Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

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marlinman93
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Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Another annual Oregon Arms Collectors show was this weekend. I saw numerous guns I loved, but only one I wish I could take home. It belonged to a good friend, and after a weekend of wheeling and dealing we finally came to a trade agreement with less than 10 minutes left in the show today!! Even ended up with some cash back for the guns I traded to him. Yes, it took multiples to get the 4 1/2.
It's a Nimschke engraved #4 1/2 A-1 in .44-75 Ballard caliber. A new caliber for me to go with the new gun. Hopefully some bullets I have for others will fit the bore! Barrel is a 30" half octagon, and bore looks pristine! If it shoots as good as it looks I'll be very happy! Well actually I'm already pretty darn happy!

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OldWin
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by OldWin »

Wow! Man, you got some classy stuff. :mrgreen:
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by jdad »

You did well again.

I did a wheeling and dealing with Dave G. and brought a pretty nice S&W K22 (pre Model 17) home. Great show as usual.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by 2ndovc »

Wow! That's a beauty!


jb 8)
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

jdad wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 8:50 pm You did well again.

I did a wheeling and dealing with Dave G. and brought a pretty nice S&W K22 (pre Model 17) home. Great show as usual.
Dave has a great S&W collection!
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

2ndovc wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:07 pm Wow! That's a beauty!


jb 8)
Thanks! A real bucket list gun for me. Made in 1875-76 from the serial number.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by piller »

Nice looking rifle. Hope you have fun shooting it.
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Did some research on the caliber and found the dimensions are pretty common. .605"rim, .498" base, and 2.5" length. That's very close to the .45-90, but .1" shorter than the Ballard. .45-100 is 2.6" so slightly longer. I may try sizing .45-90 down and see if they grow a little. Starline has both .45-90 and .45-100, so easy to get donor brass. Not so easy to get dies! C&H4D are a bit over $200 a 3 die set.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by octagon »

Marlinman you are some kind of cool gun magnet :shock: 8) . Well done!
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Thanks octagon!
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Vall, your Ballard collection has to be one of the nicest extant. If anyone ever writes another Ballard book, they're going to have to start at your house!
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by Pitchy »

She`s a beauty, congrats on getting it. 8)
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Thanks Bill and Pitchy!

After slugging the bore, it appears it is not a .44 caliber for sure! It slugged at .411" and I decided to try one of my sized and loaded rounds from my .40-63/70 Rigby Ballard in the chamber. It dropped right in, so might be that caliber.
Will need to do a chamber cast to ensure it is the .40-63/70, but if it is I've already got everything needed to load and shoot it! Even ammo loaded with the correct size bullet since my Rigby is the same bore size!
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by M. M. Wright »

Man, you're either the luckiest or most blessed gun trader around. That is extremely beautiful and if it turns out to be chambered for a caliber you already have loading stuff for, well WOW! Looking forward to seeing some groups from it.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by Griff »

WOW! I got up to Aurora, OR on Saturday afternoon. Met with a friend who came up from Sublimity on Sunday and we looked for a place to shoot. No joy, if we'd known there was a gunshow... we probably would've went there. Missed an opportunity to drool on your guns in person! :P :P :D
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Griff wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:06 pm WOW! I got up to Aurora, OR on Saturday afternoon. Met with a friend who came up from Sublimity on Sunday and we looked for a place to shoot. No joy, if we'd known there was a gunshow... we probably would've went there. Missed an opportunity to drool on your guns in person! :P :P :D
Sorry you missed the show Griff! The OAC show is one of the finest collectable gun shows in the country. Not as big as some huge shows, but the quality is as good or better than any other show. The displays at the show are just about the best ever seen anywhere!
This was my display at the show. All Ballard rifles customized by the old master gunsmiths like Pope, Schoyen, Peterson, and Zettler Bros.

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And this was my good friend's Savage display:

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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by GunnyMack »

Great find!
Your display looks right nice too!
Wait a 99 with a bayonet?! Didn't know that was a factory option.
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

GunnyMack wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:34 pm Great find!
Your display looks right nice too!
Wait a 99 with a bayonet?! Didn't know that was a factory option.
Yes Gunny, the Savage musket came with a bayonet. And unlike the Marlin musket which used an Enfield bayonet, the Savage used a bayonet of their own manufacture. Quite a few Savage muskets were purchased by Canada for the home guard to defend against German or Japanese invasion. Very few found their way back here, or even survived the rough use of the home guard.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by GunnyMack »

Well I learned something today!
I never would of thunk od that!
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

John's musket has the Canadian maple leaf stamp used on those that went north.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by hfcable »

wow ! your collection and your new finds [ not to mention your knowledge ] just always amaze me ! great find....just beautiful in every way.
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

hfcable wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:45 pm wow ! your collection and your new finds [ not to mention your knowledge ] just always amaze me ! great find....just beautiful in every way.
Thanks a lot!

The 4 1/2 is apart in the basement now to repair the chips broken off the horn tip. Have it filled in and after 24 hrs. I'll shape the fill down and recut the grooves to match the original horn.
Saran Wrap around the barrel, and taped off to protect it. Mixed up some Acraglass gel and added some brown flocking to color it to match the horn tip. Once it sets up for 24 hrs. I'll remove the tape and Saran Wrap and shape it down to match the horn tip.

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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Removed the forearm today. The Saran Wrap did it's job and it easily came off.

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The blue tape is even with the edges of the break, so once it finishes curing I'll carefully cut through the epoxy at the parting line and the excess will come off the tape and not be on the wood. Then I'll shape it down and cut the accent lines again, and give it a light coat of Wipe On Poly to seal it.

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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by 6pt-sika »

Very nice !

Did Zischang I think I spelled it correctly ever do any target rifles on the Ballard's ?
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

6pt-sika wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 12:35 pm Very nice !

Did Zischang I think I spelled it correctly ever do any target rifles on the Ballard's ?
Yes, and quite a few too! I've seen numerous Zischang schuetzen Ballards.
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by 6pt-sika »

marlinman93 wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 2:46 pm
6pt-sika wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 12:35 pm Very nice !

Did Zischang I think I spelled it correctly ever do any target rifles on the Ballard's ?
Yes, and quite a few too! I've seen numerous Zischang schuetzen Ballards.
Did you not at some point have a Zischang something or other ?
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

I have a Zettler Ballard, but not a Zischang. Have several Schoyen Ballards, and a couple Pope Ballards. I hope to get a Zischang someday!
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marlinman93
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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by marlinman93 »

Just about finished. Needs a few coats of WOP to bring up the sheen, and then should be OK. Not a perfect match, but better than missing horn!

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Re: Ballard 4 1/2 A-1 Mid Range

Post by stretch »

That's a beauty! :mrgreen: :D

I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

-Stretch
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