This Ballard Breech-Loading Carbine was manufactured by Ball and Williams of Worchester, Massachusetts, and marketed by Merwin & Bray of New York City. The carbine has a round barrel with two-leaf folding rear sight and distinctive manual ejector located below the forearm in front of the receiver. The rifle has two sling swivels in the usual position on the barrel band and underside of the butt and a third sling swivel on the left side of the stock. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "MERWIN & BRAY/AGT's, N.Y./607" in three lines. The opposite side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "BALLARD'S PATENT/NOV. 5 1861" in two lines. The stock and forearm are oil-finished black walnut. The script initials of the Ordnance final inspector "JM" are stamped in a rectangle on the left stock wrist and on the comb of the stock just in front of the buttplate.

Very good. The carbine metal components have a silver-gray patina with minor scratches and scattered age discoloration. The receiver markings and serial number are clear. The stock and forearm are also in very good condition with only minor handling marks and clear Ordnance inspection marks. This a solid example of an important Federal Civil War cavalry carbine.