Brown Manufacturing Co. Ballard sporting rifles are very rare in and of themselves, but this rifle is made all the more desirable by the fact that it is the highest known serial number documented on a Brown Ballard rifle. Brown manufactured Ballards from 1869 to 1873. The previously highest known rifle is exactly one serial number earlier and is pictured and listed as "the highest recorded serial number of a Brown Ballard" on page 74 of "Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle." Like the current example, 22094 is a sporting rifle and features the wedge takedown system, a single set trigger, and high grade stock and forearm. This rifle features a windage adjustable globe front sight, stepped up breech section marked "No 44." and fitted with a notch and folding ladder rear sight, matching serial number on top at the breech, manual ejector below the barrel, the matching serial number and "44" on the inside of the forearm, "BROWN MFG. Co. NEWBURYPORT. MASS/BALLARD'S PATENT/NOV. 5. 1861." on the left side of the frame, "PATENTED JAN. 5.1864" on the left side of the hammer spur, and dovetail and two taps for mounting a peep sight (not included) on rear of the receiver/wrist.

Very good with 25% original blue finish mixed with smooth brown patina on the barrel, faint traces of original case colors mixed with mottled silver-gray and dark gray patinas, light edge wear, some mild scratches, and minor oxidation. The wood is fair, retains most of the original varnish, and has some varnish flaking, minor chips at the edges, a crack extending from front of the ejector, cracks in both sides of the wrist, minor scratches and dings, and some attractive feathered figure on the butt. Mechanically excellent. This is a very significant rifle both in terms of it falling at the end of Brown's manufacturing run and as a scarce Ballard variation.