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marlinguy
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Ballard #2 special order
Oct 6th, 2015 at 8:48pm
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My latest Ballard acquisition. A #2 Hunter, but with only one standard feature. It's marked .32 Long on the barrel. Special order 28" half octagon barrel, pistol grip nickeled frame, loop lever, deluxe wood with cheekpiece, deluxe checkering, small Swiss buttplate, midrange tang sight, and windage globe front sight. 
Forearm has had a non standard horn tip added, and otherwise it's all numbers matching throughout.

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And a standard #2 Hunter for comparison.
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Rebel
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #1 - Oct 6th, 2015 at 9:17pm
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Congrats on a very special rifle.
It's really beautiful!!
  

WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. Let's Go Sonny!
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #2 - Oct 6th, 2015 at 9:21pm
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Thanks Rebel! A friend found it in a Denver area gun shop, and told me about it.
  

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Joe Do...
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #3 - Oct 6th, 2015 at 9:24pm
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That's a very nice rifle.  Congratulations on a great buy!

Joe D
  
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38-55Kidd
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #4 - Oct 6th, 2015 at 9:51pm
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Very nice Vall. That really is a special rifle and in great shape.
Nice photos also, thanks for sharing.

Jon
  
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shovel80
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #5 - Oct 6th, 2015 at 10:06pm
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Wow, that's a Really Nice Ballard!

Terry
  

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oodmoff
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #6 - Oct 7th, 2015 at 1:31am
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Wow!  Congrats on a great find.  That is a beauty!
rare... rare... rare...
« Last Edit: Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:56am by oodmoff »  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #7 - Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:30am
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Thanks to all! 
The #2 Ballard has always been one of my favorites, but finding them with special order features has been very hard to do over the years. I've located them with DST, and occasionally half octagon barrels, but that's about the limit. I was (am) very excited to locate a #2 that has so many special order features on what was one of Marlin's cheapest models to start with. No doubt the options on this #2 tripled it's original retail price. I'm still puzzled why someone in the late 1870's would have ordered it in this configuration, and the .32 Long caliber?
  

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oodmoff
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #8 - Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:57am
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Its the showroom model.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #9 - Oct 7th, 2015 at 9:04pm
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oodmoff wrote on Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:57am:
Its the showroom model.


Yeah too bad Marlin didn't keep good Ballard records! Have to check Brophy's book, and see if it's one of the @18 Ballards in there!
  

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Chuckster
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #10 - Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:40pm
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Marlin,
Beautiful rifle. Do you think the horn fore-end tip was factory or added later?  Sure looks original. Have had trouble with schnabel's chipping so could be a replacement, but an excellent job. 
Chuck
  
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #11 - Oct 8th, 2015 at 1:52am
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Vall:
Maybe it was for a Lady or a son or daughter. With less recoil it might have been easier on their shoulder.
Don
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #12 - Oct 8th, 2015 at 9:55am
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Chuckster wrote on Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:40pm:
Marlin,
Beautiful rifle. Do you think the horn fore-end tip was factory or added later?  Sure looks original. Have had trouble with schnabel's chipping so could be a replacement, but an excellent job. 
Chuck 


No, I'm certain it's a nicely done replacement. Marlin Ballard forearm tips weren't black ebony. They also didn't go past the octagon portion. This one is very professionally done, as it's not butted to the forearm wood, but sandwiches the wood, and is shaped to both the octagon and round part of the barrel for a perfect fit. It's also missing the lateral two grooves that most Ballards used. I may have them cut in, just to add a nice touch to it.
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #13 - Oct 8th, 2015 at 9:57am
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rustyrelx wrote on Oct 8th, 2015 at 1:52am:
Vall:
Maybe it was for a Lady or a son or daughter. With less recoil it might have been easier on their shoulder.
Don


You're thoughts are the same as I guessed also Don. I figured it might be for a wife or younger shooter to use and compete alongside the adult or husband.
  

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calledflyer
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Re: Ballard #2 special order
Reply #14 - Oct 8th, 2015 at 1:07pm
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That description of the forearm tip having both octagon and round  inletting is surprising. I'd have thought that once clear of the octagon it would just " fall away" to the very front. Neat detail, for sure. Georgeous piece all the way. Thanks for showing this one Vall.
  
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