The Rocket Ball ammunition design was first patented by Walter Hunt in 1848. Hunt's design utilized the cavity of a Minie ball projectile to hold the propellant and was covered with a punctured base for ignition from an external source. This type of ammunition was used for the Hunt Repeating Rifle, Jennings Rifle, and Smith-Jennings Rifle. The design was improved upon by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson by adding the primer to the ball making the ammunition completely self contained. This was used in the Smith & Wesson Lever Action Arms and Volcanic Arms. This lot contains two .54 caliber balls for a Jennings Rifle, 13 rounds of .41 Volcanic ammunition, and five rounds of .31 Volcanic ammunition.

Fair-Good. Some of the ammunition is deteriorated/separated but most are intact. All show an overall aged patina with some white oxidation. A great addition to any early repeating arms collection! Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.