SCARCE MARLIN BALLARD NO. 4-1/2 A-1 MID-RANGE TARGET RIFLE.

SCARCE MARLIN BALLARD NO. 4-1/2 A-1 MID-RANGE TARGET RIFLE. SN 1816. Cal. 40-65 Ballard Everlasting. Beautiful mid-range target rifle with scarce 30″ mid-weight full oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mtn. front sight and short, Winchester style semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges and a thick base mid-range vernier tang sight with 3-3/4″ staff. Left side of receiver has the Marlin & Ballard markings and is engraved on left side “Ballard A1” and on right side “Mid Range” with both panels surrounded by light foliate arabesque patterns. Mounted with nicely figured English walnut with horn schnable tipped checkered forearm and checkered buttstock with serpentine grip cap and checkered hard rubber buttplate. Toe of the stock and toe of buttplate are broken and replaced with a period of use patch. Serial number was observed in usual place on bottom front of receiver, bottom flat of bbl under forearm and on rear face of forearm. Buttstock was not removed to check for matching number. While this was a fairly popular model of the Ballard rifles and a variant upgrade of the standard No. 4-1/2 mid-range rifle, it was more expensive but outsold its more plain cousin. They are rarely found in orig, unaltered condition. Accompanied by a wonderful orig dovetailed shooting box 8-1/2″ long x 4-5/8″ high x 5-7/8″ wide with a decorative cast brass carrying handle in the lid and a mortised brass lock in front with working key. Interior contains a deep cartridge block containing 53 holes for cartridges which are occupied by 45 loaded, nickel plated 40-65 Ballard Everlasting cartridges, three fired rds, two cartridge cases made from Norma brass and a steel sub-caliber adapter probably for a 41 caliber short CF rd. Also contained in box are reloading tools & implements including a wonderful brass & nickeled steel capping/de-capping tool, a nickeled 40-65 case sizing die, a nickeled 40-65 bullet seater, a de-capping block, a brass powder measure, a lacquered tin of primers, a small envelope of over powder cards and a scarce 25-rd box of Winchester made patched 40 caliber 285 grain lead bullets with yellow & black label marked “MANUFACTURED FOR THE BALLARD RIFLE”. PROVENANCE: David D. Sobel Single Shot Rifle Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear. Receiver, lever, hammer & breech block retain about all of their orig case colors, moderately faded and turning silver in areas. Stock, with aforementioned repaired toe, has two tiny hairlines back of receiver, otherwise wood is sound and retains strong orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. Case is wonderful and sound with minor nicks & scratches and some light soil on the lid and retains most of its orig varnish. Nickeled cartridge cases are all bright & clean. Tools are also fine. 4-39116 JR29 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1427	$9,775.00	SCARCE MARLIN BALLARD NO. 4-1/2 A-1 MID-RANGE TARGET RIFLE. SN 1816. Cal. 40-65 Ballard Everlasting. Beautiful mid-range target rifle with scarce 30″ mid-weight full oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mtn. front sight and short, Winchester style semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges and a thick base mid-range vernier tang sight with 3-3/4″ staff. Left side of receiver has the Marlin & Ballard markings and is engraved on left side “Ballard A1” and on right side “Mid Range” with both panels surrounded by light foliate arabesque patterns. Mounted with nicely figured English walnut with horn schnable tipped checkered forearm and checkered buttstock with serpentine grip cap and checkered hard rubber buttplate. Toe of the stock and toe of buttplate are broken and replaced with a period of use patch. Serial number was observed in usual place on bottom front of receiver, bottom flat of bbl under forearm and on rear face of forearm. Buttstock was not removed to check for matching number. While this was a fairly popular model of the Ballard rifles and a variant upgrade of the standard No. 4-1/2 mid-range rifle, it was more expensive but outsold its more plain cousin. They are rarely found in orig, unaltered condition. Accompanied by a wonderful orig dovetailed shooting box 8-1/2″ long x 4-5/8″ high x 5-7/8″ wide with a decorative cast brass carrying handle in the lid and a mortised brass lock in front with working key. Interior contains a deep cartridge block containing 53 holes for cartridges which are occupied by 45 loaded, nickel plated 40-65 Ballard Everlasting cartridges, three fired rds, two cartridge cases made from Norma brass and a steel sub-caliber adapter probably for a 41 caliber short CF rd. Also contained in box are reloading tools & implements including a wonderful brass & nickeled steel capping/de-capping tool, a nickeled 40-65 case sizing die, a nickeled 40-65 bullet seater, a de-capping block, a brass powder measure, a lacquered tin of primers, a small envelope of over powder cards and a scarce 25-rd box of Winchester made patched 40 caliber 285 grain lead bullets with yellow & black label marked “MANUFACTURED FOR THE BALLARD RIFLE”. PROVENANCE: David D. Sobel Single Shot Rifle Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear. Receiver, lever, hammer & breech block retain about all of their orig case colors, moderately faded and turning silver in areas. Stock, with aforementioned repaired toe, has two tiny hairlines back of receiver, otherwise wood is sound and retains strong orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. Case is wonderful and sound with minor nicks & scratches and some light soil on the lid and retains most of its orig varnish. Nickeled cartridge cases are all bright & clean. Tools are also fine. 4-39116 JR29 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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