Special order Marlin Ballard Special Order No. 3 Rifle with exquisite L.D. Nimschke style engraving. This rifle is illustrated and described on page 122 of "BALLARD" by John T. Dutcher. The rifle is an early factory conversion from .22 rimfire to the .25-25 Stevens center fire cartridge. The rifle retains the original configuration with the original barrel and converted breechblock. The octagon barrel is browned, the iron frame has a natural finish and the hammer and lever are casehardened. The stock and forearm are fancy walnut with checkered panels and a high gloss piano finish. The forearm has a carved bone tip and the stock has a crescent steel buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a Marlin Ballard wind gage front sight and has a blank in the rear sight dovetail. A "Marlin's Improved Mid-Range Vernier Peep Sight" is mounted on the receiver tang. The rifle has double set triggers. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "J.M. MARLIN. NEW-HAVEN. CONN.U.S.A / PATENETED. FEBRUARY 9.1875 / BALALRD'S, PATENT. NOV. 5. 1861." in three lines in an engraved panel. The serial number, "6758" is located on the front edge of the lower receiver. The sides and top flats of the receiver are engraved with bold American style scrolls on a punch-dot background. The factory legend and the edges of the receiver have wavy line and dot borders. The engraving appears to be the work of master engraver Louis D. Nimschke or his shop. Consigner notes included with the rifle state that it was author and Ballard rifle expert John Dutcher's opinion that the engraving was executed by L.D. Nimschke. Included with the rifle are: (1) an Ideal Loading Tool for the .25-25 Stevens cartridge and (2) nineteen primed .25-25 Stevens cartridges in a period Winchester carton with green labels.

Very fine. The rifle retains approximately 90% of the period brown finish on the barrel with only some dents on top of the barrel and light edge wear. The engraving on the receiver is crisp and flawlessly executed. The buttplate has a gray-brown age patina. The stock and forearm have crisp checkering and retain nearly 95% of the original lacquer finish. Wear is limited to minor handling marks and a professionally repaired and barely detectable hair-line crack on the upper stock wrist. This is an outstanding, well-documented Special Order Marlin Ballard No. 3 Rifle with engraving reportedly excuted by one of the finest of all 19th Century American engravers.