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New rifles from Ballard LLC (Read 12044 times)

Old-Win Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1668 Location: Minnesota Joined: Nov 24^th, 2005	New rifles from Ballard LLC Jun 25^th, 2008 at 9:03am	Print Post
	While at the Quigley, I visited the Buffalo Arms tent and noticed a stack of brochures with a picture of a Farquharson on the cover so I had to take a look!! Much to my surprise, it had Ballard Rifles, LLC at the top. On the inside, was a picture of a Jeffreys Sharps?? Two new rifles?? If I can borrow a phrase from Glen, "methinks" Ballard is headed in a new direction. Looks like they are moving towards high end sales like Dakota. Does anybody have more information? Old-Win


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38_Cal Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2247 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Joined: Apr 27^th, 2005	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #1 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 11:23am	Print Post
	That was the impression I got a couple of months ago when I visited with them at the Brownells Gunsmith's Job Fair. They did state that they wouldn't forget who brought them to the dance, and would be continuing production on the Ballard and Winchester rifles. David Montezuma, IA

	David Kaiser Montezuma, IA
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QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #2 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:09pm	Print Post
	simply go to the horses mouth, contact Ballard directly. I talked with Steve Durren during the Spring Matches at EG. He had a couple of their rifles there---very top drawer products. Ballard is in the process of developing a Farq action--IN ADDITION TO their Win and Ballards. Apparantly they feel there is a niche market for a high-end bigbore take-to-africa-type $ingle $hot.

	sacred cows make the best burger
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Brent Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #3 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:19pm	Print Post
	QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:09pm: Apparantly they feel there is a niche market for a high-end bigbore take-to-africa-type $ingle $hot. Apparently, they have not listened or solicited opinions from the numerous internet "experts" on African hunting... Brent


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QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #4 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:28pm	Print Post
	Brent that was my own interpretation, nothing from them. Maybe I should have been more clear. I have no idea what market research or planning they have done, but the Farq appears to be more of a be-spoke carriage-trade type gun. Again, personal opinion; but I suspect that our 200 yard plainbase lead bullet crowd is way too DIY-oriented to keep a gunbuilder in business, please note that I didn't say we are cheap

	sacred cows make the best burger
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Brent Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #5 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:35pm	Print Post
	I was just kidding - sort of. I have been taken to task by several of the more vocal "experts" for being stupid enough to take a single shot, and a bp singleshot at that. Ah well, I had fun. Brent


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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2827 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #6 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:35pm	Print Post
	Some years ago, I worked for a chap that organized & led hunting safaris to Africa. After several high-end rifles were stolen or simply disappeared en route, he recommended the clients either rent rifles in Africa or bring some garden-variety Remington or Winchester. The thievery was not necessarily on the African end. We traced 3 high-end rifles to an import-export specialist firm in San Diego. All that showed up in Africa was scrap iron, packed in the client's cases.


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dick_norton Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 257 Location: payson, arizona Joined: Jul 7^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #7 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 7:42pm	Print Post
	Prediction re: "carriage trade" rifles; financial disaster. Domestic market would be to someone of questionable taste posturing as an English Lord shooting a docile buffalo then posing with the carcass. However, all is possible when you consider the late P.T. Barnum's comment, "You will never lose money underestimating the public's taste". dick


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1878 Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #8 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 8:27pm	Print Post
	Oh, I think there are more than enough people who want to dress up and play act at being English lords to support a small company. The problem is they all seem to be shotgun shooters: see the Double Gun Journal etc... We rifleman are the peasants of the shooting world, and are just going to have to accept our place. Several ventures have failed in my lifetime at building replica high quality british actions, most recently for prices like $2,500. That is pocket change compared to what people routinely spend on British shotguns. I don't know why you can't get the same money for rifles, but that seems to be the way it is.


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Paul_F. Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #9 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 8:46pm	Print Post
	Quote: I don't know why you can't get the same money for rifles, but that seems to be the way it is. Bite your tongue, man! Clean off yer face, if need be! I want to have some hope of owning some of those rifles one day, so don't you go inflating their prices to what those scatter-gun perverts pay for theirs! I'd be happy to pay under $2000 for a nicely made Farquharson. (Er, maybe "happy" isn't quite the right word... but if the timing was right, I'd do it...) Paul F.


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J.D.Steele Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #10 - Jun 25^th, 2008 at 10:59pm	Print Post
	I wish 'em all the luck in the world. I just hope that A) they're run more honorably than Dakota and B) their single shot is better-looking than a Dakota. BTW David Miller has been selling his bolt actions for $15K-$25K with plenty of takers until lately. I have no idea who could be that stupid, but obviously Barnum was right. Bound to be some kinda oneupmanship competition among the US nouveau riche idiots. Regards, Joe


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DonH Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #11 - Jun 26^th, 2008 at 5:05am	Print Post
	QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Jun 25^th, 2008 at 12:28pm: Again, personal opinion; but I suspect that our 200 yard plainbase lead bullet crowd is way too DIY-oriented to keep a gunbuilder in business, please note that I didn't say we are cheap Fickle is a word which comes to mind also. Ever notice how a mfgr. introduces a new rifle, particularly a single shot, and gets as many "If they had only" comments as there are prospective buyers? Another thought: many a "niche" market like ours would not be considered at all if not for people making products as a sideline to their bread-and-butter business. An example is barrel makers who are also involved in deep-hole drilling for industry. I doubt barrel making earns them more money; rather that the other keeps the doors open and bills paid so they CAN make barrels. BTW, I have had suspicions that they (Ballard) intend to cater to other folks than us ever since their website began showing fewer tradional models and more stuff like "African Express" High Walls.


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40_Rod Frequent Elocutionist Offline Extremism in the persuit of accuracy is not a vice Posts: 4285 Location: Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 20^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #12 - Jun 26^th, 2008 at 8:21am	Print Post
	There is an article on Ballard Arms and their move to MI in the Journal that should be getting to you in the next week or so. They talk about developing a Farquharsen Action. My impression is that instead of Ballard giving single shot shooters a smaller slice. Ballard is trying to bake a larger pie. 40 Rod


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QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #13 - Jun 26^th, 2008 at 9:23pm	Print Post
	Well phrased John! that summed up what I was hearing very well. Bill Northrop the new owner has several other high tech/high precision aero-space metal-working businesses so he should be able to make Ballard work in a much more cost efficient manner by sharing some of the basic metal shaping and configuring

	sacred cows make the best burger
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vigillinus Ex Member	Re: New rifles from Ballard LLC Reply #14 - Jul 2^nd, 2008 at 12:16pm	Print Post
	The market for pricey shotguns is much larger. For instance, my understanding is that Griffin & How's business these days is over 80% smoothbores. They scarcely build custom rifles at all. Reasons? I can only guess. First, there is a lot more opportunity to shoot shotguns - you don't need hundreds of yards and a backstop to practice. There are lots of places to shoot clay birds. Hunting birds, for the city dwellers who can afford fancy guns, takes a lot less travel and preparation than going after big game. Finally, bird shooting and the clay games have a cachet for social climbers that rifle shooting does not. Especially for those who want to dress up like the 19th C Brit upper classes.


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