Seems like every year I restore a Ballard for Christmas. Last month I bought a #3 Ballard in 25 cal that was needing a new lease on life. It had a roached bore, was missing the extractor and the barrel had been wrenched on with a pipe wrench. I welded up the deep marks in the barrel. Drilled and relined the barrel, casehardened the action and nitre blued the smaller parts. I drew filed the barrel and blued it. I made the 2 piece extractor and filled in some of the missing wood using some plain walnut. I didn’t refinish the wood, I just applied tung oil with wet and dry sandpaper. I decided to keep the look of the 150 year old rifle that it is. I found some sights in my stash and now it is ready to go. If it wasn’t so cold today I would take it to the range and give it a try.
Antique Rifle Restorations by the Gun Doctor 