GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
RARE MARLIN BALLARD MODEL 4-1/2 A-1 MID RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.MARLIN BALLARD4-1/2 A-1 MID RANGE2245840-63Cal. .40-63. Rare rifle with 30" mid-weight oct to rnd bbl, windgage spirit level front sight, no provision for a rear sight and thick base vernier tang sight with 3" staff. Mounted with exceptional French or Circassian walnut with typical checkered horn schnable tip forearm and black, v-shaped inlay Serpentine grip stock with Marlin hard rubber buttplate. Stock has shorter than usual wrist. Receiver is engraved by Conrad Ulrich with small vignettes of a running whitetail buck in a forest scene on left side and a grizzly bear on a rocky promontory on right side. Both vignettes are surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with very fine pearled background and heart-shaped borders. Top three flats of receiver are engraved to match with matching borders. Lever is of larger loop-type. This exact rifle is pictured on p. 150 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle , Dutcher. Matching SNs were observed on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and stock spindle. This model Ballard was very popular well into the 1880's until offhand shooting became more popular and a requirement for these rifles was reduced. This model was used by many famous shooters of the last quarter of the 19th Century and first part of 20th Century and remained in service well into the 20th Century as hunting rifles. They are rarely found today with high orig finish and orig configuration. Serious target shooters of the era commonly changed or added sights and often had custom bbls and custom wood fitted to suit their needs. PROVENANCE: A. I. McCroskie Collection; John Dutcher Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all-matching. Bbl retains about 98% crisp orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear and one small ding and a scratch in octagonal area. Receiver retains most of its orig factory case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Breechblock, hammer and lever also retain most of their faded orig colors. Wood is sound with a very few, very minor surface nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 49124-3 JR (17,500-27,500)