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A cute little Ballard (Read 12805 times)

rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	A cute little Ballard Mar 9^th, 2024 at 10:19pm	Print Post
	Here is an interesting Ballard I purchased off Gunbroker. It looks like it started life as a number 8 Union Hill. The breechblock was converted to rimfire. It was fitted with a 22LR Winchester #3 barrel but never drilled for attaching a forearm. The front dovetail was cut for the pictured FN Martin front globe sight which has a base smaller than the typical 3/8”. I think the stock is original to the action because the swiss plate serial number matches the action, but somehow it was modified and shortened up where it meets the action and theres no seriel number stamp. They topped it off with an original Soule sight, serial number 18.


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #1 - Mar 9^th, 2024 at 10:20pm	Print Post
	Heres the rollmark on the Winchester barrel.


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #2 - Mar 9^th, 2024 at 10:22pm	Print Post
	F.N. Martin front sight. Insert appears modern and I have seen this style but cannot remember who makes it.


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #3 - Mar 9^th, 2024 at 10:23pm	Print Post
	Original Soule sight. Eyecup had a copper tube soldered to it which I removed. Neat little sight.


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #4 - Mar 9^th, 2024 at 10:27pm	Print Post
	And here’s the cute finger rest. I shot the rifle today off the bench sighting it in. Last 5 shot group was under 1/2” at 50 yards with CCI SV. I also have a spare Original Ballard forearm from another project that is slightly longer and has a narrower barrel channel inlet so I hope to be able to shorten it and open it up to fit this barrel.


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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1301 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #5 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 1:35am	Print Post
	Wow! Nice rifle! I somehow missed that one. Glad we weren't bidding against each other. Maybe MVA on the sight insert?

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #6 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 8:52am	Print Post
	You are right Jerry, the insert is a Sharps style. I plan on replacing with a Winchester globe. My plan is to use this gun to practice my offhand shooting so I would like things close to how my others are configured


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Old-Win Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1789 Location: Minnesota Joined: Nov 24^th, 2005	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #7 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 8:54am	Print Post
	That's a very rare marking on that Winchester barrel and may have been made to order for that rifle. I've only seen 2 other ones with that marking. What does the stiff wire hanging down next to the front trigger do?


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jhm Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1921 Location: georgia Joined: Sep 4^th, 2011	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #8 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 10:22am	Print Post
	I think he stated a "finger rest?"... JMH


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #9 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 10:26am	Print Post
	That is a rest for your trigger finger. It is charming though if I shoot this gun alot my fingers going to expect to find it on my others. Despite that, I plan to leave it. I am no expert and had never seen this particular marking on a Winchester barrel.


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Gold45Colt Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Sheridan, Wyoming Joined: Feb 25^th, 2016	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #10 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 11:30am	Print Post
	Nice looking Ballard there.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17459 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #11 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 12:12pm	Print Post
	Neat Ballard rifle, with a rare Winchester barrel. But the Soule sight is not original to the gun. Marlin never had any Soule sights offered, and that particular Soule sight was for another gun as the base has been shortened and drilled to Marlin Ballard spacing later. Sure doesn't hurt the gun, just not original.

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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12074 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #12 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 1:06pm	Print Post
	Could it be a Soule base for a Ballard?

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #13 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 1:33pm	Print Post
	I assumed the Soule sight was fitted after at some point as well. As to whether the base itself was made originally for a Ballard, I studied the one in Dutchers book thats on a Rigby and it looks identical. Thats all I know. Since the front sight has an abnormally small dovetail, I figured it was fitted to this barrel when it was installed on this action and the Soule was added at that time for some windage. But no one knows.


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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: A cute little Ballard Reply #14 - Mar 10^th, 2024 at 1:34pm	Print Post
	.


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