Congrats to you Mike.  What a unique find and hope you enjoy shooting it.  I have a list of questions to ask you, when I see you again.  May I ask a couple now that really are at the top of my list.

1) Is the tape primer mechanism operational at this point in its life ?

2) Is the bore rifling in what you would consider shootable condition ?

I will pass along a P.M. with a suggestion for case extraction for your consideration

Those Maynard contacts have paid off for you, haven't they ?

Best regards,

Webb

Yes the primer mechanism is complete and does work. Except for the fact someone cleaned away the barrel finish the rifle looks unused or used very little!  Has anyone figured a way to make some rolls of caps to try?

When I bought the rifle the rifling looked strong but rough and dark.  Turned out to be dried oil (maybe it was cosmoline ) or even shellac.  But solvents cleaned it out.  The bore looks bright and shinny, and the three groove rifling is sharp--not a single pit or blemish.  Cleaning the bore form the breech end demonstrated that the bore is "choked".  The cleaning patch became harder to push the last inch or two at the muzzle.  Has anyone else noted this on original Maynard's?

I have already test fired the rifle with the two cases I have formed.  But just for function and safety.  Once I come up with a better way to adjust the remaining cases to chamber, I will run some accuracy tests just to see what the potential could have been for the time--of course that is predicated on my shooting accurately.  I will get some of you good shots to try it also.  I have a 250 gr bullet for my 35/40 the I may try.  I assume Romano makes a ring" bullet" bullet (similar to his 50 cal) but I can't find a picture of it on his website.  Anyone have thoughts on a more appropriate bullet? Regarding RMC for cases, the only problem is the wait--about 4 months!

Quote:


Hi Mike --

Yes, I have chapter and verse to share with you.

Dr. Edward Maynard was issued Letters Patent Number 4,208, dated 22 September 1845, for his tape primer mechanism.  The patent document consist of four pages and contains two parts. Part one being that of the primers, which provides in part, "a new method of making percussion-primers, connected together in a series, by having the fulminate or percussion matter of each primer separated from the other in the series.  .  .  .  ."

In summary, the tape is manufactured with two ply(s) or strips paper.  The first strip in laid out flat and in it are made depressions with a tool which forms a series small cups in the paper strip which are correctly spaced apart to accommodate the distance of the stroke of the locks advancing hand.  Next , the fulminate mixture is dropped into each of the cups and there were fifty such cups per roll.  When dry, the second ply of paper was overlaid and sealed to make the tape waterproof.  And when totally dry it was coiled and packaged for shipment.

Yes, the fulminate mixture is described in detail.  However, rather than recite that here, let me simply give a reference for it, which is Page No.1 at line 105.

Part Two of the patent is the mechanical mechanism with the hinged door and the tape advancing hand which raises upward upon placing the hammer into the full cock position.

The U.S. Patent Office has a web site, but to search patent of this early vintage, one needs to insert a seven digit number, so 4208 becomes searchable as 0004208.  One may also search by date, which in this case is 22 September 1845.

If you wish to wait until this evening, I will send you a message with the four pages as an attachment.

Regards,
Webb

Fascinating, that sounds just like the rolls of caps we played with as kids. I think I recalls paying a dime for a box with 5 or 10 50 shot rolls.  do you think our toy cap gun caps would have worked-----if you ever found any?

Then there were the "green stick-um caps" for cartridges that actually propelled a foam rubber "bullet out of the barrel.   Sigh!!!! all probably no longer available due to safety legislation. 

Wasn't there a sharps that also used a tape priming system

Thanks for all the replies.   

Captain Bob, have you shot your shotgun?  And is it the '65, '73, or '83 variety.  I have a combo set of early the '73 variety.  I had RMC make up ten cases for the shotgun.  I have only test fired mine.  the rifle in the combo is a 20" 40/40.  The shotgun is a 26" 64cal/18 gauge.  If you have used your shotgun to hunt of shoot skeet did you use any thing to improve the tightness of the pattern or just wads and cards like in a muzzle-loader?

  Hi Mike :
            Just wanted to pass along something additional in the event you should not alread have it.

The information that I have quoted below is taken verbatim from More Single Shot Rifles (1959) First Edition, by James J. Grant page 128, chart titled; Dimensions of a Few Maynard Cartridges. 

The reference is to the 1865 percussion cartridge in .35/30.

Rim Diameter -- .770
Under Rim -- .406
Mouth Diameter -- .398
Bullet Diameter -- .370
Case Length Overall -- 1 17/32
Cartridge Length Overall -- 1 31/32

(All dimensions are expressed in inches)

Regards,
Webb