This rifle was manufactured circa the mid 1880s to early 1890s and features scroll, punch dot, geometric, and game scene engraving in the style that was most common on the factory engraved Ballards of this period. The exact same scenes and patterns are seen on rifle 8505 on page 216 of "Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle". That rifle is considered to be one of the earliest rifles in the "Ballard engraving" style. Thus, this rifle, which falls just under five hundred digits ahead of it, is among the earliest known examples in this style. The rifle has a windage adjustable globe front sight, the distinctive raised Rigby barrel flats at the breech, a mid-range Vernier peep sight, checkered forearm with horn forend cap, and a semi-pistol grip buttstock with checkering on the grip, horn grip insert, high comb, cheek rest, and nickel plated Swiss buttplate. It has the "BALLARD" banner on the top barrel rib, the "J. M. MARLIN" address and "BALLARD'S PATENT" marking on the left side of the action at the breech, and matching serial numbers on the barrel, action, forend, stock, and buttplate.

Fine. The blue finish on the barrel has faded to a mostly even brown patina. The action has subdued case colors and brown and gray patina. There are strong case colors on the sides of the breechblock. The buttplate retains 60% of the nickel plating and has an aged patina on the exposed brass and a few spots of verdigris. There are patches of rough oxidation. The wood is fine and has a period applied overcoat of protective varnish, sharp checkering, several small pressure marks and scratches, and a few small chips and slight cracks. The action is fine, and the markings and engraving patterns are crisp.