Anyone have an original Ross sniper rifle?
- Thread starter skirsons
- Start date
I think there is one with the W&S scope at the CWM. Either type of Ross sniper would be about as rare a Canadian service rifle as you could imagine. The last of the snipers with Warner & Swazey scopes were broken up in 1944. Don't think any of the ones with Winchester A5 scopes were retained much after WWI.
skirsons said:
You find the Ross and we have the scope to put on it, although techincally this one should be mounted on a 1903 Springfield.
This is one of the pieces in ~Angel~'s sniper collection ............
Model 1913 Warner & Swasey Telescopic Musket Sights
c/w RIA M1908 Pattern Leather Carrying Case
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Model 1913 Warner & Swasey (lots more more pics ... click here)
Regards,
Badger
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maple_leaf_eh
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TheIndifferent1 said:I wonder if RMC would have any
There is a Professor Haycock (or close to that) at RMC who has range day show and tell of modern military firearms. His presentations leave a very favourable impression on everyone who participates.
So, if you are wondering about RMC does this mean you have been picked up as a UT ... ?
stencollector
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There is one in the Wiinipeg rifles museum located in the Minto Armouries, Winnipeg. It is pictured on p 9 of Clive Law's book "Without Warning".
CGN member OldRSM is the curator there.
CGN member OldRSM is the curator there.
There was one at the Brandon Gun Show about 10 years ago...... nice bore, too.
But not all sniping Rosses had scopes. Many were used just as the rifle itself, no scope, and some were "stripped". A Stripped Ross can easily be confused with a Bubba Special and is almost impossible to authenticate.
After the Ross was replaced with the Short Lee-Enfield, many Battalion and Company snipers were allowed to keep and carry their Rosses along with the new rifle. Meant a double load, but some of the men didn't mind. My grandfather was a Company sniper in 54 Battalion and carried both rifles, the Lee for quick work at close range, the Ross for distance shooting where extreme accuracy was required.
But not all sniping Rosses had scopes. Many were used just as the rifle itself, no scope, and some were "stripped". A Stripped Ross can easily be confused with a Bubba Special and is almost impossible to authenticate.
After the Ross was replaced with the Short Lee-Enfield, many Battalion and Company snipers were allowed to keep and carry their Rosses along with the new rifle. Meant a double load, but some of the men didn't mind. My grandfather was a Company sniper in 54 Battalion and carried both rifles, the Lee for quick work at close range, the Ross for distance shooting where extreme accuracy was required.
I read somewhere that some canadian sharpshooters sporterized their stocks during the war to improve accuracy. There is a mint no4 in the PA museum that has the that done but it is impossible to know when.
That is a civilian Ross below it.
That is a civilian Ross below it.
Unsub said:I read somewhere that some canadian sharpshooters sporterized their stocks during the war to improve accuracy. There is a mint no4 in the PA museum that has the that done but it is impossible to know when.
That is a civilian Ross below it.
First off, that's a No.1MkIII, not a No.4 rifle. Second off, if a commonwealth sniper altered his issue kit by chopping the stock in either world war, he would have been seriously reprimanded and his pay docked for the value of the rifle. Only armorers could seriously modify a government owned rifle, and I doubt sporterization was high on the orders list
Put plainly - you visited a crappy museum.
Agree with Clavan2 - any modifications would have been done by armourers, and if not officially authorized would have at least been approved at some level. There are WWI photos of Winchester A5 equipped rifles with their forends cut in front of the middle band, and the front sight assembly removed. If a rifle without a scope had its stock modified, as smellie has mentionned, it would look exactly like a basic bubba. Now bubba usually shortened the barrel as well, because a Ross with stock cut but barrel full length is still quite awkward in the deer woods. About the only way to differentiate a full length bubba from a WWI altered rifle would be the provenance. Winchester A5 scopes do turn up from time to time. If a rifle with shortened stock had one of these scopes installed, it would certainly replicate a real sniper. Such a specimen could be assembled for under $1000, while a sniper would be worth substantially more than that. For that reason, I would be very careful about buying a modified A5 equipped Ross. The financial incentive to create a fake could be serious.
I thought for a moment that the sported SMLE from PA had a target sight mounted, but it would seem to be only the pipe strapping widely used by museum professionals to mount specimens.
I thought for a moment that the sported SMLE from PA had a target sight mounted, but it would seem to be only the pipe strapping widely used by museum professionals to mount specimens.
The PA museum is very neglected. They have some amazing stuff piled in corners and nailed to the wall with that godawful strapping.
I am not sure where I read it but the gist of it was the canadian troops could get away with cutting down their barrels while a Brit who had done the same thing was sure to end up being court marshaled. I will defer to Claven and companys encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Enfield.
If you think the rifles were badly mounted here is a blurry photo of Col Sam Hughes sword nailed to a wooden rack.
There are some incredible items in that museum but the curator is in a home and no one has done anything for decades.
I am not sure where I read it but the gist of it was the canadian troops could get away with cutting down their barrels while a Brit who had done the same thing was sure to end up being court marshaled. I will defer to Claven and companys encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Enfield.
If you think the rifles were badly mounted here is a blurry photo of Col Sam Hughes sword nailed to a wooden rack.
There are some incredible items in that museum but the curator is in a home and no one has done anything for decades.
Ross Sniper Rifles in CWM storage
The museum of Civilization has a data base of artifacts in storage.It lists military firearms owned by the CWM stored at this time. There are listed 3 Ross sniper rifles with full decription,branch of service,model designation etc.All 3 are model 1910 (Mk3) (T)s year of manufactor 1915.One does have a photo attachment which can be enlarged by clicking on it.Enter the phrase Civilization.ca - Search the Collection in your favorite search engine then pick the second listing from the results.Enter Ross sniper rifle in the search slot and have fun.
I also searched Colt 1911s and got 27 hits.Two of which are original NAA (Ross Rifle Co.) protypes.After Singer made 1911s these Canadian made ones are the next ratherest.Nice to know what our government has squirreled away.
beaver455
The museum of Civilization has a data base of artifacts in storage.It lists military firearms owned by the CWM stored at this time. There are listed 3 Ross sniper rifles with full decription,branch of service,model designation etc.All 3 are model 1910 (Mk3) (T)s year of manufactor 1915.One does have a photo attachment which can be enlarged by clicking on it.Enter the phrase Civilization.ca - Search the Collection in your favorite search engine then pick the second listing from the results.Enter Ross sniper rifle in the search slot and have fun.
I also searched Colt 1911s and got 27 hits.Two of which are original NAA (Ross Rifle Co.) protypes.After Singer made 1911s these Canadian made ones are the next ratherest.Nice to know what our government has squirreled away.
beaver455
