This is a Straight Grip No. 6 1/2 Marlin/Ballard Single Shot Rifle with half-round/half-octagon barrel, nickel-plated standard off-hand style buttplate, folding tang-mounted peep sight and Beach combination front sight. The English walnut stock and forearm are checkered and the stock has a high comb and cheekpiece. The forearm has a turned, ebony, tip. The barrel is blued and the receiver, breechblock and loading lever are casehardened. The left side of the receiver is marked: "J.M. MARLIN. NEW-HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./BALLARD'S PATENT. NOV. 5. 1861" in two lines. The receiver markings indicate that the rifle was manufactured prior to 1881, The serial number, "5302" is located on the forward edge of the lower receiver. The stock has crisp checkering on the wrist and forearm and has an oil finish.

Very fine. The barrel retains approximately 95-97% of the original blue finish. Approximately 70% of the original case-colors are present on the receiver and loading lever. The horn forearm crack is taped at the tip, the stock and forearm are in excellent condition in all respects and exhibit only minimum wear. The replated nickel-sliver butt hook is fine. The bore is good. This is a fine example of a Marlin/Ballard single shot target rifle.