Lot 3339: Factory Engraved Marlin Ballard No. 3 Deluxe Gallery Rifle

The factory engraved receiver features broad floral scrollwork on a punch dot background, heart borders and game scenes in circular panels. The game scene on the left side depicts a bear. The game scene on the right side depicts a running buck. Additional scrolls and borders decorate the flats of the chamber. The rifle is fitted with a combination Beach front sight, a filler block in the rear sight seat, and mid-range tang peep sight. The left side of the receiver has the two-line Marlin address/Ballard patent marking. The checkered forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured select walnut. The buttstock is fitted with a checkered hard rubber buttplate. The underside of the barrel is stamped with the matching serial number and "JW" in an oval, leaving some to speculate that the forearm was made by master craftsman John Wills who would have also fitted and finished the barrel. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection

Fine. The barrel retains 98% plus professionally restored blue finish. The action is a smooth gray patina and overall crisp engraving. The refinished wood is fine with a stress crack in the wrist, some minor handling marks and crisp checkering. An attractive Marlin Ballard No. 3 Deluxe Gallery Rifle.