Ballard No. 9 Union Hill

About the Ballard No. 9 Union Hill

The Ballard No. 9 Union Hill is a single-shot, falling-block target rifle built by Marlin Firearms on the Ballard action. Introduced in 1884 alongside the double-set-trigger No. 8, the No. 9 is the single-trigger version of the Union Hill pattern, aimed at the medium-price Schuetzen and offhand target market. It typically wears a 28 or 30 inch half-round, half-octagon barrel, a hooded globe front sight, an adjustable sporting rear sight, and a figured American walnut Schuetzen buttstock with cheek rest and Swiss-style buttplate. Chambered most commonly in the accurate .38-55, it was a popular choice in the Schuetzen matches of the late 19th century.

The Ballard action was invented by American machinist Charles H. Ballard of Worcester, Massachusetts, and later produced by Marlin Firearms. The No. 9 Union Hill became a staple of American Schuetzen offhand competition, prized for the inherent accuracy of its falling-block action and the mild, accurate .38-55 cartridge.

Ballard No. 9 Union Hill specifications

The Union Hill models were new patterns of the No. 8 (double-set trigger) and No. 9 (single trigger) rifles. Production ran from 1884 to 1891.