Vall, what do you feel is the reason why the Ballard rebirth hasn't been successful?
Well from the earliest Red Willow, to the later Ballard Rifle Co. reincarnations, there were huge improvements! The Red Willow looked similar, but wasn't an exacting copy. The BRC Ballards are exacting copies, and even at fairly high prices, they enjoyed great success, and sold well. Then in 2007 the company was purchased by a Michigan man, and moved to Onstead, Mi. At that point two things happened, which I believe spelled doom for the Ballard. First the move didn't include any key players working at the previous company. Those individuals who were key to the success of BRC all stayed in Wyoming, or moved back to Colorado. There was a huge source of talent and expertise lost to the new owner.
Then to make things worse, the new owner raised the prices significantly. After that there seemed to be a lack of interest, and things began to falter. I've heard from people who dealt with the new company in Mi. and said they were wonderful people to talk with. But the follow up was terrible. Things like ignoring requests for parts, not cashing checks for work done, or just totally ignoring emails and phone calls. It almost sounds like a death wish, the way it all failed so quickly?
I wish at this point one of the big US companies making quality clones of Sharps and Winchesters would somehow purchase the company, and take over the making of Ballards. Or possibly someone like Pedersoli even! If it was done properly, and kept true to the original, I'd be pleased, no matter who did them!
