CIVIL WAR question..Ballard .44 rimfire single shot

[Jim McDougall]

This is a Ballard (patent 1861) .44 rimfire rifle acquired MANY years ago. In my youthful exuberance, I had learned that my great grandfather had served through the Civil War in the U.S. Sharpshooters. As a novice collector I saw this gun and envisioned (by the slide sight) that this must be a rifle as they night have used.

The U.S. Sharpshooters, just two regiments of forward action troops formed by Hiram Berdan, thus known as 'Berdans Sharpshooters'. My notions of this gun being one used by them were extinguished when I learned that the term 'sharpshooter' was actually an eponym for the Sharps rifles they largely used. While other guns such as the Colt revolving rifle were tried, these were much despised by the men, so saw little use.

In recent research I found that my particular gun, had the distinguishing markings that placed it within the years of the Civil War.
One line reads, Ballard Patent 1861; another Ball & Williams, Worcester;
another Merwin & Bray, New York.
The serial # 4823.

Charles Ballard had the tool making firm of Ball & Williams take up the manufacture in 1862. They had production until the war ended in 1865.
The firm Merwin & Bray in New York were the marketing and distribution firm.

Apparently Ball & Williams received an order for 5000 rifles in 1862 from the State of Kentucky. It is unclear how many of these guns were produced but by 1864 part of the contract was forfeited as pricing wars with other rifles probably Sharps conflicted.

We know that a good number of these were indeed used by Kentucky volunteers as they are marked KENTUCKY. However while government contracts were of course a matter of record and protocols, the militias functioned through private channels.

So here is the catch:

The octagonal barrel on this gun suggests it was a sporting rifle, as these barrels invariably seem to be used in that field. HOWEVER, this is chambered .44 rimfire, the preferred bore for military use.

It does not have sling swivels, which seemed a feature for a good number of the military destined examples.
The barrel is 26.5" which seems a bit longer that many of the military carbines.
The serial # is 4823.....within range of the 5000 ordered to Ball & Williams, which ceased effectively in 1865 as the firm itself ended, restructuring to new name & firm.

Apparently Ball & Williams interspersed serial numbers between the military and civilian guns.

So my question is, could this gun have found use independent of formal orders and contracts and seen action with either a militia unit or other.?

Could numbers of these Ball & Williams guns have been acquired privately when this firm defaulted on contract and many guns sold. Even a sporting gun with the favored .44 rimfire would have been likely for independent use.

These were highly favored for efficiency, and later even found use for hunting, notably as I found, buffalo hunting in Montana.

[urbanspaceman]

Is this a falling-block Jim?
It is on my list of must haves.
I have a Remington Rolling Block carbine .43 Spanish and I also have my treasured Winchester lever with a fantastic story behind it.
But I don't have a falling block and yours is magnificent.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Keith! Yes, this is indeed a falling block, and when the lever (surrounding trigger) is down, the action opens and slides out. The cartridge ejector is activated by the knob underneath which is manually pulled back actuating it to remove the spent cartridge.
It really is slick how it functions, and one of the key features is the strong seal in the action when closed.

Most of what I have read on these is how reliable they were. As always the case it is financial issues that drive the military....case in point, the Little Big Horn, where Custer and his men were so incredibly outgunned . The tribal warriors were armed heavily with Henry repeating rifles, while the army was armed with single shot Springfield 1873 carbines and single action colts. The primary concern was 'efficient' use of ammunition!

Most who have been in the military understand the maxim on ammunition expenditure.

This truly is a solid (the octagon barrel is really heavy) and it is a delightfully balanced rifle when held, and the action is smooth. Honestly I had always deemed it a sporting gun, and had not realized its historic value after my disappointment of the decades ago finding it was not a sharpshooter gun.

While not having the Kentucky mark or visible connections, the fact that it was Ball & Williams produced within the 5000 number of the contract places it firmly in the war years...thus allowing certain possibilities for possible militia use.
That was my goal here, hoping that those with Civil War interests and expertise might have reference or anecdotal material that might apply.

There is a book by John Dutcher on the Ballard rifles which sounds like the place for answers, but not sure I can deal with the INCREDIBLE price tag....400.00 minimum, some over 800.00!!!

[urbanspaceman]

I would feel that your carbine was certainly a Kentucky even without the undeniable proof.
It was my Remington RB pistol that showed up so very occasionally in Hollywood depictions that convinced me of the efficacy of a single shot (.5) that could cycle every 2.5 seconds. Have a revolver... yes, but have the RB as well. I've said this before. The temptation to unload your revolver in 5 seconds is probably overwhelming and leaves you defenseless.

You didn't ask me about the story behind my Winchester so I will tell it anyway:
The British War Office (Navy) ordered 20,000 1892 lever action .44-40 carbines in Feb. 1915 (@ $10.50¢ each, plus 9,000 in May & 3,000 in Aug. with 3 million rounds (.44-40 pistol) ammunition.
3 Canadian inspectors were sent to New Haven on behalf of W/O to proof the weapons as Britain could not afford to send inspectors over at that time.
The Navy issued the guns to the crews of Q-Ships:
seemingly merchant vessels out of Queenstown, Ireland, hence the name.
It had become apparent that U-boat torpedoes were deemed wasted on harmless merchant vessels and the U-boats would surface to destroy those ships with deck guns.
2 x 3 pound cannons were concealed on the Q-ships' decks to be used against the surfaced U-boats.
The Winchesters were used (very effectively) against the German crew.
They were retained by the Navy after the war for 'Boarding and Inspecting' commercial merchant ships, as the 12 rounds of low penetration ammo were ideal for close-quarter action. They were kept in UK service until Feb. 1921 then sold onto the civilian market.

