Very little is known about these rare Mass. Arms Co. Maynard muzzleloading double barrel shotguns. They were presumably made in the 1850s, but must have been manufactured in very limited numbers given the small number that have surfaced, and we have seen less than a handful. They are discussed briefly in the article "The Design, Marketing and Production of Maynard Rifles" by Max W. Goodwin in the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 88 from Fall 2003 and a similar example from the NRA National Firearms Museum is shown. The shotgun is currently improperly listed on the NRA Museum website in case 11 as a converted musket and is very similar to the current shotgun but is in lower condition. The back action locks have "MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS" behind the hammers, "MAYNARD'S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845" on the primer doors, and scroll engraving. The Damascus barrels have a bead front sight and "LONDON. FINE TWIST." on the concave rib. The underside of the rib and the breech plug hooks are marked "43," and the barrels have Birmingham proofs. The furniture has scroll, floral, and entwining pattern engraving. The stock has nickel-silver wedge escutcheons, a checkered wrist, a blank nickel-silver escutcheon on the bottom of the butt, and a 14 1/2 inch length of pull. The case contains several accessories, including leather shot and powder flasks.

Very fine with 85% plus of the brown, blue, and casehardened finishes overall displaying some minor fading from age and handling. The engraving and markings are crisp. The stock is also very fine and has a few dings, crisp checkering, and light scratches and marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good and has moderate wear and absent leather straps. The accessories are mostly fine with minor age and storage related wear. This is the nicest of these incredibly rare Mass. Arms Co. Maynard primed shotguns we have seen.