Ballard Rifle

The Ballard Rifle was a single shot, breechloading longarm used during the late American Civil War by Kentucky volunteers.[1]

Ballard Rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnion (American Civil War)
WarsAmerican Civil War
Production history
DesignerCharles H. Ballard
DesignedNovember 1861
ManufacturerBall & Williams

R. Ball & Co.

Dwight, Chapin & Co.

Merrimack Arms and Manufacturing Co.

Brown Manufacturing Co.

Marlin Firearms
Produced1862-1891
No. builtAround 21,000+ (1862-1873) by various firms and then 40,000 by J.M Marlin and the Marlin Firearms Co.
VariantsNo. 0 and No. 1 Hunter's Rifle

No. 1 1/2 Hunter's Rifle

No. 1 3/4 Far West

No. 2 Sporting

No. 3 Gallery Rifle

No. 3 Pistol Grip Rifle

No. 3 1/2 Target

No. 4 Perfection

No. 4 1/4

No. 4 1/2 Mid Range

No. 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

No. 5 Pacific

No. 5 1/2 Montana

No. 6 Schuetzen

No. 6 1/2 Off-Hand

No. 6 1/2 Rigby Off-Hand

No. 6 1/2 Pistol Grip Off-Hand

No. 7 Long Range

No. 7 A-1 Long Range

No. 7 A-1 Extra Long Range

No. 8 Union Hill

No. 9 Union Hill

No. 10 Schuetzen Junior
Specifications
Mass10.07 lbs (No. 1 Hunter's Model)

9 lbs (No. 2 Sporting Model)

10-12 lbs (No . 5 Pacific Model)
Caliber
  • .44 Ballard Long (No. 1 Hunter's Model)
  • .32 Long, .38 Long (No. 2 Sporting Model)
  • .32-40 Ballard
  • .38-50 Ballard
  • .38-55 Ballard
  • .40-63/70 Ballard
  • .40-65 Ballard
  • .40-70 Sharps
  • .44-75 Ballard
  • .44-77 Sharps
  • .40-85/90 Ballard
  • .44-90 Sharps
  • .44-100 Ballard
  • .40-90 Ballard
  • .40-90 Sharps
  • .45-70 Government
  • .50-70 Government
  • .44-40 Winchester
  • .45-100 Ballard
  • .45 Sharps

History

The Ballard Rifle was designed and patented by Charles H. Ballard in November 1861 in Worcester, Massachusetts.[1] Around 3,000 were made between 1862 and 1865, with some being used for military use in Kentucky.[1] Ballard rifles used by Kentucky Volunteers will have Kentucky marked on them.

Variants

Variants were built by Ball & Williams (1862–1865), Dwight Chapin & Co. (1862–1863), and later by R. Ball & Co. (1865–1867), Merrimack Arms (1867–68), and Brown Manufacturing (1869–1873). The last and most successful maker was J.M. Marlin Firearms Co., who built more models than any predecessor (1870–1890).

The Ballard rifle had over 20 variants during its 29-year lifespan.[2] The No. 1 Hunter's Model was first introduced in 1875 for the .44 rimfire caliber.[3] The No. 1 would later be produced in .44 rimfire, .45-70 Government, .44 Ballard Long, & .44 Ballard Extra Long.[2] This version along with the No. ​5 1⁄2 Montana are known for being one of the main rifles used to hunt buffalo.[3] Other variants included the No. ​1 3⁄4¾ Hunter's Model, No. 2 Sporting Model, No. 5 Pacific Model, and the No. ​5 1⁄2 Montana Model.[2][3]

References
  1. "Original, Civil War Period< Ballard Military Rifle — Horse Soldier". www.horsesoldier.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  2. Designs, Jack A Rains, Arco Iris Web. "History of Ballard Rifles". cap-n-ball.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  3. "The Marlin-Ballard Pacific and Montana Rifles Appeared as the Buffalo Disappeared". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
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