The Marlin Ballard "kit"!

[GunnyMack]

Beautiful Vall!
That stock has great color and just enough figure to make it stand out.

[marlinman93]

Beautiful Vall!
That stock has great color and just enough figure to make it stand out.

Thanks! I like the slight reddish tint and grain. I added some N35 Winchester red to the forearm early on, and it turned too red. But as I added the Wipe On Poly finish I noticed my rag I wiped the forearm off with had a red tint to it also. The more coats I applied the less red tint I saw, so by the 10th coat I got very little on the rag, and the color began to match up better. Final sanding with 1000 grit, and then rubbing with rottenstone made it a decent color and finish match.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Did this end up with the Shoyen barrel or did you use the 32-40 barrel you had? Nice looking setup ... once all the work was put into it.

[.45colt]

!

[marlinman93]

Did this end up with the Shoyen barrel or did you use the 32-40 barrel you had? Nice looking setup ... once all the work was put into it.

Yes, I ended up using the Schoyen .40-50 Sharps Straight barrel. It's a 4 1/2 weight full round, so the Ballard is a hefty 14 or 15 lb. rifle! The .32-40 barrel had to be cut at the receiver to relieve pressure and allow that barrel to be removed. The combination of being extremely tight, and likely some corrosion too made it impossible to break loose. I used a hacksaw to cut down about 1/8" all around near the receiver and release pressure. After that it spun off easily. The old barrel will sit in a corner until I get tired of seeing it, and toss it in the scrap metal bin.

[GunnyMack]

At 14 or 15 lbs it ought to be a real pleasant to shoot!
Set the 32-40 barrel back and give it a second life?
Or make a bunch of thunder mugs?

[marlinman93]

At 14 or 15 lbs it ought to be a real pleasant to shoot!
Set the 32-40 barrel back and give it a second life?
Or make a bunch of thunder mugs?

Not worth it as the bore looks horrible. Might make a good tent stake.

The .40-50SS is a pussycat, even in a 10 lb. rifle. About the same as a .38-55 BP load is.

[GunnyMack]

Tomato stake it is!

[Bill in Oregon]

Can't wait for range results, Vall. You hit this one out of the park.

[marlinman93]

Can't wait for range results, Vall. You hit this one out of the park.

Thanks Bill!

Yesterday I got a email from someone I've never known asking me if I still had an 1885 Winchester scheutzen rifle for sale? I do, but wondered who told him, and figured it must be somebody I know well if they had my email? I told him I did, and asked who gave him my email? He told me who it was, and I sent him my phone number.
We're on the phone discussing condition, and specifics when he asks if I'm interested in a Ballard as a trade. Of course I'm always interested in a Ballard, so he sends me a text message with pictures. I'm very surprised when I open the first picture and see the Ballard has no hammer! Then I read his description telling me it's an Arthur Hubalek striker conversion with a Hubalek .22 barrel! I've wanted one of those forever, so we agreed on a trade based on us meeting about 90 miles north of me on Monday to do the trade. Gonna be a long weekend thinking about that neat little Ballard in .22LR!
He's getting this 1885 for it:

[GunnyMack]

That 1885 is gorgeous!

[marlinman93]

That 1885 is gorgeous!

Thanks. I agree, but I'm not a Winchester collector, and have three of them! The other two aren't nearly as pretty, but I like them more than this restored 1885. A striker fired Hubalek with the Worn/Hubalek conversion is extremely rare, and worth much more than most 1885 Winchesters, so easy to let this one go in trade.