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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) For the Ballard fans (Read 15889 times)
powderman
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For the Ballard fans
Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:20pm
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I am wondering if any collectors have encountered something similar.

I have a R Ball & Co. Ballard Patent spotting rifle with a globe front sight with what appears to be flowers embossed on the outer circumference of the sight.

The inside the front sight is a spade shape with a hole in it. This appears to brass dovetailed lengthwise into the bottom of the globe.

John Dutcher’s Ballard book shows a similar sight mounted on pre-Marlin Ballard rifles of various makers, but the photos are not detailed enough for me to tell if they have the features mine does. Any thoughts?

This same R Ball & Co. rifle is what I believe to be original nickel plate over a round spot on the left side of the receiver, which is I think, a factory repair of some sort. Any thoughts?

Regards,
Powderman
  
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powderman
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #1 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:23pm
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Could only attach I pic so here is another.
  
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powderman
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #2 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:24pm
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Could only attach I pic so here is another.
  
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powderman
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #3 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:25pm
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Could only attach I pic so here is another.
  
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powderman
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #4 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:27pm
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Could only attach I pic so here is another.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #5 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:48pm
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I don't see many R Ball Ballard rifles, and have never seen a sight like that on any gun, Ballard or other. Very unusual globe sight!
Never seen a pre Marlin Ballard with the round plug in the receiver, and wonder myself what the reason could be for a plug at that spot. I've seen pins near that spot to hook the link on a breech seating tool, but they're a bit higher to line up with the bore.
Nickel does look old, so if it's not original, I'd guess it was or was done a long time ago.
  

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Redsetter
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #6 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 9:56pm
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The ring of the globe is ridiculously thick; wonder if it was cut from a tube or cylinder of some sort embossed with that floral pattern?
  
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SgtDog0311
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #7 - Feb 23rd, 2017 at 10:19pm
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Will you look at the rifling at the muzzle.  Way cool!  Does it look good from the breach?
  

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John
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #8 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 12:16am
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SgtDog0311 wrote on Feb 23rd, 2017 at 10:19pm:
Will you look at the rifling at the muzzle.  Way cool!  Does it look good from the breach?


Those old pre Marlin Ballard rifles had some big, deep rifling John! Not sure if that equated to accuracy though. Seems most of the old barrels with reputations for extreme accuracy had much narrower lands, and wider grooves.
  

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Bill Lawrence
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #9 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 9:11am
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The ring of the globe is ridiculously thick; wonder if it was cut from a tube or cylinder of some sort embossed with that floral pattern? 

I second this notion.  Also, having made globe front sights from cartridge magazine retainer rings, the sight looks to me to be the work of a talented individual rather than a factory.

Also, if these earliest Ballard receivers were cast, could the plug be a heatless (factory?) fix to a casting flaw?

Bill Lawrence
  
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57thahc
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #10 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 9:16am
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I agree the tube of the sight looks like a decorative tube embossment, the rest of the sight is brass welding and iron 
pieces. Still it is attached to an early Ballard and looks  like
someone wanted to personally "add" a bit of them selves to their Ballard. Some things are not all ways "virgin".
Vintage SS rifles are 99.9% used ,collector's are looking for that rare "virgin" item. I have a good friend that collects and has an unfired Henry rifle, I certainly believe it is,as he does his
homework. Unique item and as he has other guns to shoot,it can set in his safe. I like the special sight, but I am a artist so
off beat things are interesting! Wink Dick Stack57thahc
  

Turned in my M60 for a Martini!
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marlinguy
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #11 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 9:47am
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Bill Lawrence wrote on Feb 24th, 2017 at 9:11am:
[color=#ff0000]

Also, if these earliest Ballard receivers were cast, could the plug be a heatless (factory?) fix to a casting flaw?

Bill Lawrence


Yes Bill, all the pre Marlin Ballard rifles were cast frames. I suppose if the factory was trying to save money by plugging an imperfection, then the best place to use the plugged repair would also be on a receiver that was scheduled to be nickel plated. Any other receiver would likely show the plug with color casehardening.
  

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frnkeore
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #12 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 11:10am
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My first thought regarding that "plug" is, because of it's location, it's a barrel retaining pin. But, if so, you would think that it would extend to the other side, so that it can be removed w/o drilling it out.

Frank
  

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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #13 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 12:17pm
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frnkeore wrote on Feb 24th, 2017 at 11:10am:
My first thought regarding that "plug" is, because of it's location, it's a barrel retaining pin. But, if so, you would think that it would extend to the other side, so that it can be removed w/o drilling it out.

Frank


I thought the same thing Frank. But it looks a little low to intersect the barrel threads I think?
  

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Redsetter
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Re: For the Ballard fans
Reply #14 - Feb 24th, 2017 at 12:33pm
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Enough speculation; to the X-ray dept.
  
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