The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

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marlinman93
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The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by marlinman93 »

So about a month ago I spotted a Ballard set trigger breech block and lever on Ebay with a cheap buy it now price. Always nice to have spares that are good in case, so I bought it. Then I did a search of the seller's "other items", and saw he had a complete stock set of forearm, buttstock, small Farrow Swiss buttplate, and through bolt at a crazy cheap price too! I bought those also, then began wondering if the seller had a cracked action, or some issue where he was parting out a complete Union Hill #8 Ballard? So I sent him a message asking if he might be listing any other parts soon, and he told me he'd be listing a "barrel and connecting parts" the week of Thanksgiving.
I've been watching 2-3 times a day since before Thanksgiving, but nothing. Then yesterday I went on Ebay and had a message from the seller with just a long number? I asked what the number was and he told me to enter it on Ebay. I did, but nothing came up? I tried for an hour, and gave up. Then a friend told me to do a Google search for "Ebay and that number" and bingo a link came up and took me to the barreled action! So this is what I ended up with (all matching numbers!):

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A complete Union Hill #8 scheutzen rifle! Some assembly required, along with some repair and maybe restoration too. The breech block didn't work properly due to the set trigger screw being turned in too far and snapped off. A quick disassembly of the trigger group allowed me to remove the screw from the backside, and install a new screw to make it work. Then some cleaning and oiling for likely was the first time in probably 140 years!
The forearm has a splinter missing on the top right side that needs to be fixed if I use this forearm. The barrel description says it's got strong rifling, but pitting, so may or may not be usable. I have a brand new blued .32-40 Ballard barrel, and also a nice Schoyen 4.5 weight .40-50SS barrel, so one of those two might get used on this project.
Might not see this until Christmas or later with deliveries so slow this month! Once the barreled action gets here I'll decide on a plan. But so far the various parts were cheaper than a whole Union Hill has been for probably 50 years or more!
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
.45colt
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by .45colt »

All of Your posts about these guns have sure been fun to see this year! We don't have to Own something to appreciate the History. Thank You.
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marlinman93
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by marlinman93 »

.45colt wrote: Thu Dec 11, 2025 2:55 pm All of Your posts about these guns have sure been fun to see this year! We don't have to Own something to appreciate the History. Thank You.
You're surely welcome! Good to know I'm not boring guys to death.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
yooper2
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by yooper2 »

You sure turn up a lot of neat stuff! Bizarre that he would be selling it separately in pieces.

Eric
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Griff
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by Griff »

marlinman93 wrote: Thu Dec 11, 2025 6:17 pm
.45colt wrote: Thu Dec 11, 2025 2:55 pmAll of Your posts about these guns have sure been fun to see this year! We don't have to Own something to appreciate the History. Thank You.
You're surely welcome! Good to know I'm not boring guys to death.
Definitely not bored... envious, yes... bored, no! But, don't let anyone's envy stop the information... I love learning about this stuff.
Griff,
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There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
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GunnyMack
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by GunnyMack »

Talk about stepping in something lucky! Your ability to find these old guns is truly amazing. I never find deals like you do Val.
Can't wait for you to get this one and bring it back to life.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
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marlinman93
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by marlinman93 »

Original tracking showed it arriving in Jan. 2nd, but this morning's updated says next Thursday. I always get excited waiting for stuff to arrive so I can see what I really have!
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
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marlinman93
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by marlinman93 »

GunnyMack wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 6:18 am Talk about stepping in something lucky! Your ability to find these old guns is truly amazing. I never find deals like you do Val.
Can't wait for you to get this one and bring it back to life.
Thanks Gunny!
After many decades of buying and selling some of my luck is making lots of connections, and having things pointed my way. This one started with a friend calling me to ask about the breech block and lever, and wanted to know what the odds were of finding an action, stocks, etc. to use it with? Then he wanted to know if the DST breech block was something he could resell for a profit?
I answered all his questions and he then told me he better pass on the block and lever and said I should buy it. I did, and then called him to tell him about the stock set by the same seller. And of course called him again to let him know about the barreled action. He's a High Wall guy, so I sold him the 1885 takedown cheap as my way of thanking him.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
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GunnyMack
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by GunnyMack »

If we weren't a country apart I'd be hanging out in your gun room!
Im happy you are keeping those Ballards alive and glad you share them with us here.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
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marlinman93
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by marlinman93 »

GunnyMack wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 5:57 pm If we weren't a country apart I'd be hanging out in your gun room!
Im happy you are keeping those Ballards alive and glad you share them with us here.
Thanks Gunny!
There's almost nobody around my area that shares my interest in these old single shot rifles.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
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Pat C
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Re: The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

Post by Pat C »

I enjoy seeing old projects, dont know anything about the Ballard rifles but I can really appreciate them. I too get excited about projects . I posted about one of mine recently trying to get the motivation to make a few decisions on its future .
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