Manufactured in the mid-1860s, this carbine has no visible patent, maker's or retailer's markings and is numbered "683" on the left side of the frame near the breech. It has a blade front sight and folding leaf rear sight. It has a smooth forearm and buttstock with steel buttplate. The manual extractor is located on the bottom of the barrel in line with the rear sight. Ballard patent firearms were made by several firms, with Ball and Williams the primary makers, during the Civil War; nearly all of the carbines produced were destined to fill government contracts.

Fair. The metal surfaces display a mixture of applied artificial brown and blue finish and brown patina with light pitting and scratches. The wood is fine with a few hairline cracks, light scratches, and some small chips/slivers absent. Mechanically excellent.