GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
VERY RARE MARLIN BALLARD MODEL NO. 6 HEAVY SCHUETZEN SINGLE-SHOT TARGET RIFLE.MARLIN BALLARDNO. 6 SCHUETZEN3152338-55Cal. 38-55. Scarce and hard-to-find heavy target rifle with 32" very heavy oct to rnd bbl, windgage, spirit level front sight, no provision for rear sight and Vernier Tang sight with 3" staff. Receiver has double set triggers and finger rest, small loop lever. Mounted with very highly figured European walnut with checkered, horn Schnable tip, orig forarm and Schuetzen-style buttstock with cheekpiece and heavy nickled brass Swiss buttplate. Left side of top quillion of buttplate is stamped "APD". Receiver is beautifully engraved, by Conrad Ulrich in typical Ballard patterns consisting of the vignettes of a feeding whitetail doe on left side and a running whitetail buck on right side, both in nicely detailed forest scenes. Both vignettes are surrounded by very well executed foliate arabesque patterns and a variety of border patterns. Matching foliate arabesque patterns are also found on top three flats of receiver ring. This exact rifle, identified by SN is pictured on page 177 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher with provenance to several well-known collectors. Weight: 14 lb, 9.92 oz. This model Ballard rifle was one of the most popular long-range target rifles during the last quarter of 19th Century. They were in production from about 1876 to 1890 and were used by many of the most famous shooters of that era. Long after Marlin had ceased production of the Ballard rifle, they were still being used well into the 20th Century, and even today one will be occasionally encountered on a shooting range. PROVENANCE: Al Kelly; A. I. McCroskie; John Dutcher; Norman Ulam; Sonny Carlson. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, all-matching including bbl, forearm, buttstock, buttstock extension, and buttplate. Overall retains about 98% crisp orig finish with bright blue and faded case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas. Buttstock has a couple of obligatory hair-line cracks in the wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and a bruise on right side of buttstock and overall retains 98-98% bright piano varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. 49124-4 JR (15,000-20,000)