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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6? (Read 6528 times)
Tpigskin
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Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Apr 20th, 2021 at 2:09pm
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Hello to all:
I was recently gifted this Marlin-Ballard from an estate. I personally don't have a use for a Schutzen, so I will likely sell or trade for something more in line with my current interests.

I am primarily interested in what might be a fair starting value. I will attempt to provide all details, but if I leave something out please prompt me.

The rifle has a forged nickel plated receiver, DST, and a thumb rest on the right side of the frame. It has 2 barrels, a Winchester 1/2 round 1/2 octagon chambered in what I believe to be 38/55 and a second barrel in what I believe to be 357 Maximum, although I have not cast the chambers. The palm rest is included.

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Tpigskin
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #1 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 2:27pm
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Well, while I'm working to try to reduce my image sizes, I can send photos via text or email.
  
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Tpigskin
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #2 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 2:39pm
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Additional photos
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #3 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 3:38pm
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A little tough to say what it is. A #6 lever, but that's kinda where the #6 ends on it. The #6 usually had a flat side heavy receiver, and yours is stepped side. The Union Hill had the rebated or stepped side receiver, and a pistol grip stock like the spare stock is. Both had pistol grip receivers, but the stocks were sans a pistol grip on the #6, similar to the aftermarket stock on the gun, except heavier stocks.
Values can run all over the place, and it's tough to set a value on yours. If the barrel on it matches the receiver serial number, it adds value IF it's a great bore. If the spare stock has a matching serial number on the end where it butts the receiver, that's a plus too. If the spare barrel is a great one and both barrels are great bores, it adds value. Would be better to see it in my hands to look for markings on either barrel, although the spare barrel appears to be a very recent addition in the way it's built.
My loose "guesstimate" without seeing it close up would be $1500-$2600. Couldn't get any closer from just pictures.
  

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830singleshot
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #4 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 4:44pm
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That seems to be a mighty generous estimate to me for an assembly of questionable parts topped off with a poorly plated receiver.   
I'm not trying to be harsh, but it needs real money and time spent on it to turn it around.    
My guess is$1,000 to $1,200.
I hope it ends up with someone who will make it right again.
  

J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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Tpigskin
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #5 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 4:45pm
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Just noticed I included a photo of a rolling block. Please disregard.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #6 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 5:06pm
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830singleshot wrote on Apr 20th, 2021 at 4:44pm:
That seems to be a mighty generous estimate to me for an assembly of questionable parts topped off with a poorly plated receiver.  
I'm not trying to be harsh, but it needs real money and time spent on it to turn it around.    
My guess is$1,000 to $1,200.
I hope it ends up with someone who will make it right again.


You could strip the stocks, and both barrels off, and get $1,000 for the receiver alone. I think you're light on your estimate. Unless you're saying the two barrels, stocks, and palm rest have zero value? 
I'm looking at it as what the accumulation of parts is worth.
  

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830singleshot
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #7 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 5:16pm
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I agree, BUT, that's the time element.  Most buyers of something like this would be interested in the action and 1 butt stock, hoping to sell off the other parts to recoup some of what it cost to build it.  It's certainly worth more than the sum of it's parts.   
If the seller wishes to maximize his return, pull it apart and strip the plating from the action and sell the action, stocks barrels palm rest all separately.
  

J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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Tpigskin
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #8 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 6:14pm
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I appreciate ALL perspectives. My primary concern is that this ends up in the hands of someone who will use it for years to come.

Neither barrel is original to the action. Nor are the stocks. I wouldn't know how to remove the nickle plating. If someone wanted to buy with the intent on parting it out, more power to them.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #9 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 7:46pm
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830singleshot wrote on Apr 20th, 2021 at 5:16pm:
I agree, BUT, that's the time element. 

Can't imagine how time would factor in? Might take all of 15 minutes to break it down. I wouldn't care about or try stripping the receiver. I'd use it. 
Yes, whatever wasn't used would either get sold, or put into my future projects box. Still think it's worth more than $1,000-$1200, but that's just my opinion.
  

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830singleshot
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #10 - Apr 20th, 2021 at 8:05pm
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Val,
Your probably right that my estimate is light.  I tend to be conservative when it's"a pig in a poke".
Just recently received a unpleasant surprise when I opened a similar breach block.  Fly gone. Safety notch ground off, sear spring replaced with undersized stock and a wedge drove in to hold it in place.  None of it insurmountable, but it would have been very costly if I was paying for the work.
The old definition of a custom gun is a $1,000 worth the parts to build a $500 gun.  I've been there plenty of times and will again as long as it's fun.
  

J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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40_Rod
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #11 - Apr 23rd, 2021 at 9:51am
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I don't think Marlin guy isn't far off, Its a shooters gun and a little tough to estimate when the work was done. if you screwed a pistol in my ear id say 1950s with the 357 barrel 1990s. its not my taste and a lot rides on the condition of the Winchester barrel but when I looked at it i estimated $1,800 to $2,500. It might go a bit more if the molds and tools for the gun were with it.

40 Rod
  
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bpjack
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #12 - Apr 30th, 2021 at 10:53pm
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I ended up with the Ballard.  The other stock is kind of strange and is fitted for the same hook butt plate that is on the rifle's stock.  The other barrel turns out to be a 30-30 Wesson and is in need of final metal finishing to remove tool marks.  It looks unfired.   I haven't pulled the 38-55 barrel off to see if the Wesson barrel was threaded for this receiver.  The 38-55 barrel has an excellent bore and I hope to shoot it this weekend.  The forend is downright obscene. Smiley Might have to name the rifle Phallus.  I do have a regular Ballard forend that I could fit if I relocated the mounting screw or I could test my carving skills.  Overall I am pleased with the acquisition.  The barrel needs some TLC to remove the worst of the dings and pipe wrench marks.  I filled a couple of gouges in the buttstock and will give it a few coats of Wipe On Poly after my shooting sessions.   

Jack
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #13 - Apr 30th, 2021 at 11:26pm
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Jack I'm once again confused? How does the buttplate fit both stocks when the spare stock appears to have inletting for a long return on the top of the butt? It looks more like a Winchester Helm inletted stock than the style that's on the gun's stock.
  

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Re: Community Help: Marlin-Ballard #6?
Reply #14 - Apr 30th, 2021 at 11:37pm
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I will take some additional photos of the stocks tomorrow, but yes, the brass butt plate fits both stocks.  The dowel that is screwed to the bottom of stock #2 looks like an attempt to create a level slide for bench use.  Why the stock was cut and reassembled with the back end lowered and possibly shortened is beyond me.  Some judicious surgery might salvage it but the stock on the rifle looks like it would shoot ok off the bench except for the forks.  On my 32-40 Ballard, I made a mold of the butt plate and cast a replacement out of resin with no forks that is easily replaced when bench shooting.

Jack
  

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