New/old Ballard

[combat32]

So I picked up a Ballard at the local funshow last weekend in 40/85, it is a no5 Pacific model. It's gonna need a little love but I would like to get her back in shooting shape.

I am gonna need a few parts, found a source for wood, are there any sources for for other parts? I think I am gonna need a new lever screw and maybe the lever link.

The bore looks pretty good,are there any sources that can pin down the year it was made? this one is serial# 21344

[Bigslug]

Spend some time on this thread: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?246753-Ballard-barreled-action A lot of the good Ballard sources are listed there.

There is no easy "this serial number = this year" with Ballard's. If your receiver is "JM Marlin" you're pre-1881; "Marlin Firearms" will run to the 1891 end of production.

John Dutcher's book Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle contains a table of serial numbers that he has studied, for which he has been able to locate some documentation the shipping date. Going by that, you've probably got a late 1885 rifle.

[combat32]

Thanks, I have been following that thread

[combat32]

Couple of pics of the old girl129755129756129757129758


It's got a couple extra holes in reciever, bore looks surprisingly good, it weighs in at 11 pounds and has a 30 inch barrel.

[John Taylor]

Good find. Probably need to have the screw made . I had to make several parts for mine and picked up a set of breach block casting for the double set trigger that will take some time to fit together. Mine came as a basket case with a 22 barrel and home made wood. It is a forged frame with the same lever as yours. It is now sporting a 38-55 barrel and original butt stock. Plan on making a Pacific out of it.

[Boz330]

I have a Red Willow Ballard that needed some work and sent it to Wyoming Armory in Cody. They seem to be very knowledgeable on the Ballards and did excellent work on mine.

Bob

[pietro]

.

Nice grab ! I would first try reworking/restoring the buttstock and that nasty screw head, if the screw was otherwise OK.


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[combat32]

That screw is bent in the middle as well as being boogered up, afraid the link may be bent as well. I have the breech block out now takin a bath in Kroil.

I think the lever is slightly bent as well, can probably staighten it out, I have a friend who is an excellent gunsmith who can reproduce the screw for me, I will probably start there. Maybe in a couple of weeks the breech block will be ready to come apart;)

[rbertalotto]

I just had an article published in "The Single Shot Exchange" on a Ballard I refurbished.

"A Ballad about a Ballard"

www.rvbprecision.com (http://www.rvbprecision.com)

Yours looks like it has great promise!