stubbicatt
New member
In Denver this weekend was the best gun show I ever saw. It was a collector's gun show, every table, every exhibit was exquisite. Firearms and weapons from even the 1500s, maybe earlier. Many from the 1800's in the US. There was this one tiny little cap and ball revolver, I forget the chambering, with a box and a complete kit, that looked brand new, offered at a mere $290,000.
An exhibitor had several Ballard rifles, the one that caught my eye was a #6 manufactured perhaps 1878 or 79, with a replacement Winchester barrel, chambered for 32-40. The exhibitor said that when barrels were replaced back in the day on Ballards, most often they were Winchester barrels. Ever since I watched my first, and only Scheutzen match, I have wanted a Ballard in that chambering.
I wanted that rifle so badly I could taste it. But for the weight and the mere $5000 that it was offered at, I would have taken it right then.
The bore was bright and shiny, but it seemed to me the rifling was sort of rounded over. There were no signs of pitting at all. But for the length of the barrel, as well as I could see, the rifling was not "square" but sort of rounded over.
Is it supposed to be?
An exhibitor had several Ballard rifles, the one that caught my eye was a #6 manufactured perhaps 1878 or 79, with a replacement Winchester barrel, chambered for 32-40. The exhibitor said that when barrels were replaced back in the day on Ballards, most often they were Winchester barrels. Ever since I watched my first, and only Scheutzen match, I have wanted a Ballard in that chambering.
I wanted that rifle so badly I could taste it. But for the weight and the mere $5000 that it was offered at, I would have taken it right then.
The bore was bright and shiny, but it seemed to me the rifling was sort of rounded over. There were no signs of pitting at all. But for the length of the barrel, as well as I could see, the rifling was not "square" but sort of rounded over.
Is it supposed to be?