Manufactured from 1878 to 1880, this highly attractive, high condition Marlin Ballard is fitted with a scarce 30 inch mid-weight full octagon barrel equipped with a German silver blade front sight and a Winchester style elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. The mid-range Vernier tang sight has a thick base and 3 3/4 inch staff. The casehardened receiver has the two-line Marlin address/Ballard patent marking on the left side and the standard factory engraved scrollwork along with "Ballard A1" on the left side and "Mid Range" on the right side. The barrel and forearm are numbered to the gun. The highly figured select walnut forearm and pistol grip stock feature multi-point checkering. The buttstock is fitted with a checkered hard rubber Ballard buttplate. Includes a period dovetailed shooting box featuring an ornate brass carrying handle and containing a cartridge block holding 45 loaded nickel plated 40-65 Ballard Everlasting cartridges, three fired rounds, two cartridge cases made from Norma brass and steel sub-caliber adapter likely for a .41 caliber short CF round. The box also contains reloading tools and implements including brass and nickel steel capping/de-capping tool, nickeled .40-65 case sizing die, a nickeled 40-65 bullet seater, a de-capping block, a brass powder measure, a tin of primers, a small envelope of over powder cards and a scarce 25 round box of Winchester made patched 40 caliber 285 grain lead bullets (15 in all) with yellow and black label marked for Ballard rifle. Provenance: The David D. Sobel Collection; The Milan J. Turk Collection

Exceptionally fine. The barrel retains 85% original blue finish. The remaining metal surfaces retain 60% original case colors. The toe of the buttplate and stock have been professionally repaired, otherwise the wood is excellent with some minor handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. These rifles are rarely found in original, unaltered condition. This is certainly a highly sought after, high condition Marlin Ballard No. 4 1/2 A-1 Mid-Range Target Rifle that deserves a worthy place in any Marlin or single shot collection.