Rifleman Q&A: Marlin’s Mixed Markings

by
posted on May 18, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Ballard a No. 2 Sporting Rifle
Photos courtesy of Rock Island Auction.

Q. I have this old gun I want to shoot, but I’m not certain exactly what I have, and the gun appears to pre-date any description in the Blue Book Of Gun Values. The gun measures 43" overall, has a 26 9⁄16" barrel and its markings are as follows:

J.M MARLIN
NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.
PATENTED FEBRUARY 9. 1875
BALLARD’S PATENT. NOV. 5. 1861
32 LONG
11533


A. The J.M Marlin rollstamp is key to this gun’s age, as the company incorporated in 1881 and, soon after, the rollstamp changed to “Marlin Firearms Co.” on all Ballard rifles.

The very high serial number for a Ballard with a J.M Marlin-marked action indicates it is likely one of the last before the marking changed, so I would estimate it dates to 1881.

The .32 Long chambering would make this Ballard a No. 2 Sporting Rifle, and it should have John Marlin’s patented reversible firing-pin system. If the barrel is measured correctly from the rear of the receiver to the muzzle crown, then the 26 9⁄16" length indicates it’s been cut down. The barrels on these old Ballard rifles always ran slightly over even increments, so a 28" barrel will be around 28 3⁄16" approximately, and a 30" will be around 30 3⁄16". The dovetail for the front sight is almost always very close to 1" on center measured from the muzzle.

Latest

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.