Page 198 - Auction84-Book3

LOT 3359
Exceptional, Documented Marlin Ballard No. 8 Union Hill Rifle - Serial no. 26473, 32-40 cal., 30 inch part octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1884 to 1890. This rifle is pictured and identified in John
Dutcher’s “Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle” on page 270 and was formerly of John Dutcher’s collection.
Dutcher notes the Marlin factory fitted improved mid-range Vernier peep sight and windgauge front sight that added
an extra $3.00 to the original cost. The action is equipped with double set triggers. The top of the barrel is marked
“32-40” at the breech, and 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 pistol grip stock are nicely figured walnut. The
buttstock has a cheekpiece and a nickel plated Swiss buttplate.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains 95% plus original blue finish. The receiver and lever retain 90% plus slightly faded original case colors with some spots of dark corrosion visible on top of frame and bottom of lever. 98% plus original nickel plating remains on the buttplate. The wood is also excellent with some minor dings and scratches and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An outstanding Marlin Ballard No. 8 Union Hill Rifle worthy of the most advanced single shot rifle collection. This No. 8 would be difficult to improve upon.
Provenance: The A.I. McCroskie Collection; The Jack Houchen Collection; The John Dutcher Collection; The Milan J. Turk Collection. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3360 Exceptional Marlin-Ballard No. 4 Perfection Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 17836, 40-63 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The No. 4 Perfection was a more utilitarian model than many of the other Marlin-Ballard rifles and was meant primarily for hunters and thus surviving examples often show signs of prolonged use. Examples in excellent condition are very hard to find. This rifle was manufactured in 1876-1881 (early two-line J.M. Marlin/Ballard markings) and has a standard German silver Rocky mountain
blade front sight, sporting rear sight, caliber marking at the breech, matching serial numbers, and smooth stock and forearm. CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel has 98% of the original blue finish, light edge wear, and a spot of minor pitting near the breech on the left. The receiver retains 85%
plus of the original case colors and has some spotty brown patina forming. The buttplate has a mottled silver-gray patina. The wood is also very fine and has strong oil finish, some minor dents and scrapes primarily on the forearm, and two dark spots on the right side of the butt. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000
LOT 3361 Attractive Marlin Ballard No. 4 1/2 Mid-Range Rifle - Serial no. 1573, 40-63 cal., 30 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1878 to 1882. The rifle if fitted with a spirit level windgauge front sight, a filler block in the rear sight seat and a mid-range Vernier tang sight. The casehardened receiver has the two-line Marlin address/Ballard patent date marking on the left side. The attractive walnut forearm and pistol grip stock are checkered. The buttstock is fitted with a coarsely checkered shotgun
steel buttplate. The barrel is numbered to the gun. CONDITION: Fine. The exposed surfaces of the refinished barrel have a plum appearance while most of the original blue remains under the forearm. The
receiver retains 60% plus original case colors. The refinished wood is very good with overall crisp checkering, a couple long hairline stress cracks at the receiver, and some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3362 Marlin Ballard No. 3 Gallery Rifle - Serial no. 3969, 22 RF cal., 24 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1876 to 1891. Dovetail blade and notch sights, ring style lever, three-line Marlin/Ballard marking on the left side of the frame, and barrel numbered to gun. CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 80% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The remaining surfaces retain patterns of original case colors, otherwise faded to a mottled gray. The wood is fine with a couple stress lines at the receiver, minor dings and scratches and most of the original varnish remaining. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK BALLARD: THE GREAT AMERICAN SINGLE SHOT RIFLE BY DUTCHER