Ballard Rifle
Marlin Firearms · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1862
Also known as: Marlin-Ballard, Ballard Single-Shot
Overview
The Ballard rifle is a single-shot, breech-loading falling-block rifle patented by Massachusetts machinist Charles Henry Ballard in 1861. The lever-actuated falling-block action housed the firing components inside the breechblock to protect them from fouling, and a center-hung hammer gave fast lock time. Produced from 1862 to 1891 by Ball & Williams, Merrimack Arms, Brown Manufacturing, and finally Marlin Firearms, the Ballard was offered in a vast range of rimfire and centerfire chamberings and earned a strong reputation among target and hunting shooters.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3600 g (127.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1170 mm (46.06") |
| Barrel Length | 710 mm (27.95") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 335 m/s (1099 fps) |
| Effective Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 900 m (984 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 8 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Long Rimfire · primary — also known as .44 Ballard
- .38 Long Rimfire — also known as .38 Ballard
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Falling Block Action, Lever Operated Breech, Center Hung Hammer, Fast Lock Time, Interchangeable Barrels
Variants
- Ballard No. 4 Perfection — Target
- Ballard No. 5 Pacific — Hunting
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1863
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Production years: 1862-1891
Produced across several manufacturers; Civil War-era Ball & Williams output supplemented by Kentucky state purchases, with the bulk of later production by Marlin Firearms
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Charles Henry Ballard
Discontinued: 1891
Notes
Early Ball & Williams rifles were chambered in .32, .38, .44, and .54 rimfire; later Marlin-made Ballards added centerfire calibers such as .38-55 and .45-70. Configurations varied so widely (barrels, sights, stocks, levers) that many approached custom guns.
Background
Charles Ballard's falling-block patent outlived its inventor's own company several times over, passing through four manufacturers before Marlin turned it into one of the most coveted single-shot target rifles of the American West.