POTD: Sorry, War’s Over! – The Ball Patent Carbine
Sam.S 06.05.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Feast your eyes upon the magnificence of the Ball Carbine, an exquisite small arm that enjoyed a fleeting existence during this tumultuous period in American history. The Ball Patent Repeating Carbine chambered for the 56-50 Spencer cartridge, featured an innovative tubular magazine situated beneath the handguard and loaded from the breech. Though the Union fervently placed an order for a substantial quantity of 1,000 of these repeating carbines, their arrival was regrettably delayed until the twilight of the Civil War. Alas, fate played a cruel hand, as the conflict concluded before the Union soldiers could fully utilize this remarkable weapon on the battlefield. Consequently, the exact number of Ball Carbines produced remains shrouded in historical ambiguity, rendering these firearms exceedingly rare and highly sought after in modern times.
“Manufacturer: E.G. Lamson & Co.
Model: Ball Carbine
Type: Carbine
Gauge: 50 RF
Barrel: 21 1/2 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Stock: walnut
One of only 1,002 manufactured in 1864-1865.”
Lot 2412: Civil War U.S. Contract E.G. Lamson & Co. Ball Patent Carbine – Scarce Civil War U.S. Contract E.G. Lampson & Co. Ball Patent Repeating Carbine. (n.d.-s). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved June 4, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1033/2412/civil-war-us-contract-eg-lamson-co-ball-patent-carbine.
