Ballard No. 1 Hunter's Rifle
Marlin Firearms · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1876
Also known as: Marlin Ballard No. 1 Hunter's Rifle, Ballard No. 1 Hunter's Model, Marlin-Ballard No. 1
Overview
The Ballard No. 1 Hunter's Rifle is a single-shot, breech-loading falling-block rifle built on Charles Henry Ballard's 1861 patent and produced by Marlin Firearms of New Haven, Connecticut. Introduced in 1876 as one of the lighter sporting models of the Marlin-Ballard line, the No. 1 Hunter's was offered in .44 rimfire and .44 centerfire and fitted with a round barrel of roughly 26 to 30 inches. The action was worked by a finger lever that dropped the breechblock, and the rifle incorporated Marlin's automatic extractor and a reversible firing pin so a single arm could be set up for either rimfire or centerfire ammunition. Barrels were typically rifled with six concentric grooves with a right-hand twist, and better examples carried high-quality double-set triggers.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3855 g (136.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1120 mm (44.09") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Set |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 335 m/s (1099 fps) |
| Effective Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 8 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Long Rimfire · primary — also known as .44 Ballard, .44 Long RF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Falling Block Action, Finger Lever, Automatic Extractor, Reversible Firing Pin, Round Barrel, Double Set Triggers, Rocky Mountain Front Sight
Base model
Service history
Operators
- American sport and small-game hunters
Production
Production years: 1876-1891
Produced by J.M. Marlin Firearms Co. as the light sporting model of the single-shot Marlin-Ballard line; stamped 'J. M. Marlin' on guns made roughly 1875-1881
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Charles Henry Ballard
Discontinued: 1891
Notes
The No. 1 Hunter's was the entry sporting rifle of the New Ballard family marketed by Marlin from the mid-1870s, sitting below the heavier No. 1 1/2 Hunter's and No. 5 Pacific buffalo models. Listed weights, barrel lengths and chamberings varied between individual guns; figures here reflect a typical .44-rimfire example.
Background
The lightest of the New Ballard hunting rifles, the No. 1 Hunter's traded the heft of the Pacific buffalo guns for a handy round-barrel sporter — a reversible firing pin let one rifle feed either .44 rimfire or centerfire, making it a versatile small-bore companion for the late black-powder frontier.