One of the issues with these arms is that they were supposed to take Spencer 56-56 ammo, which was loaded with 0.54" bullets. By the way, a federally inspected 56-56 was recently sold by College Hill.
Some of those are still marked Dwight Chapin as well. There are a very few carbines that did get federally inspected. By that time the Feds were no longer interested, so both the carbines and rifles ended up in Kentucky (although they are not marked Kentucky). In the process they buffed the Dwight Chapin markings off the frames. Merwin & Bray (the agents on the contract) transferred the parts to Ball & Williams, who put together about 1000 carbines and 600 rifles from the best parts. (But, there are all sorts of oddball Ballards, so one can't say 100% that it's not right.) They were made on a federal contract by Dwight, Chapin & Co., but the company could not get them to pass inspection and went bust. A 56-56 Ballard should not have the MM cartouche.
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