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LOT 1063
Attractive Factory Game Panel Scene Engraved Marlin Ballard
Off-Hand Pattern Single Shot Rifle with Winchester Heavy Matted
Barrel - Serial no. 19163, 32-40 WCF cal., 29 7/8 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1881 to 1891, this is an attractively
example of a period custom configured, factory game scene engraved Marlin Ballard off-
hand pattern rifle. These rifles were extremely popular in the late 19th century and into the 20th
century among competitive target shooters, who often reconfigured and rebarreled their Ballards to fit their specific needs.
This example is marked on the left of the action with the standard two-line Marlin Firearms Co. address and patent dates. The remainder of the action
shows near full coverage, beautiful, factory floral scroll and border engraving surrounding a game panel scene of a running buck on the left and a bear on the right.
During the period of use it was fitted with a heavy octagon profile Winchester barrel in .32-40 W.C.F. that has the two-line Winchester address and 1879 patent date on the
left flat, a partially visible “3” at the breech on the left flat, the caliber marking on the bottom under the forearm, and the upper three flats matted with rolled wavy lines. There
are two empty dovetails on the bottom of the barrel under the forearm. The top of the barrel is fitted with a front sight base in a dovetail, a rear sight dovetail with a filler, and
two scope blocks. The action is drilled and tapped for a peep sight on the upper rear (one filler screw in place) as well as a pair of double set triggers. It is mounted with a Marlin
factory pattern, checkered forearm with horn tip and non-factory palm rest mount, as well as a factory pattern checkered pistol grip stock with horn insert in the base of the grip,
a cheekpiece, and a nickeled Schuetzen type buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine as period rebarreled/configured, retaining 75% plus of the factory blue finish on the barrel and strong traces of the original case colors on the action with some with
some scattered light spotting, some scratches/wear near the muzzle, and the balance overall a grey patina. The engraving remains crisp throughout. The wood is good with some minor
chips, cracks at the toe buttplate juncture, and absent slivers from the forearm, as well as mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1062
Desirable Remington Hepburn No. 3 Long Range Creedmoor Falling Block Rifle -
Serial no. 4708, 44 cal., 34 inch part octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured c. 1880-1907, this is a solid example of a Hepburn No. 3 Long Range Creedmoor
rifle, only a few hundred of which are estimated to have been produced. These rifles, much like the
popular Schuetzen rifles of the period, were often customized by the shooter during the
period of use. This particular rifle appears to have been fitted with a heavier weight barrel,
ideal for long range competition shooting. The period replacement barrel is unmarked and
has a unique part octagon profile. The left of the action has the two-line Hepburn patent
marking and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a windage adjustable
globe front sight (loosely fit in the dovetail), no provision for a rear sight on the barrel, and an
interesting, rarely seen, Vernier long range peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with the
typical, multi-point checkered forearm with a hard rubber tip, and pistol grip stock with peep sight mounting holes on top
of the comb (filler screws in place) and a checkered hard rubber buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine retaining traces of the thinned brown finish on the upgraded heavy target barrel and 60% of the original
case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered patches of light surface spotting. The wood is
also fine with scattered minor dings and scratches and most of the checkering remaining crisp. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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