The Ballard Rifle was a single shot,
breechloading longarm used during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
by Kentucky volunteers.
History
The Ballard Rifle was designed and patented by Charles H. Ballard in November 1861 in
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...
.
Around 3,000 were made between 1862 and 1865, with some being used for military use in
Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
.
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 (1867–1868), 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.
The No. 1 Hunter's Model was first introduced in 1875 for the .44 rimfire caliber.
The No. 1 would later be produced in .44 rimfire, .45-70 Government, .44 Ballard Long, & .44 Ballard Extra Long.
This version along with the No. Montana are known for being one of the main rifles used to hunt buffalo.
Other variants included the No. Hunter's Model, No. 2 Sporting Model, No. 5 Pacific Model, and the No. Montana Model.
See also
*
Rifles in the American Civil War
References
{{USCWWeapons
American Civil War rifles
Rifles of the United States