After a couple years of trying, I was finally able to make the trip from North Dakota to the Tulsa show. There were many extraordinary guns. Tony Maddox had a table full of fantastic rifles as usual. 

I finally found an original Ballard 3F with an excellent bore. The price was very reasonable so I lightened my wallet within a couple hours of walking around.

The #3F are so tough to find, and even more so with a good bore. Seems many were not cleaned well after shooting BP .22RF rounds. That's a nice one, and in pretty nice condition!
I just sent my #3F off to Al Springer to be fitted with a heavy full round barrel, and then Al will color case and rust blue it afterwards. I've owned the 3F for over 35 years, and it's always had a bad bore, and I planned to get it relined, but never did. I'll set the original barrel and forearm aside and tag it in case someone after I'm gone wants to return it to the action.
I've never cared for the short 24" light octagon barrels the #3 were fitted with, so this will be a 27" 1.2" diameter round barrel. Mine is the deluxe version with cheekpiece and checkered pistol grip stock.

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Had a friend call me from the Tulsa show to say he was looking at a table full of old single shots and wanted advice on three he was interested in. 
One was a Ballard #3 he said was fairly nice, and a great bore, but turning brown. The next was a nice Rolling Block Sporting rifle in overall very good condition, but .32Long RF. The last was a Union Hill Ballard #9 in .38-55 with a great bore, and Rigby barrel. He ended up buying all three from the seller for $2000. Quite the bargain as I think the Union Hill alone is worth more than the total price for all.

rifleman wrote on Nov 13^th, 2024 at 12:09pm:


That's what I told him when he described it. It doesn't have the engraving on the flats which makes sense if it didn't come off a Rigby as they were all engraved. I asked about serial numbers on the barrel and he said it has two. One matches the receiver, and one doesn't. But he said the one that matches is the same font as the receiver, and the other is smaller, so still unsure if it left the factory this way. But at $750 it wouldn't matter to me either!

First step is to find a copy of John Dutchers Ballard book.

Second step is to ask questions here. 

Theyre alot of fun to shoot no matter how much or how little you know about them.

I envy that 3F.  I've wanted one for years, for some reason have never run into one for a reasonable price for the condition.  That's ultimately why I built the two ballards I did last year, but they're not 3F's.   

I really should just buy a pistol grip receiver and build one.  Wouldn't be particularly hard to do.  At least, if Rodney still has the lever casting.  The rest of the parts are easy to source, I have a couple of .22 actions in my cabinet right now I think.

Two years ago a local antique gun dealer I know had a ok 3F but I couldn’t get ahold of him quick enough to claim it. Missed it by a phone call. That was the closest I had ever come to getting one.

I paid $2500 for the one in the photos above. I was pleased with that price since it was in my hands and I could inspect it. Averaging it out with the Pacific 45-100 I scored in October for $1100 I am happy.

I may have found another #9 with a Rigby barrel. I won it in an online auction. Poor pics, 10 degree weather, small auction, poor description and listing it as a Ballord. I will keep you updated. Which ever way it ends up I paid well below what the action is worth.

Ballard action value ? Straight or pistol grip, Rebated frame, #'s matching, Lever type. J. M. Marlin or Marlin Firearms Co. ? Alot of variables involved.