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Gazz
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New guy and I need help with a Ballard .46/44-40
Yesterday at 3:22pm
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I've had this rifle for many years and have finally decided to do something with it.  It has the rimfire FP but not the center fire FP which looks like it was held in place with a threaded bushing which is also missing.  Normally, I would try to replicate original type parts but would really like to see what they looked like.  I can't find any images of this set up just the later centerfire only firing pins.  Then I think maybe I should just modify the breech block(s) to use a cross pin to captivate the FP.  Is there anybody here who can help with images of the original set up?
Thanks for any replies!
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: New guy and I need help with a Ballard .46/44-40
Reply #1 - yesterday at 5:53pm
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The pre-Marlin Ballard rifles were never made as centerfire versions, so there's are no drawings for those parts. Any converted to centerfire are custom built, and each can be done differently depending on who built the conversion parts.
Originals were rimfire or percussion, where Marlin built Ballards simply used a reversible firing pin system John Marlin designed to shoot RF and CF in the same rifle.
  

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Gazz
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Re: New guy and I need help with a Ballard .46/44-40
Reply #2 - yesterday at 9:08pm
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Thank you for the reply!
The rifle was made by Brown Mfg in Newburyport MA.  According to Flaydermans it was only offered in .46rf by Brown Mfg as you note.  The last three digits of the sn on the breech block(s) matches that on the frame and the work on the breech block(s) and hammer look factory done - certainly by somebody who knew what he was doing.  The sn 21XXX indicates the very end of rifles made by Brown.  A cross pin or set screw to captivate the FP would have a much simpler method than what was done. I'll post some pictures when I take it apart again.
« Last Edit: yesterday at 9:16pm by Gazz »  
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Bnelson
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Re: New guy and I need help with a Ballard .46/44-40
Reply #3 - yesterday at 10:27pm
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This sounds like the dual ignition version.  The threaded bushing you mention is actually a percussion nipple.  The original rimfire case was punctured with a special tool, reloaded with black powder and a percussion cap was put on the nipple.  The hammer clearance was such that it would then fire the cap.  I have one and have shot it this way.  Actually works quite well.  It is discussed in detail in Dutcher's book.
Bruce
  
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