Overall length 37.75"; barrel (bore) length 22"; caliber .56 rimfire. Markings: on left side of round-topped frame "BALLARD'S PATENT/NOV. 5 1861"; on right side of frame "DWIGHT, CHAPIN & CO./BRIDGEPORT CONN." (through serial no. about 125, deleted after that number) over "MERWIN & BRAY/AGT'S N.Y." over serial no. Inspection letters "D" frequently appear on carbines with Dwight, Chapin, & Co. markings, indicative of preliminary inspection by E. M. Dustin, of U.S. Ordnance Department. Often mistaken as early Ballard production from a fictitious Fall River, Massachusetts, factory, these carbines and their complementing rifles were in fact not placed into production until 1863, as evident by split, two-piece breechblocks. Both carbines and rifles originated from a contract entered into between U.S. War Department and Merwin & Bray in October 1862 for 10,000 of each arm, subsequently reduced to 1,000 of each by Commission on Ordnance and Ordnance Stores. Because Ball & Williams facilities were tied up with Kentucky contracts, Merwin & Bray turned to small parts maker of Dwight, Chapin & Co. in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Although they tooled for production, they fell short of scheduled delivery dates and although about 100 carbines had been inspected, no deliveries were accepted (due to caliber problems) by U.S. government, effectively bankrupting Dwight, Chapin & Co. Completed carbines and unfinished parts were sent to Worcester and assembled by Ball & Williams. Merwin & Bray sold all 1,000 carbines in Kentucky in April 1864 on an open market purchase.