Beschreibung:

.56-56 Spencer. 22" round barrel. SN: 1288. Blued finish, smooth walnut stock and forend. Single shot breechloading metallic cartridge carbine. Left side of receiver marked MERWIN & BRAY / AGT'S NY / 1288. Right side of frame marked BALLARD'S PATENT / NOV. 5, 1861. Barrel secured with a single spring retained solid barrel band. Retains the original L-shaped leaf rear sight graduated to 500 yards, pinched iron front sight, both sling swivels with one mounted in toe and on the barrel band. Split breech configuration with correct rimfire hammer, S-shaped operating lever and manual cartridge extractor system. Aproximately 1,800 Ballard Carbines were produced chambered for the .56-56 (sometimes referred to as .56-52) Spencer cartridge during the American Civil War with nearly all seeing some type of military service. The majority of these carbines were acquired and used by the State of Kentucky, although this one is not Kentucky marked. This is a fine condition example of one of the less often encountered of the secondary carbines from the Civil War period. Condition: Fine. Retains much of the blue on the frame and barrel with some thinning and scuffed loss that is most noticeable on the receiver. Markings on the receiver remain mostly clear, although some parts are weak. Mechanically functional, fine bore is mostly bright. Stock crisp with scattered bumps, dings and mars and retaining some feathery texture to the wood grain.