Henry Slotterbeck (often spelled Slotterbek on his guns but advertised as Slotterbeck and originally Schlotterbeck) was a foreman for Henry Deringer and formed Slotter & Co. with his brothers and other former Deringer employees and manufactured copies of Henry Deringer's famous pocket pistols. He moved to Los Angeles in 1869 and worked there until his death in 1888 while adjusting the sight on a loaded rifle! (see The L.A. Times June 25, 1888) This rifle would have been made between 1881 and 1888 based on these dates and the markings. Most of the Slotterbek guns were shipped to A. J. Plate in San Francisco, and Slotterbek was there regularly to visit his brother Charles. Slotterbek more commonly worked with Sharps rifles. The part-octagon barrel has "H. SLOTTERBEK LOS ANGELES/CAL." on the upper left flat, "SILVER-STEEL" on the upper right flat, and a 28 1/2 inch long rifle scope with nickel-silver caps fitted via a clamp around the barrel at the front and a dovetailed blade at the rear. The top of the mounts have a beaded blade front sight and a notch rear sight. A base for a peep sight is fitted on the upper tang. The receiver is finely engraving with deer scenes on the sides, borders, scrolls, and shell motifs. Part of the factory marking on the left was removed when the action was shortened prior to the engraving. It is equipped with double set triggers and a full loop lever. The nicely figured stock and forearm have exceptional floral and scroll relief carving, checkering with scalloped borders, a bird scene on the left behind the pistol grip which has a horn cap, and a stag scene on the left side of the butt behind the prominent cheek rest. It is fitted with a nickel plated Swiss buttplate.

Very fine with 95% plus of the period Slotterbeck applied plum blue/brown along the barrel and casehardened finish on the action, 40% original nickel plating on the buttplate, crisp engraving and barrel markings, a hefty amount of the period varnish over the case colors on the sides of the action, and minor handling and storage wear. The wood is also very fine and has crisp checkering and carving, a few minor dings and scratches, attractive figure and grain, and strong and glossy varnish. The scope is also very fine and has excellent optics, minor scratches and fading on the body, and aged patina on the caps. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceptional rifle and certainly one of the finest Ballard rifles we have had the honor of bringing to auction.