Along with my recent Darr Rolling Block, I also picked up a couple Ballard barreled actions, and some parts. In looking through the parts I discovered one of the Ballard rifles, a #2 in .32 Long, was a complete rifle with matching numbers on the parts. So I set to putting it back together today, and darned if it wasn't actually a decent old Ballard!
The other was a Ballard #3 with no wood, and missing the lever. Not a bad looking rifle, but what to do with it? I scrounged through my parts and discovered several levers, and one buttstock that happened to be a very high grade pistol grip, checkered stock, with Sharps style buttplate. And it was made to adapt to a straight grip receiver! Looking at my levers, I found one that was bent, and reshaped for the same purpose! Maybe they came off the same gun back when I got them? Can't recall for sure.
So put the fancy wood, and the fancy lever on the barreled action. It snapped up nicely, and sure seems to go with the shape of the stock well. Found an original forearm for #3 in .22RF also, and it must have been the same weight barrel as it too fits great. Not as fancy as the buttstock, but that's OK. Need to adjust the mounting hole slightly, as it's about a half hole off between barrel and forearm.
Son in law has asked to buy the #2 in .32 Long, so he's getting that one. The #3 in .22 Long will go to the gun show too help fund the Sharps I'm saving up for.