I've owned this little Ballard #3F Fine Gallery for about 35 years now. I bought it back when because these are so rare, and it looked pretty nice; but it had a horrid bore! I tried all sorts of things to clean and improve the rifling, but it just had too many BP .22 rounds through it without proper maintenance to save.
I set the gun in the safe with intentions of someday having it relined, but after a lot of contemplation I knew I wouldn't ever be happy with the tiny, lightweight, short 24" barrel. So I always set it aside to think it over. Then in September I got an email from Green Mountain saying they had all their barrels on sale. I had checked at their sale the month before, but no .22 barrels in stock. Took a look in September and surprised to see they now had the .22 barrel I wanted listed in stock! With the sale discount a 27" full round, heavy 1.20" barrel was well under $100! So I ordered one!
It arrived fairly quick, and I began disassembling the #3F to ready it for a compete rework. The old barrel and forearm will be set aside to keep with the gun, and the new barrel fitted and I'll build a new forearm to fit. I sent the polished action to Al Springer, who will have C. Sharps fit the new barrel, and then Al will rust blue it, and color case the receiver also.
Once it's done and back here I'll spin the new barrel on and put the buttstock on it. Then carve a larger forearm to fit the heavy round barrel, and use it for .22RF matches at our club. It's going to be set up for iron sights, or target scope bases also, so I can shoot it either way.
Post some more pictures when it returns.