Marlin / Ballard No. 2 Sporting Rifle

There are few things that fascinate me more that the proper restoration of
an antique be it a classic car, old gun, piece of Early American Furniture,
or what have you.




In this case the object of interest was a Marlin manufactured Ballard No. 2
Sporting Rifle from the 1870s.  I ripped this rifle from the clutches of
Col. Brett Boyd, proprietor of the SINGLE SHOT EXCHANGE magazine.  Nice
rifle it was, but I wanted a little more.

Col. Boyd earlier had the shot out .32 Long bore relined to .22 Long rifle
by Burgins Gun Shop.  Burgins worked in such a way that you could look
directly at the muzzle and find no evidence of a liner.  The only give away
was a perfect bore in an old rifle!

After I received it I turned the rifle over to Dallas gunsmith Jim Stacy.
Jim was a long time and the last gunsmith at Jackson Arms Antique Guns.
That shop closed in 1993 after a run of almost half a century.  I have been
in mourning ever since the day Jackson Arms shut its doors.  

Jim has worked on his own since then.  He built an Ohio Vincent .40 cal.
muzzle loading target rifle for me a while back.  It has a period correct
cantilever rear and globe with post and pinhead front sight on it.  You know
that old joke about the hill billy looking down the sights of his longrifle
and saying "that fly'll never be a father".  The same could be true of Jim's
Vincent replica if it had a young sharp eyed shooter.

After monkeying around with the Ballard for three years Jim turned out a
nice restoration.  The forend had turned black due to handling, and the butt
stock was light.  He made them the same color.  The corners of the barrel
flats had a number of little dents.  Jim took the dents out.  He restored
all the screw heads, and did an action job on the rifle.  Jim did a list of
other things, including touch up bluing, which I'm too fuzzy headed to
remember.

Last but not least he added a Leatherwood Hi Lux William Malcolm 6X, 3/4"
diameter, 18" long scope with outside adjustments.  Jim customized a set of
bases for the scope.

I am so pleased with the results I'm bursting with joy.  I hope the
photographs do some justice to Jim Stacy's work.  If the 100 degree Dallas
weather will calm down a bit, the Marlin Ballard will go to the range with
me.

Keep your Powder Dry,

Chris Barker