marlinguy
Frequent Elocutionist
Online
Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater!
Posts: 16271
Location: Oregon
Joined: Feb 2 nd, 2009
|
Re: Help identifying this Marlin-Ballard
Reply #11 - Nov 18th, 2020 at 11:50am
|
Print Post
|
I can tell you which it might be, and which it likely isn't. But impossible to tell exactly what model it is. If the breech block halves match the receiver number, then it's likely it started life as a Union Hill. And a #8 had set triggers, so if the blocks serial number to the action it's likely the #8. The stepped side receiver eliminates some other pistol gripped receiver models like the #6, or others that usually have flat sided receivers. The very high serial number, and Marlin Firearms Co. stamped receiver indicate it's in the very last Marlin Ballard rifles produced, and almost certain it's from 1890 era. Yes, it's likely a pieced together gun, as most dedicated schuetzen rifles often were. The question really is how pieced together it is? The stocks, buttplate, lever, are all non Marlin, so added later. The barrel should have a matching serial number under the forearm, and if none, then that too was changed. As I mentioned, if you drop the lever screw and remove the breech blocks, you can examine the rear tail of the breech block halves for a serial number. Each half has the same number, and if it matches the receiver, then they started with a complete Marlin Ballard action to build the rest of your gun.
|