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Winning Bid US $750 First bid $750 Quantity 1 # of bids 1 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2022-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2024-03-01 22:05:02

Ballard, (Ball) Dual-Ignition Sporting rifle, CAL: 38 RF, MFG. 1865, SN: 16885, Lever Action Breechblock Single Shot Rifle, 28'' Octagon barrel. This is a scarce example of a late Civil War era, Dual-Ignition Sporting rifle. The rifle was metallic cartridge breechloader that was invented by Charles H Ballard of Worchester, Massachusetts. His invention was issued US Patent #33631 in November of 1861. As Ballard was an inventor & not a manufacturer, he sought a way to market & sell his invention with an eye towards collecting patent royalties, instead of investing in a manufacturing facility to produce his guns. This lead to a partnership with New York sales agents Merwin & Bray, who represented Ballard's invention, received contracts for his guns, & then subcontracted the production of the guns to other established arms makers. With the Civil War well under way in the winter of 1861-1862, Merwin & Bray found a ready market for the well designed, single shot rimfire carbines & rifles covered under Ballard's patent. They then negotiated the manufacturing contracts with Ball & Williams, Dwight, Chapin & Co., & R. Ball & Co. between 1862 & 1866. Ball & Williams produced 15,600 carbines & rifles under Ballard's patent, while R. Ball & Co. produced an estimated 2,000 Sporting Rifles in a variety of calibers. However, fewer rifles with the Dual-ignition firing system were produced. The guns used a simple dropping block action that was actuated by a combination triggerguard/under lever & a unique Dual Ignition system that allowed them to be used as percussion arms if the rimfire ammunition was not available. These guns had a percussion cone centrally located in the rear of the breechblock, which was stuck by the face of the hammer neck. This guns would utilize the normal .38RF ammunition while it was available, but could also use percussion caps to ignite reloaded .38RF cases (with a vent hole drilled into their base), or could use nitrated paper cartridges. These ''dual ignition'' Ballard rifles are very scarce. The guns had a simple manual extractor system to remove the spent cases. Pulling a small, spring-loaded lever located under the gun to the rear, actuated the extractor. This example of the Ballard Dual Ignition .38RF rifle is in very good surviving condition. The top flat of the barrel is marked ''No 38.'', while the SN is also marked on the top of the barrel at the breech, as well as on the top of the receiver. The gun is clearly marked in two horizontal lines ''BALLARDs PATENT / NOV. 5, 1861'' on the right side of the receiver & ''MERWIN & BRAY AGTs / NEW YORK'' on the left. The left side of the hammer spur is marked: Patented Jan. 5, 1864, a reference to the dual ignition system patent. The original straight grip stock & forearm are very good, but does have a repaired 5'' crack in the stock, which has been stabilized by a screw in the belly of the stock. The forend has a widows peak metal forend tip & there is a 1 1/2'' sliver of wood missing on the left side by this forend cap. The wood carries the original finish, with an additional layer on top. The barrel blue has town a gray/brown patina, with 80% coverage. The case hardened receiver, lever & buttplate have worn or faded to a gun metal gray, with brown spotting. The lever locks into place when closed by clicking onto a bin on the lower tang. The extractor system is complete, fully functional & the spring remains extremely strong. The rifle is fitted with a flip-up, sliding aperture tang sight on the back end of the receiver behind the hammer, while the barrel carries an original roll-over rear sight that rotates into its two positions, as it should. The barrel also carries a blade front sight near the muzzle, with a second open dovetail is present behind the front sight. The 5-groove rifling of the bore is very good, with some pitting & roughness. The stock carries a crescent metal buttplate. The rifle still possesses an extremely rare empty bass cone, with the hole in the head, which can be loaded & used as a percussion rifle when preloaded cartridges have be exhausted. The nipple on the firing system has been replaced & is too long to enable normal firing strikes. It will need to be replaced or modified to allow full functionality. This is a fine example of a very rare rifle with a unique history. Antique No FFL Req. - Value: 1500 to 3000

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Price

Ballard, (Ball) Dual-Ignition Sporting rifle, CAL: 38 RF, MFG. 1... Item # 4065 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $750

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