Thread: Marlin Ballard restoration

Interesting piece, I look forward to watching you progress with this one

I tidied up a screw set for the original and remarkably good condition monogrammed Marlin F A C hard rubber shotgun butt plate

Then after finishing the woodwork deep clean and stock oil
Re assembled it all
Magnificent does not describe the butt stock walnut
And my phone camera doesn't do it full justice
It's such a dark chocolate brown it can only be appreciated in the flesh







Fore end wood is only the tiniest piece to cradle the huge 28" octagonal barrel that tapers from
1 1/64th - 26mm to 29/32nd - 23mm at the muzzle

Complete it weighs 9 pounds 10 ounces
4.4kg

that butt would make some nice knife handles

Originally Posted by john worthington

that butt would make some nice knife handles

I will be sure to get in touch with you if I blow up the rifle and the stock is available
That's if I'm still alive

Took the complete rifle to my friendly local gun genius to stip down and brain storm the one major mechanical repair needed

This pivot pin hole is egged out at the bottom due to the main spring pressure upwards
These breech blocks are pretty tricky to disassemble for cleaning so my guess mostly guys just stuck more oil in and never cleaned inside
So once case hardening wore through at bottom it would have gone quickly
It's 0.5mm out of round at the bottom



Back edge has cracked as it got deeper and through the hardening
But only a small part has spread out



The pivot pin is still in tollerence because the machining marks are still visible so that gives me a size to work with
But the 0.5mm gap looks and feels obvious and it throws the half clock and trigger sear out of timing



But at least it is a complete rifle with all its original parts so know what it should be like

But how to get it there ?
Very tricky piece of welding to build it up and not take the temper off the working surface of the sear

And a worn and bent main under lever pivot screw
Will make a new one to the slightly worn frame, lever and extractor sizes out of 4340 high carbon steel and harden and temper it
Should last another 140 years

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Took the complete rifle to my friendly local gun genius to stip down and brain storm the one major mechanical repair needed

This pivot pin hole is egged out at the bottom due to the main spring pressure upwards
These breech blocks are pretty tricky to disassemble for cleaning so my guess mostly guys just stuck more oil in and never cleaned inside
So once case hardening wore through at bottom it would have gone quickly
It's 0.5mm out of round at the bottom

Attachment 208197

Back edge has cracked as it got deeper and through the hardening
But only a small part has spread out

Attachment 208201

The pivot pin is still in tollerence because the machining marks are still visible so that gives me a size to work with
But the 0.5mm gap looks and feels obvious and it throws the half clock and trigger sear out of timing

Attachment 208202

But at least it is a complete rifle with all its original parts so know what it should be like

But how to get it there ?
Very tricky piece of welding to build it up and not take the temper off the working surface of the sear

Would it work to make a step-down pin for the hammer so that it would be a smaller diameter than the original, this would allow the existing hole to be bushed with a steel bush bronzed in place, or better a phosphor bronze bush silver soldered in if this was strong enough ?

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Would it work to make a step-down pin for the hammer so that it would be a smaller diameter than the original, this would allow the existing hole to be bushed with a steel bush bronzed in place, or better a phosphor bronze bush silver soldered in if this was strong enough ?

No
The pivot pin thread wouldn't pass through into the other side where is screws in

how about slotting the hammer so a full diameter (but less than full width) bush can be inserted??

Originally Posted by Tentman

how about slotting the hammer so a full diameter (but less than full width) bush can be inserted??

The Bush option is in play but it would project out of the face where the split is

There's plenty to consider and my welder next to consult

I want to make a proper fix and be able to shoot this occasionally as a party piece

It's been in collections a long time and I'm the first owner who has plans to shoot it
So no surprises with it's faults

Make a new hammer…

YIP YOU BEAT ME TO IT Kiwi bloke.....put origonal aside...so it retains its origonal value buggered or not...get your filies out and machine up a new part from solid block of whatever is most appropriate..... that way it will be usable and safe...and you still retain the origonal piece un doctorfied up so if someone wnts it in origonal condition for collection purpose and not shootable purpose...they can. same as the pin...

Originally Posted by Kiwi.bloke

Make a new hammer…

No
I want to keep it as original as possible

I've fixed worse it just takes time and care and a bit of brain storming