pitting. This is a solid example of a rare and early Maynard primed firearm and an important piece in the evolution of U.S. martial arms that precedes the U.S. Model 1855 series.