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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Stevens-Pope Ballard (Read 24168 times)
plumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #15 - Apr 28th, 2006 at 3:27pm
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PLEASE see my last post also could there be a name  number under the front sight on the flat or on the back of action ? thoes are the only two places I havent looked Should I bother ?

     PLUMBER
  
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Green_Frog
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #16 - Apr 28th, 2006 at 4:07pm
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Plumber,

     I think you have made it abundantly clear to all who are actually reading the whole thread that the barrel is unmarked.  I would tend to discount its being a Pope-made or Stevens-installed barrel as they were usually well marked at time of building.  Lots of people made high quality target rifles based on the very popular Marlin Ballard action.  We can safely say that your example is one of those and that it probably dates from the "Golden Age" of single shots around the "gay nineties" or right after the turn of the last century.  That lever is definitely in the style used by Pope, but he said he copied it from an older design used on European rifles of the percussion age.  I've seen some such in Central Europe. 

     Whatever else you can track down will be pure gravy on what is already a choice piece of ordnance.  If it were mine, I would slug the bbl, measure the twist (regardless of direction  Roll Eyes ) and have one of the current mould makers make up a mould for a  Pope style bullet of appropriate dimensions then enjoy shooting what is obiously a fine rifle!  Congratulations.

Froggie

PS to Chris:  I assume you caught on to the need in the listing to distinguish between the muzzle loading and breech seating versions of the competitors' rifles.  I'm guessing that some owner of Plumber's rifle probably adapted his style to the latter (and later) technique and lost or discarded the false muzzle...more's the pity!  Cry
  
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MP
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #17 - Apr 28th, 2006 at 5:39pm
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I’m not sure there is more I can offer and I’m about out of ideas, most of the folks who could make a barrel with a false-muzzle marked their work.  The case color looks like Stevens work to me, Niedner did very similar color but he marked everything he got his hands on.  Someone may recognize the rifling if they had in their hand but hard to do long-distance.  Regardless of who did the work it a swell looking rifle and needs to be shot. Like I said in my first post the missing parts (not the false-muzzle) are no big deal and easily fixed.  Good luck and good shooting.
  
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MP
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #18 - Apr 28th, 2006 at 5:52pm
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Another thought, if the bottom of the pistol grip is checkered write me at mjpetrov@acsalaska.net.
« Last Edit: Apr 29th, 2006 at 1:58am by »  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #19 - Apr 28th, 2006 at 6:53pm
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I've seen several makes of singleshot rifle that were rebarreled or rebored and rifled by Stevens. Some were simply Stevens barrels fitted to the guns, and marked with the std. Stevens rollstamp. Others were marked "Stevens-Pope" just like the Stevens-Pope models made by Stevens. Barrels rebore or re-rifled by Stevens were so marked to indicate that Stevens did a rebore or re-rifle.
That's a beautiful rifle, and regardless of who did the barrel or stock work, I'd enjoy it. It does have several unique features that would tend to indicate Stevens touches on it. It's possible it was a barreled action sent to Stevens for case coloring, stock work and fitting of the lever. That might explain why it has these Stevens style features, but not any markings.
  
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winplumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #20 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 6:12pm
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Well guys Im back ! I still have this rifle and haven't done much with it I would like to find the correct Pope style scope mounts and a vintage palm rest any help would be great. I know its been a long time my computer world has came back  GLAD TO BE HERE !
  
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Redsetter
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #21 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 6:23pm
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winplumber wrote on Feb 25th, 2018 at 6:12pm:
...I would like to find the correct Pope style scope mounts


Do you believe in miracles?

Sorry to say, they are incredibly rare, and have never been reproduced, except for a handful made many yrs ago by Mike Stevens, now deceased.
  
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winplumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #22 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 6:26pm
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Cant hurt to try  !
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #23 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 9:26pm
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winplumber wrote on Feb 25th, 2018 at 6:12pm:
Well guys Im back ! I still have this rifle and haven't done much with it I would like to find the correct Pope style scope mounts and a vintage palm rest any help would be great. I know its been a long time my computer world has came back  GLAD TO BE HERE !


Beyond being extremely hard to find, they're also extremely expensive when they show up! The last pair of Pope mounts I saw sell at an auction was 20 years ago, and they sold for a whopping $2500!!!
I have a pair on a Stevens scope mounted on my Zettler Bros. Ballard, and mine are mounted in even rarer Pope bases. Pope offered bases, but preferred the owners to send their barrels to him to have his cuts done on the barrel.

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Have you been in contact with Max recently? Last I spoke with him he'd moved to the desert and had no phone or internet connection. Said he could check emails once in awhile by cell phone if conditions were right.
  

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winplumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #24 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 9:46pm
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No  contact with Max, How can I tell if I need the Pope bases or the Pope mounts ?
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #25 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 9:51pm
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winplumber wrote on Feb 25th, 2018 at 9:46pm:
No  contact with Max, How can I tell if I need the Pope bases or the Pope mounts ?


I thought you had the Pope cuts in your barrel, and that was why you wanted Pope style mounts? If your barrel doesn't have the two pairs of Pope cuts, then no reason to need Pope mounts.
Not sure if you can make them out, but these are Pope cuts on the barrel of my Schoyen Ballard. On the side right below the scope bases.

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winplumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #26 - Feb 25th, 2018 at 9:58pm
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Thank You ! I do have the cuts.You can make the rear cuts out on my  picture of the frame and the other is on the barrel , So rings it is .
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #27 - Feb 26th, 2018 at 11:28am
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I've been told by some people I consider very knowledgeable on things Pope related, that he likely made somewhere in the 50-60 sets of rings total! Most who have a pair have them on a rifle, and nobody would part with a pair without parting with a gun.
But maybe you'll get extremely lucky and find a pair loose from their gun for sale?
  

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winplumber
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #28 - Feb 26th, 2018 at 12:19pm
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Thanks One never knows without trying.
  
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Re: Stevens-Pope Ballard
Reply #29 - Feb 26th, 2018 at 1:03pm
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winplumber wrote on Feb 26th, 2018 at 12:19pm:
Thanks One never knows without trying.


Certainly not; but it might be prudent to formulate a "Plan B."

Actually, if you're prepared to pay the "going rate" of, let's say, somewhere in the 2 Gs range, I should think it would be possible to find a Grade A machinist who'd be willing to fabricate a pair at that price--if not less.  One who possess not only the skills, but has demonstrated an interest in undertaking unusual projects, is the scope-block maker Steve Earle.  Of course, he'd have to be supplied with measurements, or better yet, a pair of originals to replicate.
  
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