I was in my local Cabelas store a couple weeks ago, and my friend tells me I missed out on a nice Ballard. Just what I wanted to hear after the fact!
They got a collection of about 30 old guns in, and I still found three Marlin repeaters that were all antique, and great buys! But the Ballard really hurt to miss, and I told him if he saw the buyer, to please give him my phone number.
A few days later I got a call from the buyer, who told me he was a Winchester guy, and was not interested in the Ballard! We arranged to meet in a week, after he returned from vacation. Yesterday we got together, so I could look it over.
It turned out to be a very nice #4 Perfection, in .32-40 caliber, with full octagon barrel, mid range tang sight, and shotgun buttplate. Has most of the original blue on the barrel, all the original finish on the stocks, and a bore that looks like new! 
I was able to talk him out of it, and glad to add it to my other Ballards.
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Thanks Joe! This is the first shotgun butt Ballard I've owned. I just don't see them for sale.

calledflyer wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 3:07pm:


Thanks! Same situation here! Caviar tastes, but hotdog budget! I have to wait and save awhile, and hope when I build up funds that something else doesn't require them before a decent single shot shows up!

oodmoff wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 11:15pm:


Thanks Darin! 
I pulled the forearm and buttplate tonight to check numbers, and as expected they all match. I suddenly realized what the steel shotgun buttplate was from when I saw the back side. It's from a large frame 1881 Marlin repeater! I thought it was stamped steel, but it's cast steel, and the matching serial number is on it. 
Double checked Dutcher's book, and he states some Ballards were special ordered with 1881 steel shotgun buttplates!
Removed the Marbles/Sheard front sight also, and put a correct Marlin German Silver front blade on it. Put a sight blank in the rear location.

Congrats on a beautiful old rifle with that rare optional buttplate.
A great caliber too!

I worked 5 years on a daily basis on Ballards in Cody, and I think I saw exactly one with the 1881 buttplate. I always thought that was a real classy option.