The Ball Carbine was designed and patented by Albert Ball of Worchester, MA. Ball spent the 1850’s working for various Massachusetts based gunmakers. Ball secured a patent for a breechloading, metallic cartridge carbine (#38,935) on June 23, 1863.

This particular Ball Carbine is in excellent condition. The gun is 100% complete, correct and original in every way. The gun is mechanically excellent and all systems function as they should, including the action, hammer, trigger and magazine system. The receiver retains nice case coloring overall. All gun metal is clean with a smoky gray patina. The bore is clear and shows some lightly scattered pitting in the grooves of the rifling along its length. The reverse side of the receiver is marked in six horizontal lines, “E. G. LAMSON & CO / WINDSOR, VT / U.S. / BALL’S PATENT / JUNE 23, 1863 / MAR 25, 1864”.

The carbine retains its original L-shaped aperture leaf sight which is graduated for 100 yards on the short leaf, and has a 400 yard aperture and a 600 yard notch on the longer leaf. These are simply marked 1, 4 and 6. The sight is also marked with a single S inspection mark. This same “S” is found on a number of small parts on the carbine. The original front sight is in place near the muzzle as well. The original sling bar and ring are present on the left side of the receiver. The buttstock and forestock are in great overall condition with only minor dings as would be expected of a 150-year old military carbine. The left wrist retains a clear cartouche.

Overall this is a really clean example of one of those scare late-Civil War carbines that just didn’t quite make it in time to reach the field. The Ball Carbine is a very interesting gun that shows some of the design refinements that occurred with metallic cartridge repeating arms during the American Civil War.  [jet]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!