Ross Nutz! Help me understand what I have...

j-man

j-man

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I recently acquired this lovely MkIII but I only have a cursory knowledge of the various lines of Ross rifles. I know there's a ton of expertise here so if you'd be so kind, please help me fill in the blanks on this rifle's history.

Action is marked DA181, which I've read means it could be one of the HMS Canada transfer rifles. Left butt is marked S103. Right butt has a circular cartouche near the rear, then III., then 243/1916, then what appears to be H P =. The place for the butt disk is filled. Under the wrist, on the grip appears to be 181 and other small inspection stamps. On top of the wrist on the grip, and just behind the action is an H over 251. The receiver is marked Ross Rifle Co Canada M-1910 Patented with a variety of Dominion of Canada Proofs and inspection marks. Forward of the action appears to be a L C (large chamber - reamed?).

Please click on the link below for access to all images (one at the ImageShack gallery, click the thumbnail for larger, then click the image again for full size). I'll apologize in advance for the horrible quality; I hope to do a better series of photos in the future. :redface: And thanks in advance for any and all insight.

All images here: http://img193.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=rosstopbutt.jpg

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The serial number of your rifle is 2431916HP (if that is HP)
That's how it should be registered, unless there is a stamped number on the receiver or barrel somewhere that was used.
I believe it be an HMS Canada rifle, the DA is a dead giveaway.

Bores tend to be dark although not all.

A kettle or three of boiling water down the bore from the breech end (using an Enfield funnel or similar, funnel with a tube pushed into the chamber) wouldn't be amiss, followed by careful cleaning and oiling. There's bound to be crud in there.

Nice find!

I know a couple of people that also own HMS Canada Rosses.

Do you have the matching bayonet?
 
H.M.S. Canada Ross Rifles............

Hey Guys,

Just step into your time machine and beam your way back to 1973.......

International Firearms in Montreal had a few for sale.......

Cheers !

Bill

Int04.jpg
 
Nice find. These rifles were onboard HMS Canda when the Battle of Jutland happened. One of the largest naval battles of WWI. Looks like theres lots of dried grease/oil. I can't see the LC meaning large chamber, These rifles were not altered, the bayonets were not cut either.

Pete
 
bdft said:
According to my inflation calculator, that would be 725.95 in 2009 dollars.
Click to expand...

That's intersting. I got a cost of $175.00 in 1973 would cost $839.02 in 2008.
and a cost $150.00 in 1973 would cost $719.16 in 2008.

w ww.westegg.com/inflation/
 
Thanks for the info guys. The bolt is also marked DA181 but there's another number pressed on the underside which I can't recall at the moment. I'm at work, the bolt is at home. I also have a bayonet but am also uncertain what's marked on it. Will post those details when I get home.

Based on the different numbers, is it possible this rifle started life in Canadian service only to be transferred to the Brits and then to the Chileans? Or did the rifles go directly from the Ross factory over to the UK?

I need to buy the Ross Rifle Story!:redface:
 
That is a Cdn service rifle swapped to Britain for a SMLE, issued to the RN and then sent to Chile. British contract Rosses were fitted with a different rear sight and serial numbered on the receiver ring.
DA Department Armada.
 
I bought DA426 from International in '77, when they were getting rid of the last of them. $99.95 plus $10 shipping to Fogo Island.

It is absolutely SCARY accurate. At a hundred yards, using iron sights, it can keep up with my minty BSA P-'17 sporter with the snazzy scope.

Gawd, but I wish I had the bayonet!
 
Look at the stock very carefully, see if you can find a mark "CEF + a number". That would be the Bn. mark. One of mine is marked to the 15th and 19th Bns, the other to the 16th. Some of the DA Rosses were used by CEF Bns, then recalled, and passed on to the Brits. Both of these are earlier pattern rifles with stamped nosecap. The one here has the later forged nosecap, appropriate for a 1916 date. By 1916 use for the Mk. III Ross for front line CEF service was ending. These rifles MAY have been on HMS Canada at Jutland, although at least one DA rifle is date stamped 1918.
 
HMS Canada Ross MkIII's-

Owner of DA33 reporting in......have rifle, bayo and scabbard, all marked DA33.
The interesting part is that MkIII DA33 started life in 1918, being assembled from left-overs in the Ross Factory, after it was seized by the Canadian Gov't.
The rifle is serialled 433 over 1918 OX! Highest-numbered MkIII I've ever seen or heard of. Anything higher out there: please report in with jpeg to www.RossRifle.com as well as here. The rifle has the early MkIII stamped nosecap, typical of the "clean-up" MkIII's. With a 1918 production date, it would likely have missed the Battle of Jutland....
The rifle, sling, bayo and scabbard set is available to CONUS collectors only, but I also have the bayonet and scabbard available for MkIII # DA395, as well as a few dozen spare Ross bayonets, both MkI's and MkII's to Canadian collectors as well. E me direct for a list of same, if interested.
 
cantom said:
The serial number of your rifle is 2431916HP (if that is HP)


A kettle or three of boiling water down the bore from the breech end (using an Enfield funnel or similar, funnel with a tube pushed into the chamber) wouldn't be amiss, followed by careful cleaning and oiling. There's bound to be crud in there.
Click to expand...

Wow, envy all around, all I have ever manged is a sporterised Ross. Don't get boiling water on the wood, and don't invite Mr Bubba to visit the rifle. Good find.
 
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