Thanks guys.  This is exactly what I was hoping for.  The topic of Ballards is wide and deep, and this particular “pool” is not mapped very well, but I find it fascinating.   

Jerry, those three from CCJ reveal a lot of what I was hoping for.  I remember when our friend Dale McGee took some pictures of them for the Journal several years ago, but he lost them in a computer crash.    I mistakenly thought that when you and I discussed them you had said CCJ did do the wood for his own guns (only) but it would make sense that since he had access to some great stock makers he wouldn’t want to waste time on stocks when he could be devoting it to more productive metal work. 

jfeldman, that looks like what I visualize being a position rifle.  Out of curiosity, is it for a straight or for a pistol grip receiver profile?  Is it currently in use? 

Crown-C, if it’s chambered in 35-40 Maynard it would not fit into the category of position rifle.  In my understanding of the definition, a position rifle will be chambered in 22 rim fire. Nice rifle though!

Thanks again to all who responded,
Froggie

Froggy, those stocks came off a straight grip receiver and are currently taking up space on a shelf in the gun room!

Regards,
Joe

Thanks Jerry.  Great additional info to my quest and pretty supportive of what I had surmised. Yes, some pics of the adjustable buttplate would be great.  I’m especially interested in how the Rules Committee was able to “outlaw” his hooked buttplate when Freeland sold one and we still see them on Anschutz and other rifles today.  His must have been “too good!” 

BTW, did you know that up until a few years ago there was a big gunsmith and parts dealer down in North Carolina named Eric Johnson?  I used to see him at gun shows back in the ‘90s and was very confused when I first read about barrel maker Eric Johnson and your grandfather, also surnamed Johnson, all in the gun business.  And of course that ignores the Johnson Rifle designer.  There must be some sort of gun makers’ magic attached to the Johnson name, huh? 

Your friend the Frog

Update:  A stock arrived today from California.  A little more fitting and the Franken-Ballard will be ready for the range.  The barrel channel in the fore end needs a little more relief and I have to adjust the trigger so the lever doesn’t interfere and it will be done.
The receiver, tang and wood came from California, the internals of the action (block, hammer, trigger, lever, etc) came from a cigar box in Charlie Dell’s shop, and the barrel was fitted to another Ballard “BY E CHEEK, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO”
Does anyone recognize that gunsmith?  I can’t seem to even find mention of him anywhere.
Anyway, this thread has been productive for completing this “restoration” project.  Thanks to all involved and especially to jfeldman for the stock.
Froggie

Crown-C wrote on Apr 17^th, 2022 at 6:12pm:

Richard
If all those rifles are yours, your addiction is worse than mine.
Mike

My daughter in law Gabi, Gabi Turner at Tacoma a few years ago. Think it was her first target for score also.  She shoots OH too.

Joe, 

I’ve come (reluctantly) to the conclusion that a rifle can only be original once.  I sorta beat the odds about 25 years ago when I gathered up all original parts and reassembled them to form an original appearing “Plain Sporter” high wall in 32-40. It even passed muster with John Campbell while he was heavily involved writing his books.  This was the height of plain dumb luck though, and the fact that it wasn’t a special configuration made parts easier to find.  It did have a single set trigger, but all of the parts associated with that came with it, praise be!   

I’m not sure I’d ever even be able to duplicate that feat again, but recreating a modified rifle is much less challenging.  I would say that Ballard of yours has carved its own niche in history (as apparently has D-I-L Gabi too, shooting a possible the first time with that rifle!)  I for one would vote in favor of leaving it alone.  It’s your rifle of course, and YMMV.

My Franken-Ballard literally came to me one and two pieces at a time from all over the country, reminiscent of a certain Cadillac in a famous song.  It has no originality remaining to be lost, so I figure it’s a great candidate for an homage to the 22 cal position rifles of the past.   

Thanks again to all who contributed information as well as parts to this endeavor.

Froggie

Regards,
Froggie