Stevens 44 1/2 -vs- Highwall actions, a debate

[drcook]

I didn't want to  hijack the thread about the highwalls, but to introduce some debate,
the Stevens 44 1/2 action is a slicker action than the 1885. It looks almost as good as the highwall,
but has some features that make it a better action. 

However the original version was not big enough to safely chamber cartridges larger than a 38-55, and
I believe that I have read that a 38-55 was getting marginal.

CPA rifles, located in Pa. has scaled the action up to accept a barrel shank the same size as a highwall. I
have CPA 44 1/2's in a 45-100. So of course it would take a 110, but the 50's (50-70 etc) are too big
yet.

There are 2 design features that I am especially fond of. The 1st is that the CPA 44 1/2  will vent gas
out the bottom of the action in case a primer blows. The 2nd is the camming action for helping get
a cartridge in. The breech block mortice actually runs on a slight angle and the breechblock itself has
an angle on it. It took the Freund brothers to modify the Sharps to have a camming action.

Addionally, the 44 1/2 has a set trigger design that is second to none and with a "speed" hammer,
ignition is almost instantaneous.

The main argument against the 44 1/2 action NOT being a BROW rifle is that it came into being after
1900 (give or take 1 or 2 yrs). Its immediate predecessor was the Stevens 44. The 44 1/2 was the one
of, if not, the last of the outside hammer, single shots that was designed until present day.

Anyone on this board shoot a CPA (or original action for that matter) that wants to add in for
everyone's reading pleasure ?

Dave. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

How about a pic of this beastie, if you can?

[drcook]

the first pic is one of an original 44 1/2 action, these were used to build quite ornate rifkes
back in the day

the second is of one of the rifles for sale at CPA, I lifted the pic. I will get closeups of mine as time
allows

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[Delmonico]

Dave don't worry about it not being a true Buffalo rifle, as far as I'm concerened this forum is for any of the single-shot 19th Centure single-shots.

The High-Wall ain't really a buffalo rifle although there is a slim chance a few of the Browning made ones "could" have been used by hide hunters before the herds were destroyed by the summer of 1882, note I said slim, never have seen any mention of it, doubt many made it out of Utah.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Those pics remind me of the Ballards..............Buck

[Forty Rod]

There were buff in Utah. Seven or eight that I know of for sure.

How about a Ballard?  Excellent lock time and slicker than deer guts on a doorknob.  I'm still saving my pocket change for one.

[drcook]

here is a Ballard, about the only thing similar is the lever, it is called a "ball and spur". As options for
the Stevens, there are plain levers that look like highwall levers (or vice versa) loop levers and
 "pope" levers. if you get an old one, make sure it is one of the forged actions, and not a cast one.
some unscrupulous people build rifles and sell them. a friend bought one before he knew better.
it is now a .22, which it is quite ok for

the base price on the modern made ballards start above $3000.00. Makes a person appreciate Shiloh
and CPA for keeping their prices down, and Pedersoli for that matter, for delivering an accurate rifle,
even though their cosmetics aren't up to Shiloh stds 

here is a site of pics of some really really nice firearms. This site was built by Hal P. Please say a prayer
or 2 for Hal. A couple of years ago, Hal was hit by some illegals in a dumptruck and was blinded in the
accident. I am sure all of you will really enjoy these pics.

http://www.pbase.com/halp/

[Forty Rod]

Marvelous pictures.  Thank you.

[drcook]

You are more than welcome. 

dave

[Grogan]

here is a Ballard, about the only thing similar is the lever, it is called a "ball and spur". As options for
the Stevens, there are plain levers that look like highwall levers (or vice versa) loop levers and
 "pope" levers. if you get an old one, make sure it is one of the forged actions, and not a cast one.
some unscrupulous people build rifles and sell them. a friend bought one before he knew better.
it is now a .22, which it is quite ok for

the base price on the modern made ballards start above $3000.00. Makes a person appreciate Shiloh
and CPA for keeping their prices down, and Pedersoli for that matter, for delivering an accurate rifle,
even though their cosmetics aren't up to Shiloh stds 

here is a site of pics of some really really nice firearms. This site was built by Hal P. Please say a prayer
or 2 for Hal. A couple of years ago, Hal was hit by some illegals in a dumptruck and was blinded in the
accident. I am sure all of you will really enjoy these pics.

http://www.pbase.com/halp/

I'm just wondering if anybody knows the current status of the Ballard Rifle Co. since it moved away from Cody, WY?

I have a European friend who has a very beautiful engraved original Ballard in .38-55 who came and visited the U.S. ~5 yr.s ago and I told him there was no way that if he visited the Ballard Rifle Co. in Cody that he'd leave without placing an order for one.

He did and now he's the owner of a similar one, beautifully engraved by the recent past makers of this design.  Possibly his new rifle is as valuable as his old original?

Here's a picture of my Marlin Ballard, one that's been rechambered for .40-50 Sharps Straight.

[Blackpowder Burn]

This is a link to the current Ballard Arms website.  They are now located in Onsted, Michigan.  They are gorgeous looking rifles.

http://www.ballardarms.com/index.shtml

[Grogan]

This is a link to the current Ballard Arms website.  They are now located in Onsted, Michigan.  They are gorgeous looking rifles.

http://www.ballardarms.com/index.shtml

Yes, I guess I KNEW they still had a website.

What I was wondering about was how viable the "new" company was?

I heard various speculation back when they moved away from Cody that questioned their future success and whether it would be a sound investment to pay $$$ up front to order such a rifle?

I noticed on their website that there were several areas (like "Rifles in Stock") that had "Photos coming" captions. 

Some of this speculative discussion was back BEFORE the ecconomy took it's big nose dive.

I'm just wonderin IF anybody's seen any rifles actually come out of this new effort? 

[drcook]

they are up and running in Wisconsin

http://www.ballardarms.com/index.shtml

and a bit pricey, I looked at their site for the prices I said above

dave

[Grogan]

But I guess this question is still unanswered?

"I'm just wonderin IF anybody's seen any rifles actually come out of this new effort?"