482 APPENDIX.,—D. 
loading weapons. Even the Government of the United States have 
at last awakened to its importance, and are now anxious to secure 
the advantages of these improved arms. The following just tribute 
and careful description of this favorite rifle is copied from The 
New York Tribune, August 7th, 1863: 
“Among the improvements developed during the last two years 
in the shape cf arms, projectiles, and other weapons of warfare, 
Ballard’s breech-loading rifle and carbine seems to have commended 
itself to the especial attention of military men, and whenever they 
have been used by cavalry or sharpshooters, death has invariably 
marked the unerring course of their bullets. This weapon weighs 
only seven pounds, and is excellently proportioned, balancing nicely 
in the hand and coming well to the shoulder. It has five grooves, 
aud is made in three calibers—38-100ths of an inch, 44-100ths, and 
52-100ths—the former being most approved for sporting purposes, 
and the latter according to government regulation. It is made with 
tree lengths of barrel—24, 26 and 28 inches—the shortest being 
finished as a carbine for mounted officers and cavalry. §. V. Benet, 
Captain of Ordnance at West Point, in his report to Brig.-Gen. J. W. 
Ripley, Chief of Ordnance at .Washingion—Gen. Ripley having 
ordered a trial of the arm in the early part of the war—after de- 
scribing its parts, action, &c., says in conclusion, ‘altogether it is the 
very best loading carbine that has been presented to me for trial.’ 
The action of the arm is simplicity itself, and therein lies its chief 
merit. A graceful and well-proportioned scroll guard covers the 
trigger, as is usual in rifles; this folds forward toward the muzzle 
upon a pivot, and in doing so draws down the lock, hammer, &c., 
uncovering the breech end of the barrel so that the whole length of 
the tube can be easily seen. A metallic cartridge containing cap, 
powder and ball is then slipped in, when the guard is drawn back. 
bringing up the lock to its normal position with the hammer at half 
cock, The gun is then ready to be fired. After the discharge the 
guard is again thrown forward, the old cartridge shell thrown out 
by a simple contrivance, and a new cartridge inserted by hand. 
This rifle may thus be fired by an expert hand ten or twelve times 
in a minute without even removing it from his shoulder,” 
Messrs. Merwin & Bray are the sole Agents for Ballard’s Rifles 
tnd Carbines, No. 262 Broadway, New York. 
