I have a Merrimack civil war era Ballard in 50cal. and it has left hand twist rifling.
Tom Klinger

I don't collect pre Marlin Ballards, but have owned a few in the past. I too was surprised when I saw the LH twist rifling, but I've seen it often enough to think it was done by more than one of the makers prior to Marlin.

Well, Bob, the "checkering" on your Ballard's hammer surely isn't factory work; on the other hand, I suppose some previous owner, having perhaps reshaped the spur, might have done his best to recut it.

Bill Lawrence

Thanks guys, you are confirming my suspicions, the checkering and there are heavy file marks on one side.  Vall, I thought this looked like brazing also but doesn’t look so much like that in person, but does look like welding.  I plan on removing the breech block tomorrow and see how much trouble removing the hammer is.  It appears to be the one piece block.
Bob

Thanks Steve!  The lands and grooves in mine look exactly like yours, along with the left hand twist.
Your hammer looks like what I would expect from the factory, although it looks like yours may have been repaired.  I’m now betting mine is a field replacement and a bit on the crude side!
Bob

Maybe I’m wrong, this is the first barrel I’ve seen with this twist.  I just went to my shop and looked at 4 barrels, a Douglas, BRC, one from Axtell’s shop and my Ballard.  All except the Ballard twist clockwise but the Ballard twist counter clockwise, like it appears Steves does.
I would call the three barrels right twist and the Ballard left but could be I need to be corrected.  Never really thought much about it until now.
Bob

Wouldn’t want to debate how common a left hand twist is.  Just saying I have at least 3 that go one way and 1 that goes the other.  Just want to know how to tell at this point what they are, don’t want to be saying anything that is incorrect if I can help it.  Steve’s, ndnchf, barrel appears to twist counter clock wise, or to the left, so what is his barrel, left or right twist?  Oneatatime thinks it might be a right twist barrel, I thought it was a left, so it would help us both to know.
Bob