Ballard carbine - info needed - edit

[kjohn]

I have a Ballard patent 1861 carbine. Barrel 22". Serial number 8415. I can read Newmarket on one side of the barrel and below that "ME_____". I can't make out what the bottom word(s) are. I can't see any other markings on the barrel or action, none on the stocks. A cast .410 bullet is a bit too small to fill the end of the barrel. RR sight is flip up, marked only 2 and 5.

I have googled and searched, but can't pin down which carbine the serial 8415 actually is. **
The expected serial number range for this last lot of Model 1862
carbines is between 6500 and 9100. (found this on- https://americansocietyofarmscollec...ard-firearms-in-the-Civil-War-SPEARS-v127.pdf

If anybody can help with info or a good site to do research on, I thank you in advance.

 

[kjohn]

It looks like I can answer some of my own question. Copied from the American Society of Arms Collectors:

Kentucky purchased one more lot of these Model 1862 carbines
on 17 November 1863. A new contract for 5,000 firearms was is-
sued for the purchase from Merwin & Bray on that date, but the
purchase included three different models. The purchase included
1,000 of this model carbines, 1,000 half stocked rifles with a bore
diameter, also of .42 inches still designed to use the No 44 rimfire
cartridge and 3,000 full stocked rifles with a larger bore diameter of
.52 inches to chamber the Spencer 56-56 rimfire cartridge. Rifles
will be discussed later. The 1,000 carbines for this contract were
identical to those previously purchased and the price remained
unchanged. These 1,000 carbines were completed and delivered
almost immediately with the final delivery on 18 December 1863.
The expected serial number range for this last lot of Model 1862
carbines is between 6500 and 9100.

 

[Incurable Collectoer]

Hi,

I have several rimfire Ballard in my collection and one of them is a carbine in the 17000 serial number range that was manufactured after the US Civil War by R. Ball who took over production after Ball and Williams parted company. During the US Civil War two companies were making Ballard rifles and carbines. The original company Ball and Williams were still making guns in the smaller caliber .38, .44, .46 all in the dual ignition system with rimfire and percussion. Dwight Chapin & Co. were also making a licensed version of the Ballard and most of theirs were .54 caliber.
Your carbine's serial number would suggest it is a Ball and Williams era made gun. Do you see a No. 44 stamp on the barrel or action on the top?

 

[pmatuk]

these are both Ball and Williams the carbine is 44 cal and the rifle is 46 cal
they were both converted to CF some time in the past
I found 44-40 brass with a bit of forming works for both and has the best rim diameter

 

[tiriaq]

I have a Merrimack Arms .46 rimfire dual ignition rifle. .44-40 cases do chamber nicely. I have fired it using an altered .44-40 case - installed a fired flattened primer cup with a tiny central hole, notched the rim to clear the firing pin. Drop a bullet into the chamber followed by the charged case, then fire using a percussion cap on the nipple in the breech block.
Going to try it this season with a .44-40 case altered with an offset rimfire case as the primer.

 

[kjohn]

Hi,

I have several rimfire Ballard in my collection and one of them is a carbine in the 17000 serial number range that was manufactured after the US Civil War by R. Ball who took over production after Ball and Williams parted company. During the US Civil War two companies were making Ballard rifles and carbines. The original company Ball and Williams were still making guns in the smaller caliber .38, .44, .46 all in the dual ignition system with rimfire and percussion. Dwight Chapin & Co. were also making a licensed version of the Ballard and most of theirs were .54 caliber.
Your carbine's serial number would suggest it is a Ball and Williams era made gun. Do you see a No. 44 stamp on the barrel or action on the top?

I don't see .44 stamped anywhere.
The expected serial number range for this last lot of Model 1862
carbines is between 6500 and 9100." Mine is #8415.