B&M..maybe,Belding & Mull altho" I have never seen that they offered inserts they certainly were capable of producing them.

Could the B and M have anything to do with the old Belding and Mull company though my recollection is they made bullet molds. I am not home so can't check references.

They're still in business and did a lot of machine work over the years. My grandfather had them do work back in the '20's.

looks like the little gun gona bring a nice price... charlie

The B & M likely means Ballard and Marlin which would tend to indicate the black powder with lead or paper patched lead bullet loading for the .32-40 as opposed to the smokeless powder with jacketed bullet Winchester high velocity load.

Thanks Dave. Is the Marlin name any relation to the Marlin Firearms we know?

Yes. John M. Marlin manufactured the Ballard rifles from 1875 into the 1890s. In Col. Brophy's Marlin book there is pictured at the bottom of page 130 of an ad for Ballard Target rifles made by the Marlin Fire Arms Co., New Haven, Conn. and the .32-40 cartridge shown is annotated ".32-40 Ballard & Marlin." Marlin manufactured their Model 1893 rifles in .32-40 and .38-55 with two different types of barrels, ones marked "For Black Powder" and ones marked "Special Smokeless Steel."

Apparently Marlin played rather fast and loose with whether it was Fire Arms or Firearms in their name stamps on their guns.

Well Dave, You have amazed me once again. I would put my money on Ballard/Marlin as the maker of these inserts. Also their close proximity to Meriden had to play into the relationship. Thanks for the research.

T'aint seen one of those before.
Makes one wonder if someone in the distant past took it to the next step and set up both barrels this way for use as a Double Rifle.

The auctions is almost over and it is probably going to bring 2000.00 I'm just guessing