This one was done by Slotterbeck. I believe this action started life as a straight non-pistol grip action. It was re-machined and shaped and then a loop lever was added. In addition the lever appears to orginal been from a single trigger rifle. Fun to speculate 
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28-1/2″ Malcolm scope in target mounts

22 cal

Note the rear tang sight mount but no provisions for front sight. Since it not a breech seat rifle you wonder what the rear mount was for?

Seller at the time of auction believed that this was the makers personnel rifle.

LRF wrote on Dec 21^st, 2014 at 1:57pm:


I might be mistaken, but I'm fairly sure the loop levers for single or DST Ballards are the same. I'd need to pull to pull a couple to confirm, but I think the difference is in the breechblock, which situates the DST sets forward to use the same lever.
The DST triggers on that gun appear to be the very thin third style used, and they sit back closer to the rear with the shape Marlin made them.

I do not know fore sure whether a single trigger loop lever is different, looking at pictures the back edge of the breechblock exits the frame at the same spot no matter which action. This is a good reference point. Now compare the point were the lever re touches the action body. You will notice it is not the same for all loop type levers and the place is often tied to the whether single or set triggers were on the gun.
As to the comment  about the facets, those would be the easiest feature to add to any rifle. Looking at the engraving, that is not any engraving pattern I have seen from the factory. Not least that I remember, if it is then I would stand corrected.
My interest  in this and other guns I have posted picture of is in how various makers have modified the straight actions to make them pistol grip in appearance. If any one else has any different picture of rifles I would like the see them.
I have a #5 action that I am building and I am looking at various ways to modify it for a look I want.
One of the interesting finds I just got and will use on this rifle is a very good condition set of original ballard mid range tang sight and a windgage spirit level front again original ballard. They are really cool and nice. I am excited to have gotten them.

Ken,
Great catch, yes indeed it is shorter by aprox .3".
You can see the lettering engraving is cut off.
In addition, I have a method for loading pictures into my CAD system, determine the photo scale to actual and can then compare features to what they are on a real action.
Actual Ballard receiver barrel ring is about ~1.44" while the one on this gun measures ~1.15"

kensmachine wrote on Dec 21^st, 2014 at 11:36pm:


Good eye Ken! Looks like this frame has been so customized that it would be tough to tell what it once was.

Its a 3 line action correct, whats also interesting is that it has a firing pin screw which was not the norm. Also it doesn't look to have the concave surface on the top flat, although the pictures don't really show it that well.
The connection to Slotterbeck was how it was listed on the Julia Auction. Probably marked someplace but the current owner would have to provide that info.
I agree the engraving does have a punched look to it and frankly not that nicely done.

Interesting thought but the carving is way better than the engraving. It's possible that the various work was done over time and by multiple owners.
I think this is what makes this all fun and interesting.