1905 Ross Parade Sling Swivel Use??

[Gpcooke]

Hello from a southern (Colorado) collector. I am in the process of receiving a beautiful 1905 Canadian Ross with US marks. Prior to it’s sale to the US military in New York it was assigned to the 6th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers (6FCCE) and only one other unit which I will need to receive the rifle before I can identify.

As I was researching the rifle, I noticed the sling swivel on the trigger guard but can find no information concerning why the swivel was added how it was used. Of the Commonwealth arms, this seems to be unique to the Ross and seems to have been carried through to the M1910.

No one on Gunboards or other US forums has answered the question and I can find no references or illustrations of a sling mounted in the swivel, or any reference to the original sling that was issued with the Ross to use such a swivel, such as with the German G98’s and early Russian M91’s. The only Commonwealth slings I’ve found are the traditional leather and web types.

Of course, with US markings, this particular rifle was sold with it’s original US Kerr sling. But I’m really curious about why that trigger guard swivel is there and how it was originally used.

Can any of you shed light on this? Would sure appreciate any info you may provide.

Greg Cooke
Centennial, Colorado

 

[cantom]

You'd think we'd know eh?

Have always wondered the same thing.

 

[green]

SMLE rifles made 1904-16 also had the provision for a sling swivel on the front of the trigger guard. IIRC this was to allow Rifle Regiments to mount the sling from tg to nose cap which was their practice.
On page 318 of the "Ross Rifle Story" there is a pic of MkII Rosses in use with slings mounted from the trigger guard swivel to the butt swivel.

 

[Gpcooke]

Thanks very much, Green! You're the first person who has come up with an answer to this. Can you tell by looking at the pic if they are leather or web slings? Are they the typical issue slings or are they unique? Is there a chance that you might be able to scan and post that pic? I asked Ian Skennerton about this and he has no idea either. I'd like to pass any information you have on to him as well as any anyone else down here who may post a similar inquiry.

 

[Ganderite]

For target shooting the sling is mounted trigger guard to muzzle. Sling takes a twist and is very solid.

I know this was standard with SMLE and #4. Never seen a Ross used for target shooting, but I know they were.

This is the only picture I could find, showing the trigger guard location of the target sling. This fellow did not wrap the sling around his bicep the way I do.

BTW, when I started shooting, I used a draw tube scope and mount like the one pictured. It was my grandfather's.

 

[green]

As far as I can tell the British style leather sling was used with the Ross Rifle until WW1 when some of the CEF in France received British P1908 web gear.
In 1899 the Cdn Militia adopted the P1899 Oliver leather web gear. In 1913 a limited issue of Mills P1913 Cdn web gear was made but a photo of a soldier wearing this shows a leather sling on his Ross rifle.