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KFW
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Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Oct 10th, 2025 at 10:19am
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When the rifles were being made in Cody Wyoming by Steve Garbe what barrel mfg. did they use?
thanks
KW
« Last Edit: Oct 10th, 2025 at 10:24am by KFW »  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #1 - Oct 10th, 2025 at 11:31am
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KFW wrote on Oct 10th, 2025 at 10:19am:
When the rifles were being made in Cody Wyoming by Steve Garbe what barrel mfg. did they use?
thanks
KW


Some came with Badger barrels, and others I believe were Douglas. Mine made in 2000 is a Badger .22 barrel that my friend ordered for it new.
Hopefully "rmc" here on ASSRA will see this thread and confirm if Douglas is correct for sure.
  

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CptCurl
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #2 - Oct 10th, 2025 at 11:36am
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Back in 2020 I asked that question and got a reply from Steve Garbe.  This is what he said:

Quote:
Mr. Stephenson,
If you remove the forearm and check the bottom flat of the barrel you will probably find a "B" for Badger. Badger barrels were standard for us when your rifle was manufactured, however we did also use Douglas ("D") and Krieger ("K") as well as some 7C barrels. The 7C barrels were a slight gain twist barrel that was made by Ballard Rifle and Cartridge for a short time. They were exceptional in quality and were discontinued because of the cost of manufacturing. You have a very fine rifle that represents our second year of production.
Hope this helps,
Steve Garbe


My rifle, which he referred to, was made in 1999.  Here's a photo for a little excitement:

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Curly
« Last Edit: Oct 10th, 2025 at 11:42am by CptCurl »  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #3 - Oct 10th, 2025 at 11:50am
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CptCurl wrote on Oct 10th, 2025 at 11:36am:
Back in 2020 I asked that question and got a reply from Steve Garbe.  This is what he said:

Quote:
Mr. Stephenson,
If you remove the forearm and check the bottom flat of the barrel you will probably find a "B" for Badger. Badger barrels were standard for us when your rifle was manufactured, however we did also use Douglas ("D") and Krieger ("K") as well as some 7C barrels. The 7C barrels were a slight gain twist barrel that was made by Ballard Rifle and Cartridge for a short time. They were exceptional in quality and were discontinued because of the cost of manufacturing. You have a very fine rifle that represents our second year of production.
Hope this helps,
Steve Garbe


My rifle, which he referred to, was made in 1999.  Here's a photo for a little excitement:

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Curly


I was told that most unmarked barrels without a letter were Badger barrels. 
  

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KFW
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #4 - Oct 10th, 2025 at 12:42pm
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Thank you all for the great info!
  
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Old-Win
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #5 - Oct 10th, 2025 at 1:39pm
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Both of my Cody manufactured rifles were marked with a B for Badger.
  
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fayettefatts
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #6 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 8:03am
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Would this apply to Cody Highwalls also?
  
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jhm
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #7 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 8:57am
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Very nice wood on that rifle. What caliber?



JMH
  
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Old-Win
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #8 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 12:43pm
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fayettefatts wrote on Oct 12th, 2025 at 8:03am:
Would this apply to Cody Highwalls also?

Yes, I had both a Cody Ballard and a Cody highwall, each marked with a B for Badger.
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #9 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 1:00pm
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Interesting.  Another point of data.  I have a Wyoming Armory highwall so thought it might be the same.  It has no markings other than caliber & serial number, but I think it's a Douglas or RKS barrel on it due to the 0.319" groove diameter.  It's just a guess as those are the only 32-40 barrels I've owned with that groove diameter.

Chris.
  
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Old-Win
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #10 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 1:35pm
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I wonder how many people stayed around at Wyoming Armory after the Ballard rifle company was moved to Michigan? I know production of receivers and parts was halted after the move, probably because the new owner took over the inventory and the CNC programs with him. I know Keith Kilby was at Wyoming Armory for a while but I don't know if anybody else is or not? Ron Long has passed.
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #11 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 1:44pm
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Oh I thought that Keith Kilby was still at Wyoming Armory.  I think they mentioned it on a recent YouTube video (the Cinnabar channel). They have a couple of recent videos on Wyoming Armory 1885's.  I don't know if he built this particular rifle, but it is probably the most accurate rifle I own.  I assumed, but have no real idea, that a few of the Cody people were still building their rifles.

Chris.
  
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #12 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 3:20pm
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Keith could very well be with them yet. I just have not had much contact with them after the Ballard rifle company was sold because that's where I used to get my high wall parts. I called a few times over the years looking for things but they never had them in stock and told me to go to MVA.
  
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waterman
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #13 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 3:39pm
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Did the Michigan move ever result in completed rifles or parts?
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Cody Ballard rifle barrels
Reply #14 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 4:14pm
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waterman wrote on Oct 12th, 2025 at 3:39pm:
Did the Michigan move ever result in completed rifles or parts?


I believe it did, but am not 100% confident.  I once considered buying a beautiful highwall in 40-70 with beautiful fleur de lis checkering that was supposedly built in Michigan after the move, but I didn't look into it too deeply.

Chris.
  
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