Val that's damn nice who would pass on that ken

All that "gunk" probably help preserve the original finish underneath.  Look at the case color!

Nice find !

Joe Do... wrote on Sep 15^th, 2016 at 7:49am:

The store owner bought a collection of a dozen old guns, and he said almost all were coated in what the 70 year old son said he'd sprayed on them decades ago to protect them. 
There's a High wall in .32-40 with close couple set triggers too, at a very low price. But the #3 barrel is 22" long, and set triggers wouldn't set. I'm betting it's a screw adjustment, but didn't try adjusting them when I looked it over. The Ballard triggers wouldn't set either, and backed out the screw a half turn, and they worked perfect. At $1200 the High Wall is a bargain, even with a possibly cut down barrel.

The Ballard Pacific took 5 hours of cleaning to get whatever was on the metal off! I'm not sure it was dried oil as the gun shop owner was told. I think it may have been spray varnish, as acetone cut it, but if I didn't follow quickly with a rag to wipe the wetted gunk off, it simply dried and remained on the metal! Of course I missed an issue when looking at it also! I tried the set triggers, but never cocked the hammer! And today I tried it and it wouldn't stay cocked! Just an almost cocked, and then it slipped off the sear and dropped. I ended up having to stone the cut in the full cock notch on the hammer to make it stay cocked reliably. But it's working perfectly now. Only took about 10 times of putting it together and having to pull it apart again, until it was finally perfect!
The varnish did do a wonderful job of retaining this Pacific as a time capsule! The rust bluing is 98%, and case colors a little faded, but just beautiful! Since it had never been apart, the buttstock was a real booger to break free of the metal, but fortunately no wood damage when I finally got it free! The varnish is 100% in most areas, with slightly wear of the varnish in the wrist.
I noticed some things I never even knew about the Pacific model, as I've never seen one this good, and this original. The thimbles for the wiping rod are case colored! I've always assumed they were blued, and restored Pacifics are always blued thimbles. But after seeing these, I'll now know they should be cased with the receiver parts! 

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oodmoff wrote on Sep 15^th, 2016 at 6:01pm:


Thanks Darin! It has been a very unusual year so far for me! I was very surprised about the thimbles, as I've always thought they were blued! Now I realize how many extremely nice Pacifics I saw and wondered if they were restored; actually were restored!

Grumpy ME, I knew I should have moved to the Beaver State ,a long time ago!! On the O.W.W.M. web,if you get an outstanding deal ,members send or some times (you suck!!) AH YES,a silly response;but GEE WIZ,
I believe I need more SS. Maybe I should visit Dowagiac or Clare MI. to check on closet finds!! All in jest, Great find. Thanks for showing pics,I picked up a bent barrel,researched it,it is a Ballard has the rod thimbles and 
they are case colored, I was thinking fire damage,but barrel still has small remains of blue on barrel. I will probe Steve Durren for info. Again ME but thahks for the pics. Dick Stack 57thahc

Very nice rifle, again. Interesting observation on the thimbles.
Always assumed the thimble barrel was silver soldered to the base.
In fact, have made them that way, but would not work if casehardened.
Must be riveted or some other technique. Don't think they are one piece.
Chuck

Did it again, huh? Well, good fer you up there in the Ballard Capitol of the world. I don't see as many Ballards in a decade where I'm at as you have acquired in the past few months. Keep 'em coming- always nice to see what you've picked up, wether that brand or others. (Yeah, I still like that Hepburn).

Yeah, we can always use as many friends as we can get, even if they don't find Ballards for us, huh?

Hey Vall, I know I already said congratulations but thought I'd add,  I'm pretty sure the extractor on my 40-85 is also stamped 40-63.   I'll have to have another look when I return.    Will let you know.    Be interesting to hear if anyone with a 40-85 has one stamped as such!

My MFA Pacific in .40-85 also has a .40-63 extractor, Vall. I was thinking that it was a repair but maybe they came that way? Wayne

Hey, Vall, since this thread is just shy of two years old and the original pictures have disappeared, how about reminding us what the Grungy Ballard looks like now,

Bill Lawrence