October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2018
Gun (A) is a Ball and Williams Rifle of which approximately 5000 were manufactured in Worchester, Massachussets between 1862-1865. This model features a full octagon barrel, single shot, falling block, dovetail sporting front sight and broken two leaf folding rear sight. S lever, walnut stocks, rifle butt with metal fore end tip. Barrel retains approximately 85% of a homogeneous blue-brown patina. Barrel has matching serial number and 44 for the model. Top of the octagon frame has matching serial number, side of frame has manufacturer information, right side of frame has patent dates. Frame is devoid of any factory finish and is basically a grey-brown patina. Walnut stocks are very good to excellent, proud to metal with usual dings and bruises but no visible cracks. Original tang was removed as evidenced by a ground down screw and inch of rear tang. Action is fine. Has a suprising nice, clean, well defined and sharply rifled bore with a little residue in the grooves, which are still shiny. Fore end does have a few larger gouges but nothing horrible. Gun (B) is a made by Meridian Manufacturing Company, Meridian, Conneticut, 1864-1865 only. Approximately 5000 made. Carbine is a .50 Caliber Rimfire with a 7 shot magazine in the butt and a very usual loading action that allows the barrel to twist. 22 inch barrel with a round profile, of which only 2000 were manufactured. Iron mountings with single barrel band. Sling swivel at rear of butt. Tang is stamped Triplett & Scott, patented December 6th, 1864. Left side of receiver stamped with manufacturer. This one is not stamped Kentucky as far as we can see through the dark chocolate patina of the barrel and frame. Another unusual aspect of this carbine is that it has a sling swivel on top of the butt stock. Butt stock is presentable when looking from the left, but on the right side is missing the entire wrist, which is approximately 3 and 3/4 inch long by 1 and 3/4 inch wide. Looks like a cut away. Very good bore and action.
Manufacturer
Merwin, Meriden
Model
No. 44 Ballard Rifle, Triplett & Scott Repeating Carbine