Belted Ball

[Feltwad]

Question
Was the belted ball used other than the Uk for sporting rifles to shoot game
Feltwad

[Daryl]

Not aware of belted ball rifles other in the UK, Feltwad.

May have been in Germany as well, but again, have not heard of one.

[smart dog]

Hi Feltwad,
I don't believe 2-groove barrels and belted balls were used in the US for any small arms, civilian or military.  Someone may have experimented with the British version but I don't think it ever caught on.  I believe muzzleloading cannon by Armstrong using the studded shell were used or at least tested in the US.

dave

[smylee grouch]

Did Holland & Holland make a rifle using the belted ball? Or was that a cartridge gun? 

[mr. no gold]

Seems to me that there was a discussion on this subject a long time ago. I do not recall when, but Majorjoel, (I believe) had a beautiful KY Rifle which had a two groove bore. Perhaps he will come in not this topic. He may yet have some photos of it even though he no longer owns the gun.
Dick

[Tim Crosby]

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37550.msg360502#msg360502

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13460.msg126482#msg126482

[Feltwad]

Enclosed are a couple of images of a park rifle with a 32inch Damascus octangle barrel a three-position leaf sights in 51 Cal and shoots a belted ball
Feltwad

[Bill Weedman]

A belted ball was recovered from an archaeological excavation near Springfield, Illinois. The confederacy purchased approximately 2000 Brunswick rifles and the ball recovered matched the caliber of the first year production (.70 caliber) as the second and remaining years of production were .65 caliber. I suspect that the confederacy purchased the entire first year production.

[Seth Isaacson]

This is the only non-UK belted ball rifle I've personally seen. It is by Abias B. Smith and is featured in The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania and The Kentucky Rifle by Dillin.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/1168/documented-abias-b-smith-pennsylvania-long-rifle

[Daryl]

Now that is interesting, Seth. Tks for that "shot".  Heavy barrel.
I am aware of Purdy belted ball rifles in around .50 cal.

[smylee grouch]

That looks like a substantial groove in that barrel with little or no "crown".

[Daryl]

It might be filed out in the groove and land area, but can't tell due to the lighting.
\Filing out would make the grooves seem larger, but the bore should be correspondingly larger as well.

[yulzari]

A belted ball was recovered from an archaeological excavation near Springfield, Illinois. The confederacy purchased approximately 2000 Brunswick rifles and the ball recovered matched the caliber of the first year production (.70 caliber) as the second and remaining years of production were .65 caliber. I suspect that the confederacy purchased the entire first year production.

Just for the record. All British Brunswick rifles in service were in 0,704” bore. Some Honourable East India Company ones were in 0,753” musket bore. The Russians also were the same as the British but never got near America. However, the CSA did have some in 0,65” carbine bore that were probably volunteer rifles so actually civilian.