CGCA gun show

[marlinman93]

The CGCA collector gun show is this coming weekend in Greeley, Co. at the Island Event Center. Over 800 tables of strictly C&R or Antique firearms. Always a wonderful show, with lots of great firearms displays. We're heading out Wed. morning driving two days to be there for setup Thu. afternoon. Our group has two tables for the 3 day show. CGCA members only on Friday, and the public Sat-Sun.
Hope to see some of you there! -Vall

[Rockrat]

Might try and stop by.

[Bill in Oregon]

Hmmm. Wondering what simply astonishing, rare Ballard will fall into Vall's hands at this show ...

[Oldncrusty]

Wow. Wish I was a little closer. Happy tradin.

[GunnyMack]

I'm sure that would be one heck of a show that I would love to attend but it's a 3 day drive from here!
Good hunting Val !

[marlinman93]

Hmmm. Wondering what simply astonishing, rare Ballard will fall into Vall's hands at this show ...

You must be psychic Bill!
Just got home yesterday after two very long driving days each direction! The show was fantastic, and got together with numerous old friends, plus met some new folks who I'd seen on this forum and the ASSRA forum, but never met. Had two of my very old friends from Texas drive up and spend time with at the show, plus enjoyable dinner time with also. Always fills my heart with a warmth to see both of them again!
I did pick up a very special Ballard that I can't really explain what model it is. It's got a receiver like a Union Hill #9, but buttstock looks like a #6 Scheutzen Model except it's pistol gripped where the #6 wasn't? Barrel is a 34" half octagon in .45-70, and the forearm is AWOL, so I'm now going to have to ty and find a deluxe English Walnut forearm to match the highly figured honey colored buttstock to complete this neat rifle. All my Ballards have the typical darker walnut, so this is my first honey colored English Walnut stocked rifle.
Got a killer deal on a 32" Wm. Malcolm Civil War era rifle scope as was used on Berdan Sharpshooters Sharps rifles! Also a Wollensak scope that's like brand new with micrometer mount. A Model 12 Remington .22 that's another project. Very nice rifle, but broken buttstock that couldn't pass up at $200. And a S&W Hand Ejector in .32-20 to replace my old one I foolishly sold a few decades ago.
Both of my traveling friends got great deals also, but generally a lot of high prices, so you really had to search to find good deals.

[marlinman93]

Some of my CGCA finds.
Ballard with missing forearm that was too cheap.


The hole in the receiver is for the Schoyen takedown pin. The .45-70 barrel is coming off and a spare Schoyen full round barrel in .40-50SS is going on this rifle. Then a forearm will be found or built.


Wm. Malcolm full length 32" scope. Made somewhere between 1855 and 1900.




Remington Model 12 from Mar. 1924. Needs some stock work, or donor stock.


S&W .32-20 hand ejector 4th variation, also from 1924.


And a sight set for my Model 37 Remington Rangemaster.


Wollensak scope with micrometer rear adjustment. Beautiful clear optics!


All at wonderful prices, even with a lot of overpriced guns at this show.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Thanks. Love the pictures. Maybe some day I'll make it out to that show. Helluva drive ... will take some epic convincing with the wife.

[Bill in Oregon]

Hah! Vall, I knew your Midas touch would not fail! That's a gorgeous Ballard.

[GunnyMack]

That Ballard is a real pretty thing!
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why that model 12 stock is cut like that...

[marlinman93]

That Ballard is a real pretty thing!
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why that model 12 stock is cut like that...

Gunny I too wondered, and came to the conclusion someone wanted a 12A pistol gripped stock, so they cut it there to put in a filler block they could shape to pistol grip. I checked Ebay this morning for a used Model 12 stock, and darned if there wasn't one there for $60 buy it now price. I bought it and wont mess with this stock now. Maybe try to make it a PG if I get bored, and no projects left to do.

Bill, this is the first Ballard I've ever owned with the honey colored English Walnut stocks. So hoping I can locate a proper forearm to match and complete it too! And if I get super lucky, like winning the lottery level, the Schoyen barrel would headspace and index up perfectly. But probably fat chance of that happening.

[GunnyMack]

That was my thinking too. Better ways to get to a PG stock but that would work.

[marlinman93]

That was my thinking too. Better ways to get to a PG stock but that would work.

Checked good old Fleabay yesterday and someone had just listed a Model 12 buttstock with through bolt for $70 or best offer. I offered $60 and got it, so it was an easy fix!

[GunnyMack]

Perfect!

[marlinman93]

Got an email from the Ballard seller this morning with pictures of a nice forearm with horn tip he had almost finished before his stroke left his right arm somewhat less than perfect. So looks like I may have a forearm also for the Ballard. Just need to put finish on it and checker it.

[GunnyMack]

Like Bill said, you have the Midas Touch!

[marlinman93]

He told me he has a reamer and fix for my .44-100 Ballard also, but when he contacted me about the forearm he sent pictures of his .28-30 reamer, not a .44-100, so waiting to see what the outcome will be? I hope he has the .44-100 reamer as I need to clean up my chamber after fixing it.

[GunnyMack]

Sorry to hear about his stroke, don't wish that on anyone.
Hopefully he can find the 44-100 reamer for you.

[marlinman93]

Sorry to hear about his stroke, don't wish that on anyone.
Hopefully he can find the 44-100 reamer for you.

I sure hope so! I've owned the #7 Long-Range for a very long time, and got a huge supply of RMC lathe turned brass, dies, and paper patch mold with it. But when I received it I found a bulged case in the fired brass, and once I fired one cartridge I saw a bulge on it also. So it's had a bulged chamber that needed either a relined barrel, or relined chamber to fix it. Russ told me he'd fixed several using JB Weld over the bulge and then run a reamer in later to clean them up. Said he's shot thousands of rounds after the fix and no issues at all. This would be a perfect cheap fix, but a reamer costs $250 to buy for one use, so I hope he comes up with a reamer so I can finally get some use from the #7! Otherwise I guess I'll contact Manson and have them make me up a reamer for this one use.

[GunnyMack]

That is one of those things that us gun folks deal with. In your case 250 bucks for a one time use is just has to be swallowed, choking the whole way.
I highly doubt you'll find the 44-100 on one of the rental sites.

[marlinman93]

That is one of those things that us gun folks deal with. In your case 250 bucks for a one time use is just has to be swallowed, choking the whole way.
I highly doubt you'll find the 44-100 on one of the rental sites.

You're right Gunny about nobody having one. But since my Ballard #7 is wall hanger without it I'll bite the bullet. I do at least have a code for free shipping, so that's a tiny savings.

[GunnyMack]

That's a start !
I wasn't familiar with the 44-100, had to look it up. I don't think it will become very popular.

[marlinman93]

That's a start !
I wasn't familiar with the 44-100, had to look it up. I don't think it will become very popular.

Marlin chambered their Ballard rifles in .44-100 in 1875-76, and in 1876 replaced it with their .45-100 cartridge. So it was a very short lived cartridge. It can be easily made from .45-100 cases, but they're impossible to find as well. Reamers are different with less taper to the .45 case. So it was quickly obsolete not long after it was introduced.

[GunnyMack]

Yes, that's what I read , 1 year is a short span ! To think you have one from that year is really something!

[marlinman93]

Yes, that's what I read , 1 year is a short span ! To think you have one from that year is really something!

Fortunately I got 400 pcs. of RMC lathe turned .44-100 brass with the gun, along with an Old West paper patch mold, and C&H4D die set. Not sure I'd have bought it if I hadn't gotten everything I needed to shoot it back then.