Description

#2100 Marlin-Ballard No.5 "Pacific", 40/63-Everlasting, with famed western dealer/gunsmith J.P. Lower markings on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the breech (Note! See comments below). Overall, this is a NICE gun with just a thin patina of surface rust partially obscuring some thinning casecolors on the receiver (which MAY clean off with some work and soaking) and basically unpitted metal. The full octagonal medium weight barrel has about 95% coverage of an 80% density original blue mixing with some patina there as well. The barrel does look to have been set back at some point in this guns long life, perhaps to restore a damaged chamber ...but it is now about 1-inch shorter than standard, as is the forearm (also shortened from the backside). Both barrel and forestock were expertly done …and very possibly by Lower during the time of use ...or perhaps retailed in his store. The wood has minor bumps and dings along with the very common stress crack on the buttstock wrist from overtightening the butt screw and then the wood shrinking and cracking from the stress. Rear barrel sight is the standard footed Marlin semi-buckhorn; front sight is the common pinched blade style, std double-set triggers. The wooden wiping rod looks to be a later replacement and should be aged to match the overall look, and other than that (and the barrel set-back), this looks like a VERY nice 1880s Sporting Rifle that passed through Lowers shop in the Colorado area, and probably was used on antelope, elk, and perhaps even buffalo. About Fine as described. $2895 NOTE! It has been reported to me that the Lower markings may have been applied spuriously since the marking is at an angle to the barrel and the "O" is too round. I have no direct knowledge whether this is correct or not, but one should take this possibility into some serious consideration. (Please read sellers rules below ..and thanks for looking!!)