Ballard (Ball & Williams) Military Carbines (Serial numbers 1500-7500, and 8500-10500)
Courtesy Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Overall length 37.25"; barrel (bore) length 22"; caliber .44 rimfire. Markings: same as Ballard/Ball & Williams sporting rifles second type. Additional marks on U.S. War Department purchases include inspector's initials "MM" or "GH" on left side of frame and "MM" on barrel, breechblock, buttplate and on left side of buttstock in script within an oval cartouche. Three thousand of earlier production (serial numbers 1700 through about 5000) of these carbines were sold to state of Kentucky under an August 1862 contract, extended in April 1863. In November 1863, Kentucky contracted for an additional 1,000 carbines. In the interim, state of New York purchased 500 for distribution to its militia. U.S. War Department ordered 5,000 under a contract signed in January of 1864, but Ball & Williams delivered only 1,500 (serial numbers noted in range of 9800 through 10600) while concentrating production on their more lucrative Kentucky contract. Another 600 of the federal contract were partially inspected (serial numbers about 6500 to 7100-MM in cartouche in stock only), but were rejected because barrels had been rifled prior to proofing; these were sold to Kentucky in September 1864 on an open market purchase. Carbines marked with federal inspection marks usually bring a premium.
Antique
Excellent$0000
Fine$0000
Very Good$0000
Good$0000
Fair$0000
Poor$0000