My "New" Pre-Marlin Ballard

[Andy]

This is the earliest type of pre-Marlin Ballard, made by Ball and Williams. The Ball and Williams (B&W) Ballards were made from 1862-1865. The markings are as follows:

Left Side:

Ball & Williams
Worchester Mass.
Merwin & Bray Agts.
New York

Right Side:

Ballard's Patent
Nov 5, 1861

It has been converted from an external extractor (which hung below the forearm and was pulled back to extract the empty cartridge case), to internal (note the filler under the forearm where an external extractor would be). The forearm cap makes it a "Sporting Rifle" and not a carbine.

It is in 38 Long rimfire. The serial number is above 9500, so it is the "second variation".

 

[Steppenwolf]

Very nice Andy, love the Ballard lines. It looks like your tastes are slipping back in time.

 

[Andy]

Very nice Andy, love the Ballard lines. It looks like your tastes are slipping back in time.

Thanks. Yea, I'm getting bored with the modern stuff - Two of the last three Milshoots I shot a Swiss Vetterli (1871) and a Swedish Rolling Block (1867).

 

[JP]

Similar Models were used by the Missisquoi Red Sashes Canadian Militia during the Fenian Raid 1870 Eccles Hill Battle in Quebec.