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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Initial Filing
Ballistic Recovery Systems Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
058659103
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CUSIP Number
Check the following box if a fee is
being paid with this statement. / /
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CUSIP NO. 058659103
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1) Names of Reporting Persons Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.
S.S. or I.R.S. Identifica-
tion Nos. of above Persons 43-0951744
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(a)
2) Check the appropriate Box if a member of a group
(b)
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3) SEC Use Only
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4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Missouri
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(5) Sole Voting Power 1,229,950
Number Of -------------------------------------------------------------
Shares
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 0
Owned by
Each -------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting
Person (7) Sole Dispositive Power 0
With
Each -------------------------------------------------------------
(8) Shared Dispositive Power 0
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9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,229,950
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10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes
Certain Shares
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11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 27.6%
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12) Type of Reporting Person H. C.
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Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1845 Henry Avenue
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Offices or, if none, Residence:
#1 Mercantile Center
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
Item 2(c) Citizenship
Missouri
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
058659103
Item 3. If this Statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or
13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) { } Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act
(b) { } Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act
(c) { } Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a) (19)
of the Act
(d) { } Investment Company registered under section 8 of
the Investment Company Act
(e) { } Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
(f) { } Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is
subject to the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or
Endowment Fund; see Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
(g) {x} Parent Holding Company, in accordance with
Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G)
(h) { } Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H)
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Item 4. Ownership.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
1,229,950
(b) Percent of Class:
27.6%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote 1,229,950
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of 0
</TABLE>
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person.
Not Applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
Company.
See Exhibit A
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable
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Item 10. Certification.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth on this statement is true,
complete and correct.
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Date
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.
BY
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Signature
Janie Greenwood Harris, Senior Attorney
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Name/Title
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EXHIBIT A
Item 7. Identification of Relevant Subsidiaries
Name Item 3 Classification
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Mercantile Bank of Eastern Iowa Bank
