Ballard No. 4 or No. 2?

Dirtwater Doc · Post by **Dirtwater Doc** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 8:34 pm

MM93 or Regnier:

I just received my newest old toy; 38-55 Ballard with 30" half-octagon, half round barrel. Original rear sight is missing with newer replacement but appears to have original front blade. Serial number is 3660. Barrel number is 27021 while forestock is numbered 13xxx.

Is this a No. 4 or No. 2? Brophy is unclear on this.

Thanks in advance,
Dirtwater Doc

Regnier (gunrunner) · Post by **Regnier (gunrunner)** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:58 pm

Dirtwater Doc;

Easy, since your barrel number does not match the frame number, anything goes.
Is the top of the frame have flat sides, or are they rebated? Early Number 4's have flat sides. (below 5,800)
This could be a Number 2 with a Number 8 or Number 9 Union Hill barrel since it is a half octagon barrel (although the rear sight slot would have to been added). The Number 2 and Number 4 will usually be found with full octagon barrels. But as we know, anything could be ordered.
The Number 2 was never made in .38-55 caliber as the Number 2 Ballard is usually a small, pistol size caliber (except those chambered for those made in .32, .38 and .44 Extra Longs)
I hope this helps.

Dirtwater Doc · Post by **Dirtwater Doc** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:20 pm

This Ballard has a flat top with angled sides (as if octagonal) while the octagonal barrel flares into a round flange at the receiver.

DD

Regnier (gunrunner) · Post by **Regnier (gunrunner)** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:49 pm

Dirtwater Doc;

All Marlin made Ballards have the flat top and angled sides. But, is there a "step" from the flat top to the flat sides? (this is the rebate referred to). Both early Number 2's and Number 4's will have the flat sided receiver and the later ones are rebated.
Is your Ballard a J. M. Marlin or a Marlin Fire-Arms marked gun?
As stated earlier, since the numbers do not match, anything is going to be possible. A frontier gunsmith might have repaired this gun or put together a bunch of on hand parts to make up this gun. When numbers do not match, we can only speculate............

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:33 pm

Doc,
If you pull the breechblock out, you can see if it is a forged or cast frame. If it's hollow under the barrel, it cast, and if it's solid under the barrel, with flat machined surface all the way down, it's a forged receiver.
Chances are if it's cast, it is a #2 frame, with another barrel, as Regnier described. Not unusual to find Ballards with mixed up parts, and especially barrel swaps.
If it turns out to be a #2 cast frame, with a .38-55 barrel, you'll be wise to not shoot factory ammo in it! Stick with light reloads, as the cast action wont stand hot loads!
Does the gun have a round or rectangular firing pin? If you cock it, you should be able to see the rear of the pin under the hammer.