I came into this recently on a whim. It looks to be a Ballard Sporting Model .38 rimfire. From what I can find they made about 15,000 of them starting in 1861. This one is serial numbered 851, in several places. I had thoughts of converting it to center fire, but with the early cast frame, I was talked out of it by wiser men! Would you have any opinion on its value if I were to put it up on an auction site? Bore is fairly rough, but something like this generally isn’t sold as a shooter anyways. It’s all functional and I cleaned it up a bit. It has Merwin & Bray, New York markings on it.

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https://facebook.com/M2bKydex/

If you are not a member, I'd gladly pose your question there.

You might also ask on the American Single Shot Rifle Association web site. These rifles are exactly the kind of shooters the group focuses on. www.assra.com

that question of marlinman over on the lever gun forum....he knows thousand times more about single shots than it do....it is a nice looking rifle though !

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Sincerely,

Hobie