Finally took it apart after fearing i had broken something by lowering breechblock on a cocked action.  Everything inside neat as a pin & nothing broken--but still doesn't always catch on 1/2 or full cock notch when pulling hammer back.  More likely to catch if i elevate the action by the front of the rifle when cocking hammer. Is indicative of a weakened sear spring or...?

It has been many years ago but I think I had the same problem.  I remember making a small spring out of an old alarm clock spring.  I am pretty sure it was to push the sear into hammer notch.

it is a DST No. 8.  The sear spring fell out when i took it apart and i believe i installed it correctly  it is not well illustrated in any of my books showing dst ballards. I wonder --the fly looks to be symmetrical--sort of like a roman gladius  but could i have installed it wrong??  i e facing backward.?

The fly is not directional, so it can go in and work either direction. The sear spring has a curve to it, so it is obvious it would need to curve down, and not up to work. It should be in contact with the back end of the sear and the front of the sear should nestle into the hammer relief, and the fly hanging straight down pointing towards the middle of the sear with the hammer down. With the hammer back the fly will rest on the end of the sear. If it doesn't it wont hold full cock.
There's a couple excellent pictures of cocked and hammer down actions open on page 296-297 of Dutcher's Ballard book. Every Ballard owner should own a copy, as it's one of the finest gun books ever assembled!

Redsetter wrote on Feb 13^th, 2018 at 9:03pm:


Agreed. It was much easier when I bought mine from John at $70 in 2004. But I sold a spare copy at Denver last year for $130, so still not unreasonable. Of course I see some asking $300 or more, but that doesn't mean they sell many.

Thanks all!  I am scratching my head  it suddenly stopped catching and i attributed it to lowering the breech block whilst cocked--and possibly having broken something --but no damage and clean etc.  what else could be the cause?? i figured the sear spring but...  I was readying it to sell but cant/wont until it is 100% operable

Schuetzenmiester wrote on Feb 14^th, 2018 at 2:34am:


I'll have to ask John when I see him in May at the CGCA show. I bought my first copy from him at the Kansas City show when he was driving back from the printer's and stopped at the show to sell the first copies.

marlinguy wrote on Feb 14^th, 2018 at 12:08pm:

I got a copy at Raton.  Fantastic book! He deserves a big hand of applause for doing it.