While this rifle is unmarked it probably is by Burg but there were several other Mid-West gunsmiths that were converting rifles to this pattern. Note how the bottom of the butt stock is cut away and the clamp on palm rest. The heavy up-swept butt plate is typical of these rifles. The forearm is cut in half to allow it to be removed. The action is nickel plated which is uncommon in Ballards. Caliber is .38-55 and never has been tapped for scope blocks.

The whole underside of the butt stock has been cut away. I have seen about a small handful of Berg or similar Mid-west rifles so am not able to give an opinion. Somebody, Berg?, did a fair amount of work on this rifle. The attached photo shows a group of Davenport riflemen. I don't know if you can pick up the detail but you can in a hi-res photo but a lot of the rifles shown are similar to this one. It is surprising how little attention smiths such as Murnier, Berg, Bremer and others have received so little attention from collectors.

I've always had trouble deciphering the ledger for that picture. 

I may own the rifle that the man on the far right sitting is holding.  Looks exactly like my rifle and my rifle has compression marks on the edge of the forestock where a palm rest was attached. 
Pure conjecture on my part.

I don't see any rifles with cuttaway stocks in the photo.

That photo currently resides in my office (present caretaker) along with a few other originals and facsimiles.  Btw the ones I have saved from the internet over the years are never given out or sold just repro'd one time put in a cheap frame for my enjoyment.  

I've seen the berg buttplates but have never seen the material taken from the buttstock like that before.  Tom, in regard to those 'upper midwest' style palm rests...were those more of a Meunier or Berg creation?

If you referring the gentlemen on the far right... appears to read B. L. Schmidt 

Yep I overlooked the word 'sitting'.... and you are correct....btw thanks.. I get to spin my chair around at work and after a few minutes my stress level goes down a few notches..

Appreciate it Tom, I think Ron Paxton has photographed several of them (i know they come from so many sources it hard to keep track of).   Maybe we see a few of those images in the upcoming Stevens and Pope books.  

BTW What is the eta for issue(s) to the general public?  

I like many of us wait with baited breath for there release.   

Have really appreciated your recent steady release of photos to this forum.   Have kept a towel at my computer just to wipe up the drool!

I only have one Berg Rifle but it's a nice one. Unsigned.  I bought it from a friend who got it from a collector in Idaho many years ago. One of Frank Bergs sons rifles? 
32-40 and very accurate. I won the Burch McCoy match with it at Etna Green about 2000. Throated for the Hudson bullet and I have the mold for it. 

The rifling profile is Schoyen / Peterson style.

I know of two other Berg rifle owners.  Won't mention their names but maybe they'll see this thread and share theirs. Hoping.