Page 188 - Auction84-Book3

LOT 3338 Marlin Ballard No. 6 Schuetzen Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 3501, 38-55 cal., 32 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut cheek piece stock. Manufactured circa 1882 to 1884. The rifle is fitted with a front sight base (sight absent) and a mid-range tang peep
sight. The rifle lacks a rear sight seat. The action is equipped
with double set triggers. The left side of the receiver has the two-line Marlin
address/Ballard patent marking. The barrel and forearm are numbered to the gun. The checkered forearm and straight grip stock are nicely figured walnut. The buttstock has a cheek piece and heavy nickel plated Swiss buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 70% faded original blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The receiver and lever retain 80% darkened original case colors. The
wood is very fine with some minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A solid example of a classic Marlin Ballard No. 6 Schuetzen Rifle. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
Factory Game Scene Engraved Marlin Ballard No. 3 Deluxe Single Shot Gallery Rifle - Serial no. 11980, 22 RF cal., 28 inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, fancy checkered walnut stock. 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
LOT 3339
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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.
CONDITION: 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.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750