OLD TUCK wrote on Jan 11^th, 2019 at 2:52pm:


Tough to top that one with my box of gun screws Fitz! Sounds like a beauty, and hope you post pictures soon!

By the way a friend with me picked up a Pope Ballard that was so crummy on the outside we could not read the Pope stamp on the Barrel. It looks like a Hartford Pope but is not stamped in that manner. But with some effort I was able to remove the for end. Has the proper fraction underneath. It is again a 32-40 with a bright shiny Bore. And it appears that it may be Pope # 3, or at least it has a number 03 stamped above the fraction in a different font size. He thinks it may be a Jersey 
City Pope because it is not marked "Hartford" but he already has a Pope #10 That has been identified by Gary Quinlan as a Hartford because he knows the history of it. The only number on it is a 10 on the false muzzle. And he said that when Pope first got going in Hartford he  did not have a Hartford stamp.
We do not have the False Muzzle but it may be in the loose stuff that we are going to have the opportunity to look thru.
Here's hoping. It does have a Pope Sight in clean neat condition
but that could have been added any time in its History. The Scope is not marked but it is an early one with a Large straight tube Objective. I might have bought that but I saw the one I got first and got instant Brain Cramp and spent my $$ first. And he was standing there with a tremendous wad waiting for me to be Broke. HA! That's my story and I am sticking to it.
Regards, FITZ. OLD TUCK

OK Vall. But the first issue is learning how to get the pictures out of the camera and into the Computer. I really am kind of 
Computer Dumb. But I have had a some little success lately.
Thanks in advance, FITZ. OLD TUCK

Doggone, Fitz, I know just how you feel. I'm as bad with a computer as anybody, and I still have to take my camera to the store to get prints made. Gladder than ever to have you around. We need to stick together, or a whole way of life will disappear. 
Sure want to see the rifle, but I can't offer a fix for the problem.

Vall, I will work with the guy. He and I are close. He may not want to be identified. But we can get around that. He used to do Motorcycle restorations. But when the $$$ went out from under him in the Cranberry business he sold most of them off. Many are in Museums around the country, and one is in the Harley Museum. So, just had a conversation with him and Tom Rowe feels that this Ballard IS a Jersey City Pope and the number is Pope 107 witch is another number we found. I will be taking pictures of mine tomorrow. And maybe getting it lettered at Cody. All for now, FITZ. OLD TUCK

By the way. His Pope # 10 is in the Greatbatch book if you want to look at it. FITZ.

Vall, My mistake, maybe. On talking to Tom Rowe. We had found 3 numbers 
on the underside of the Barrel. One was the Fraction #, just ahead of the receiver. The second about 1/2" above towards the Muzzle is 107. Those two are the same font size and good duplicates in the stamp size/style. The third still another 1/2" from the 107 is 03 and it is a different font size larger than the other numbers. And there are no other numbers any where. Just the HM Pope on the barrel in very small size on the top of the barrel maybe 3/32 to 1/8" high. Based on that and a couple of other Pope Rifles he and I have between us I decided it was most likely a Hartford.
Tom Rowe however disagrees and said he believes it is most likely a Jersey City. I am still not sure that is correct. But for the moment I will not make an issue of it because Tom Rowe has looked at and researched more Pope Rifles than I will ever see. And unlike others we have had on the ASSRA site I have no need to get in a Pi$$ing contest. Time will tell. I have bunch of records here from the Archives from a friend who passed. He was buying and collecting Pope Rifles while Pope was still alive before I was a gleam in my Fathers eye.
As an example look in Greatbatchs book at Hartford # 21. I have that Rifle in
my shop for some work. Only problem I have with it is that it is not mine.
I have taken some pictures of mine and will be working my way to being able to show it here. Will keep you informed. Regards, FITZ. OLD TUCK

OLD TUCK wrote on Jan 12^th, 2019 at 3:02pm:


Looked at barrel #21, and the description of it's history. Sounds like #21 barrel has seen at least 3 fine 1885's in it's life! Did it ever get another false muzzle built to make it complete? Even a non rifled false muzzle would be nice to complete that barrel. I had to do that with one of my Schoyen Ballard rifles, as it always looked odd without the false muzzle.

Sonny, thanks for the accolades. But the truth is I am not a real restorer.
I just keep my eyes out for original Parts witch do show up once in awhile.
I corral them and wait for more High Grade Pcs. to show up. When I aquire
enough pcs I build a rifle. I do check with Cody Hoping the serial number history will lead me along the right path but so far no success there. I still do feel I am doing something? good, getting them back close to where they started. well all for now. Regards, FITZ.