At the CGCA show I was fortunate to spot a 1st model Rigby Ballard. The Rigby Ballard rifles are mostly pistol grip versions, but for the first couple years they were pistol grip receivers, but with German style straight grip stocks.
I've wanted one of these rare variations for quite some time, and discovered this one during setup Thursday. I hesitated for whatever reason, and finally told myself I'd be mad forever if I didn't buy it.
The caliber is .40-65 Ballard Everlasting; not to be confused with the Winchester version made much later. The .40-65 Ballard is similar to the .40-63 Everlasting that replaced it in 1881. Not sure why Marlin dropped the .40-65 EL, as the two cases are so close that you can shoot the .40-63 EL in the .40-65 EL, but not the other way around.
 
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According to my good friend, engraver and historian Bob Evans, it's likely LD Nimschke engraved, or at the least from Nimschke's shop. A running buffalo on the right side, and a buck/doe on the left side. The gun has the top Rigby flat cut for a full length scope, and a friend had this Stevens 32" long eye relief scope for sale there. He gave me a great deal on it just because it had dovetail rings, and he felt my Rigby deserved to have a period correct scope to fill the dovetails.
The cheekrest on the stock has a small crescent moon made of abalone nicely inlaid in it. Supposedly this was for "good luck" so maybe the owner thought it gave him an edge? 
The buttplate is the German style also and has a flat bottom to it to match the flat bottomed buttstock. It's unusual, as it's the first Ballard schuetzen buttplate I've encountered that is silver plated, not nickel plated. It was very tarnished to a black tone, but some Flitz brought the silver back to it's warm polished look.

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Scope fit on and really completes the old Ballard I think. Need to work up loads for it, but have a couple other new single shots I'm working on loads first. So may be awhile before it gets range time. I also want to get a dovetail riser to allow for more elevation of the rear scope ring, so I can see how it does at longer distances too.

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That’s a nice rifle, can’t wait to see how it shoots
Gumpy

Gorgeous Ballard Vall.  Bet it shoots lights out.

Vall,
Was that lever made by Marlin or was it from the parts they acquired from Brown/Merrimack/Ball & Williams?
That is a very gorgeous rifle.  Looking forward to a range report.
Scott

Congratulations!  That's a great rifle.  With a like-new bore, we hope to hear great reports from the range.

Curly

CptCurl wrote on Oct 6^th, 2021 at 6:42am:


Me too! Waiting for my friend who sold me the scope to come up with a rear dovetail elevator so I'll have enough adjustment to get further than maybe 200 yds., as these rings don't allow much elevation.

Really nice rifle Vall. It's a bonus when they come with a well cared for bore. I'd be interested in the bore specs. when you get around to slugging it ..I wonder why they phased out the .40-65 in favor of the .40-63?  I like that straight stock too....hope the "lucky moon" works for you (I'd say it already has in snagging that rifle!).
Spud

marlinguy wrote on Oct 7^th, 2021 at 8:31pm:


I may have an old Ideal that casts pretty close to that.its a long RN.i can't recall the number right now.