A couple of years ago I succumbed to the yearning to add a military model Borchardt and representative Ballard rifle to my meager eclectic collection of single shot rifles. During my search it became immediately evident that cracks in the wrist of the butt stock on both of these rifles was a key determining factor of their value. It was not uncommon in my search to see comments in the item description referring to the “usual Borchardt cracks” or the “standard Ballard cracks” when referring to the condition of the rifle. I was fortunate to find a very nice Borchardt military model and Ballard #2, both with butt stocks free of cracks, but I have been reluctant to remove the butt stocks on either of the these rifles in fear of developing the cracks that seem to plague these otherwise well engineered rifles. Do any of the Ballard/Sharps Borchardt enthusiasts here have an explanation for the Achilles heal on these rifles? Terry
