Froggie....

An interesting story, looks like you were living right.  I'm sure if I had been in the same circumstance, I would have missed the top bid by $1.00.  

Mine came with a long wait also, I actually bought a Ballard seater and decapping set 4 years before I got the rifle.  Bought another 40-85 before this one, but UPS managed to trash it (bent the ears on the rear barrel sight so bad that it cracked the metal, and this inside a hard case).  It also had a spiral groove going down the chamber like someone had removed a broken case with a drill bit, so back it went.  Actually good luck for me as this one is much nicer.

It set me back a bit, but is in really nice condition with a mint bore and I wanted a shooter as well as a looker.  And this one came with a neat history as well.  Seems it belonged to a man named James W. Dudgeon who was sheriff of Friend, Nebraska in 1884.  He was reputed to have been friends with Buffalo Bill Cody.  He was born on July 13, 1851 and died on October 1, 1890.  I believe this information came from his great-grandson.  I think the great-grandson was the one that sold or consigned the rifle to the dealer.  The rifle came in a Plains Indian brain tanned leather scabbard that is beaded.  It is a little worse for wear, but I guess if I were 120 years old, I might look a little ragged also.    Geneology is not one of my strong points, so that is all I have been able to find.

The Ballard barrel measures 1.100" at the breech end, and .985" at the muzzle.

You think I might be addicted to the 40-85 / 40-90 Ballard?

max