Product Description
Antique CIVIL WAR Era BALL & WILLIAMS BALLARD .44 Caliber Rimfire CARBINE
Scarce Carbine Likely Used by State Militia!
Here we present an antique Ball & Williams Ballard Carbine in .44 Rimfire, made circa 1862 by Ball & Williams in Worcester, Massachusetts. Manufactured from 1862 to 1865, Ball & Williams received a U.S. Government contract for 5,000 of these carbines in January of 1864. They delivered 1,000 by March 16, 1864 and 500 by August 1, 1864 before forfeiting the balance of the contract because of higher prices from their Kentucky contracts. 1,200 were sent to Vermont and another 600 were rejected by the government and sold on the open market. The barrel is marked “BALL & WILLIAMS / Worcester Mass.”, MERWIN & BRAY AGTS / N. Y., and “BALLARDS PATENT / NOV. 5, 1861”. It is equipped with sling swivels and a pinched blade front sight and a two-leaf folding rear sight graduated to 500 yards.
The Ballard design was one of the favorite long arms during the Civil War period, though production numbers do not necessarily reflect it. The original designer was Charles H. Ballard and his agents Merwin & Bray oversaw production between several different companies. It was a simple, single-shot falling block action and was one of the early guns that would fire a metallic cartridge. Though many of these were purchased by the state of Kentucky, this model was not made for a specific contract, state or otherwise, like many others. However, this was made during the war period and may very well have been thrust into a militia role.
The overall condition is good. Excellent action. The bore is bright with strong rifling. “TH” is stamped on the underside to the rear of the trigger guard. There is a vertical crack that runs along the grain from the top tang. It does move slight if flexed by hand but is not loose. Numbers match.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 22-1/4 inches.
Caliber: .44 Rimfire
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$2250
#220569