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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ... (Read 7954 times)
Reverend Al
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Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
May 12th, 2019 at 1:46pm
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Don't know if anyone spotted this one in an upcoming auction yet, but it might get Val in trouble if he sees it?

Wink

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calledflyer
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #1 - May 12th, 2019 at 2:18pm
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I sure wouldn't be willing to buy that story they are telling about it. Well, maybe the part about Harold's Club gun collection. Nice rifle, though. 
As a young man, I spent many hours in that collection and probably saw it there. I have been a fan of Hickok (they misspelled his name) since I first read Rosa's biography. Don't remember any story like that being told in the museum or the book. You'd think I'd have remembered at least a little of that info.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #2 - May 12th, 2019 at 3:26pm
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Yes, I saw it, and I too am skeptical of the story, provenance or not. The gun is the #7 Long Range A-1 version. The first #7 Long Range rifles were made in 1875-76 era, and were not engraved. The #7 A-1 came late 1876, so the story already falls apart with the gunsmith's provenance dates. There were no Marlin Ballard rifles in 1874, as it wasn't until mid 1875 before Marlin began selling them. Another question to his letter.
I have a plain first year #7, and would like an #7 A-1 engraved, but that's not a great specimen, and I wouldn't pay the lower end of their estimate range. I think it should go more around $6k considering the buyer's premium that will be added to it. Might not get that unless someone believes the letter of provenance and goes nuts.
  

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calledflyer
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #3 - May 12th, 2019 at 7:28pm
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Well, there goes the story for sure then, Vall. By 1876 ol' Wild Bill was dead in Deadwood. Hardly able to go to Utah and demonstrate long range shooting. Not that he EVER was know for that. Rosa, and all the others fail to mention a shooting tour with Cody either. 
I don't know all that stuff about the rifle like you do, but between the pair of us, I suppose that we know the seller is at least a duped man himself, or a bullsh---er. I can't specifically recall that rifle in the Harold's collection, but there were lots of things to see in it, and my interests were in other areas at that time anyhow. How many on this list saw it before Hughes' organization peddled it? 
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #4 - May 12th, 2019 at 7:48pm
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I don't think the story ever mentioned Wild Bill, Pat? It was supposedly Buffalo Bill, not Wild Bill. Hickock had very poor eyesight, so surely would not have been doing any long range shooting.
  

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calledflyer
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #5 - May 12th, 2019 at 10:51pm
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Go read 'er again Vall. Say the rifle was brought to a long range shooting demo in '74 or '75 by Cody and Hickok. I don't pay any attention to Cody firearms- they seem to show up a lot. Now, that other feller........................ 

(he had poor eyesight by that time. probably a reason he was such a night prowler. And, like I mentioned, he never was known as a long range rifleman anyhow. He probably knew how to shoot one, but not his 'specialty' for sure.)

second edit; (the story teller also misspelled James Severn.  Can't spell, and probably can't get his story straight either.)
« Last Edit: May 12th, 2019 at 10:59pm by calledflyer »  
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JLouis
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #6 - May 13th, 2019 at 12:05am
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Oh the speculation of it all is this just another case of collusion or does someone actually have access to all of the facts?
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #7 - May 13th, 2019 at 11:07am
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My mistake Pat. Yes they do mention Hickock, and also mention "promoting their wild west show". It was actually a different "William" as Cody's partner. William Carver, not Hickock who was the part owner.
  

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calledflyer
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #8 - May 13th, 2019 at 11:33am
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Could have been Carver, Vall. If it happened at all, that is. I don't know how that would have gone in the mid seventies. 
Wild Bill did spend time on stage in Cody's company of actors, but left in time to get murdered in Montana by the time the story with the rifle takes place. If it could be really authenticated, and corrected, that would be a nifty rifle in a fellow's collection. Till then I'd need to take your advice on its value. 
Collusion? Who's?
  
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #9 - May 13th, 2019 at 11:54am
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When did they move Deadwood to Montana?

Steve.  Wink
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #10 - May 13th, 2019 at 12:28pm
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South Dakota, but maybe every state has one? I know Oregon does! Ours is in the Coast Range West of Eugene, Or.
  

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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #11 - May 13th, 2019 at 12:46pm
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Mea Culpa. I know better, too. Thanks fer straightening out one more of the inaccuracies in the saga of the long ranger. Hi-ho.
  
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #12 - May 13th, 2019 at 10:15pm
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I appears to have some sort of a proof mark on the barrel. ?quien sabe? Huh
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #13 - May 14th, 2019 at 10:14am
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I saw the marks, but can't make them out, so unsure what they are? I thought maybe it went overseas and got proofed at that point?
  

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Reverend Al
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #14 - May 22nd, 2019 at 2:27pm
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Well, somebody has started the bidding with the minimum bid of $4,500 ...
  

I may have passed my "Best Before" date, but I haven't quite reached my "Expiry" date yet ...
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #15 - May 22nd, 2019 at 4:51pm
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This gun was at the Denver gun show with the auction house's display of guns for the next auction. After looking it over closely, I wouldn't bid on it regardless of what story came with it. At least not now that the $4500 bid is out there. The engraving is well worn, and so is the bluing. No color case left at all. The wood is dry and has zero finish on it. It's seen a lot of use in it's life, and not well cared for.
  

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Reverend Al
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #16 - May 23rd, 2019 at 3:04pm
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It's a shame that it's in such poor condition.  Hope the bidder realizes what he is really getting ...
  

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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #17 - Jun 6th, 2019 at 1:45pm
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bid on the floor won at $10,000
  
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #18 - Jun 6th, 2019 at 6:53pm
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Dang, I guess my $1500 Pope is not coming soon.

Aaron
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #19 - Jun 6th, 2019 at 7:13pm
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rustyrelx wrote on Jun 6th, 2019 at 1:45pm:
bid on the floor won at $10,000


Amazing! So $10k plus the auction house's percentage on top of it! I wouldn't have paid half that after seeing it displayed at Denver. And somebody was actually there in person to see it before bidding!
  

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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #20 - Jun 6th, 2019 at 10:42pm
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P.T. Barnum might have had something to say about that sale.

Aaron
  

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Re: Ballard Long Range in an upcoming auction ...
Reply #21 - Jun 25th, 2019 at 12:52pm
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It seems ironic that there are a lot of people that seem to be smart enough to make the money but not enough to spend it well. Auctions are fast becoming not even any fun to watch.  Wayne

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