SCARCE BALLARD .52 CALIBER (56-56 Spencer) CARBINE BY BALL AND WILLIAMS, SERIAL #483, SOLD TO KENTUCKY APRIL 1864

SCARCE BALLARD .52 CALIBER (56-56 Spencer) CARBINE BY BALL AND WILLIAMS, SERIAL #483, SOLD TO KENTUCKY APRIL 1864

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$1,850.00

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Item Code: 1311-02

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This is one of one thousand Ballard carbines sold by that company’s agents, Merwin and Bray, to the State of Kentucky on April 27, 1864, and likely issued to the 16th KY Cavalry or some of the mounted infantry units raised that year. For the complicated story of Ballard arms in the Civil War we refer interested parties to Spears’s authoritative article in the ASAC Journal, Number 123. The short version is that the Ballard received excellent reviews in US testing, but the government was unwilling match the State of Kentucky in the price paid or number ordered, only ordering 1,000 rifles and 1,000 carbines in October 1863. With their usual manufacturer, Ball and Williams, working full time on arms for Kentucky and the commercial market, Ballard agents Merwin and Bray turned production over to a new maker, Dwight, Chapin & Co., who went bankrupt after assembling just 115 carbines for that order, marked by the firm and actually passed by government inspectors, but never purchased. Those carbines and parts already made for the others were turned over to Ball and Williams for completion. The US order was cancelled, but on April 27, 1864. Kentucky stepped in to buy both the 1,000 carbines and some 600 of 700 rifles that were also produced. Serial numbers on the carbines made by Ball and Williams start above 115 and beyond 900 are mixed with the numbers of the rifles being made at the same time, with a serial number range thus extending to about 1700.

As is typical of Ballards, these carbines are single-shot, rimfire breechloaders. This pattern is often referred to as .56 caliber, but is actually .52 caliber, chambered for the Spencer No. 56-56 rimfire cartridge. The robust Ballard mechanics, with triggerguard lever and dropping breechblock, manual ejector, etc., are basically the same as other military models, though the 20-1/4” barrel is fully rounded and the breech has a rounded top with Ballard’s patent information, and the agents’ name with the carbine serial number on its sides, in this case: “BALLARD’S PATENT / NOV. 5, 1861” on the right, and “MERWIN & BRAY / AGT’S N.Y. /483” on the left. As is correct, there are no markings in the wood, only the first 115 carbines made by Dwight, Chapin & Co. (and so marked) being inspected by the U.S.

This rates very good for condition. The barrel has both sights in place with smooth metal showing a mix of gray and thin caramel brown with some darker areas toward the breech. The barrel band is a mix of plum and darker brown. The wrist of the receiver smooth metal showing a warm caramel brown from handling, with the sides of the breech showing some wear to the markings on either side at center of the top line, though they are fully legible, and some small pin-point pitting near the rear edge near the breechblock. The hammer, breechblock, and trigger are gray. The wood to metal fit is tight. The wood shows a pleasing, dark brown color with only minor handling marks and shallow scratches on the buttstock, but show a short narrow drag line and small chip on the left forestock just forward of the rear sight.  Please see our photos. The mechanics are good. The bore is a bit dirty, but basically bright, with good rifling.

This is a scarce and interesting Civil War cavalry carbine that merits a place not only in a cavalry, carbine, or Kentucky related collection or display, but even one concentrating on Ballards in particular given how scarce this model is and how well documented for wartime production.   [sr][ph:L]

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