[CutlassCollector]

Jim,
Did you get your info from Flayderman's Guide to Antique American firearms? If not, it is reasonably priced and still available. It has around three pages on Ballard rifles and carbines.

It's complicated with many barrel lengths, calibres, octagonal barrels (these not confined to sport), round barrels and part round part octagonal.
It lists the government contracts - Kentucky, New York not marked as such but US government contracts carry MM inspector marks.

I can't immediately identify your model but can read it a bit more closely if you like.

CC

[CutlassCollector]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

It was my Remington RB pistol that showed up so very occasionally in Hollywood depictions that convinced me of the efficacy of a single shot (.5) that could cycle every 2.5 seconds. Have a revolver... yes, but have the RB as well. I've said this before. The temptation to unload your revolver in 5 seconds is probably overwhelming and leaves you defenceless.

Jim, Keith,
Thanks for posting these, all beautiful old guns.

Towards the end of the Civil War revolvers were produced by various smaller manufacturers that allowed for quick reloading of the whole cylinder, by dropping out the empty one and slotting in a new cylinder already preloaded.

This was a huge improvement on the Colt/Remingtons where the cylinder could not be removed without tools. I'll post some pictures of my Rogers and Spencer .44 later.

So that's what I'd prefer.......... plus maybe a derringer backup.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Keith! I had no idea of the British use of Winchesters, but this is truly fascinating! These guns in themselves have amazing histories as they were so widely used and over such long periods. Yours is a classic! Its funny, we have spent so many years discussing swords, yet our interest in arms history of course carries into guns.

This is my 1873 Saddle Ring carbine, found some years back in Albuquerque, it had been in use from 1880s there and only 'retired' in the 80s. Here in Texas the Texas Rangers have carried them faithfully up until recent years, some probably still do, when mounted.

Joaquin Jackson, one of the legendary Rangers around here seen some years ago with his. He wrote the book, "One Ranger", the title referring to the old story about years ago a riot broke out in a town and calls were sent for help. One Ranger rode calmly into town....the towns people looked and exclaimed, 'they only sent ONE ranger!!??
He calmly drawled, 'there's only one riot aint there?"
Jackson was the model for the movie "Hell or High Water" Jeff Bridges character.

With the rolling blocks, this is the one I ended up with.....the guy in New York laughed and said, well this came outa Texas in the first place, so guess its going home!



As for the Ballard, thanks for the thought on 'Kentucky'. I pretty much had that feeling too. If they wanted 'em, they'd get 'em, and hell with proper channels.
Both guns rough for wear.....but thats history!

[Jim McDougall]

CC, thanks so much for the tip! Im not sure if Ive got Flayderman, but should have it. Its quoted so much its a must have. I got most my information from an article in an American Society of Arms Collectors bulletin which was pretty thorough. For me though, Flaydermans research has always been final word, nobody ever knew stuff like him! Sure miss him.

Thanks for the insight on octagon barrels, I was thinking that such a feature would not be restricted so arbitrarily. In times of war as when these were made, I would think 'mix and match' would be common.

[CutlassCollector]

Rogers and Spencer .44 Percussion Revolver.

The US government ordered 5000 of them near the end of the war but only 1500 were delivered before the end of the conflict - I guess that still counts as a Civil War gun.

Unclip the bar from under the muzzle and the rammer can be used to load each chamber on the gun. Pull the assembly further out and the cylinder can be dropped out as the upper bar forms the axle about which it rotates. A spare fully loaded cylinder can than be dropped in for a fast reload.
Of course it was the end of the percussion era so these innovations did not last long before cartridge revolvers took over.

[Jim McDougall]

Totally amazing piece CC! I never even heard of these. It seems there were quite a few individual designs vying for contracts, and as seen here and with the Ballard and others, many contracts were far from completed.
I think that is what is exciting about firearms of this period during and after the war.

Bannerman was a mysterious and incredible entity, it seems he had his hands in all manner of surplus, stockpiling literally tons of weapons after the war and it seems in many other areas even foreign. I think he was impetus for the basic pursuits of arms collecting in the early part of the century.
Would have loved to see his island and castle in the middle of the Hudson River back in the day!

[urbanspaceman]

I am certain the final showdown in the movie "The Outlaw Josie Wales" features a replaceable cylinder winning the day... yes?
It was a definite boon with percussion arms and it would have been equally useful on cartridge revolvers surely?
Today, of course, swing out cylinders allow the use of speed loaders.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

I am certain the final showdown in the movie "The Outlaw Josie Wales" features a replaceable cylinder winning the day... yes?
It was a definite boon with percussion arms and it would have been equally useful on cartridge revolvers surely?
Today, of course, swing out cylinders allow the use of speed loaders.

Thats weird Keith! We were just talking about 'speed loaders' and were trying to remember which Eastwood movie that was seen in!