US Civil War Cavalry Ball & Williams Ballard Carbine 44 RF Antique Rare
SOLD FOR: $1,325.01
WOA#: WY240320CC005
Make: Ball & Williams Manufacture, Merwin & Bray Distributor
Model: Ballard Carbine
Serial Number: 16900
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1862-1865
Caliber: .44 Rimfire
Action Type: Single-Shot Falling-Block Carbine with Manual Extractor
Markings: The top of the chamber ring is marked with the serial number “16900”. The top of the barrel is serial matched. The manual extractor knob assembly is marked with a matching serial number. The left side of the hammer has a patent number. The left side of the receiver is marked “MERWIN & BRAY, AGT’S / NEW YORK.”. The right side of the receiver is marked “BALLARDS PATENT / NOV. 5 1861”.
Barrel Length: 22”, Round
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a dovetailed blade. The rear sight is a folding leaf that presents a “V”-notch in the down position and when raised presents a “V”-notch at the top of the leaf marked “500 YDS” with a wide aperture at the center marked “300 YDS”.
Stock Configuration & Condition/Grip: The stocks are two-piece wood featuring a forend with a barrel band that has a provision for a sling swivel at the bottom, a manual extractor knob at the bottom of the forend which is just forward of the receiver, a straight wrist with finger grooves integral to the lever, a straight comb, a sling swivel fixed to the belly and a metal buttplate. The stocks have light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP is 14” from the trigger to the rear end of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition for Antique refinished. The stocks fit just a little shy to the tangs and receiver.
Type of Finish: Blued and Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with mostly sharp rifling. There is some scattered erosion throughout the grooves but no significant pitting. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8/10 for Antique.
Overall Condition: The carbine retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is some surviving bluing under the forend but the rest of the carbine is now in the white. There are scattered light handling marks, nicks and scuffs. The markings are clear. Most of the metal has taken to a patina. The screwheads are sharp to tool marked but remain serviceable. Overall, the carbine is in Fine Plus condition for an Antique. Based on the amount of finish on the screws compared to the surrounding metal it is likely that the screws were refinished but the rest of the metal on the receiver and lever is original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. To load the carbine, the lever is pulled to lower the breechblock and the lever is then returned to its original position. To fire the carbine, the hammer is cocked and trigger depressed. To eject a spent casing, the breechblock is lowered again and the manual extractor knob is pulled to remove the casing. Please note, the hammer can not be cocked when lowering the breechblock. We have not fired this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: This carbine comes with a .44 Ballard Die Set, 14 Un-Primed Rounds, and a Single-Cavity .44-205W Bullet Mold.
Our Assessment: This is a Ball & Williams Ballard Carbine that was manufactured between 1862-1865. The Ballard Carbine was patented by Massachusetts based inventor Charles H. Ballard in late 1861 and production began the following year. They were famously used by the Kentucky Cavalry during some of the most brutal fighting of the Civil War. In another instance, a number of Ballards were issued to the Vermont State Militia in order to battle a band of escaped Confederate prisoners who had made their way to Canada.
This particular Ballard Carbine is from the Civil War era. The markings are crisp, the mechanics are spot on, and the bore is as good as one could hope for a carbine of its age. This is one carbine that collectors of historical firearms will not want to miss out on! Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
