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Rare Ball & Williams Sporting Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Rare Ball & Williams Sporting Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA 92606
Rare and Desirable Ball & Williams Sporting Rifle, #298, .38 RF cal., 24'' blue steel octagon barrel, brass frame, lever and breechblock; front dovetail brass blade sight with standard rear small elevator type buckhorn sight; rosewood stock and forend, with crescent buttplate. Exactly like the example pictured on page 19 of the book ''Ballard, The Great American Single Shot Rifle'', by John T. Dutcher, and mentioned by serial number on that page. Probably mfg'd in the summer of 1863. Right diagonal barrel flat marked ''Ballard's Patent/Nov.5.1861''; top barrel flat marked ''Ball & Williams/Worcester, Mass.''; left side flat marked ''Merwin & Bray Agt's/New York''. Early Ballard rifles of this type are considered quite scarce with less than 20 known. Condition is excellent. Brass with light even patination. Rosewood stock with additional coat of linseed oil. Small loss at heel of buttplate. Crisp functioning action and very good bore with just minor erosion and light frosting. Est.: $4,000-$6,000. (Antique)