DA181 Ross Rifle from HMS Canada

[NavyShooter]

Gents,

In this photo here (sourced from the Milsurp flier/price-list/wish-list thread) you can see a blurb about Ross Rifles from HM(C)S Canada...

Well, I recently took posession of one of these very rifles.

Here she is in all her glory:

Detail of buttstock markings:

Right side of the receiver:

Muzzle area:

The Bayonet (NOT matching...alas!!)

More of the bayonet: (A very clear C-Broadarrow!)

Other side of the rifle's buttstock:

Left side of the receiver:

Poor view of the receiver markings:

Any important bits I missed in the photo montage?

NS

 

[NavyShooter]

As a followup, if you're the person who bought the matching bayonet for this rifle at the Bud Haynes Auction #214 (it was item number 214-J-43) I would be VERY interested in getting in touch with you....

NS

 

[chofo]

Awesome! At least some of these ended up back in Canada!

My uncle used to tell us bad things about the Rss in the trenches, but did say they were second to none as a sporting rifle, especially in .280, a pre-magnum magnum.

 

[Ganderite]

I have DA199, a litter -mate. I bought it at a Hamilton flea market around 1975 for $125.

It also has the bayo, but there does not seem to be any number on the bayo suggesting it is matched with a particualr rfle.

 

[NavyShooter]

Bud Haynes Auctions sold an item:

214-J-43 Bayonet, Ross Rifle Co., 1907, Quebec, DA181, Naval, for HMS Canada in the battle of Jutland. w/leather scabbard.

It was sold on the 27th of October, 2007 to a collector.

Dot Haynes called that person this afternoon and left him a message on my behalf, inquiring if he'd be willing to part with it, exchange it, or sell it to me.

We'll see what happens! I can only hope!

Many thanks to Dot, and if one of you got a phone message from Bud Hayne's Auctions today....it's me that's begging!

NS

 

[Ganderite]

Where on the bayo is the rifle # marked? I don't see one.

 

[Bojangles]

Oh I wish I had bought a dozen of them.....

"Scotty, power up the photon drives, we need to do a time warp"

Cheers,

B

 

[smellie]

DA426 sends warmest greetings to her newfound sister and hopes that you will take her to the range for a nice dinner, very soon.

BTW, the four little holes on the stock, left-hand side of the action, were for a hasp so that the rifle could be barred or chained upright and not fall over when the ship was maneuvering violently.

An interesting point with your rifle is the S 103 stamping on the LH side of the butt, possibly indicating service in the Royal Navy on an S-class destroyer or TB.

My rifle is marked "CEF 16" on the underside of the wrist of the butt: Canadian Scottish, service in Bermuda and then overseas to fun, games and a vicious night assault at Second Ypres, all prior to service with the RN.

EXCELLENT toy!
.

 

[eos]

I have DA332 with its matching bayonet. The scabbard is the Royal Navy type of black leather with bright fittings.
My 1910 still bears the stamps of the 15th CEF (48 Highrs).

 

[tiriaq]

I have DA170 and DA386. DA170 is accompanied by its matching bayonet. Found it on the 'net, located two collectors who knew who owned it, eventually obtained it. Long story, sad one, too, it came from an estate. So, matching up a rifle and its bayonet is possible.
Having said that, the numbers on the bayonets are Chilean.
The bayonets pictured above are standard Cdn issue pattern. Correct for a Mk. III rifle in Cdn service, perhaps not in RN. The RN modified the bayonets and used a different frog arrangement. Canada reground the blades too, but the pattern of regrind is different. The RN alteration makes the blade look more like a Bowie knife. Leather is died black.
HMS Canada (not HM(C)S) was at the Battle of Jutland. IF the rifles were ship's stores at that time, they would have been aboard. One DA rifle is stock dated 1918, so obviously more were added to stores prior to the return of HMS Canada to Chile, as Almirante Latorre.
Over at Milsurps, there was a chap who maintained that the CEF marking is a date. Offered no proof. I have seen CEF14, CEF15, CEF16. The CEF14 was the nicest actually issued Mk. III rifle I've ever seen. It surely did not serve in Flanders. I think there is a CEF19 (which would be Lincoln and Welland) on DA170, IF these numbers are Bn marks. The mark is hard to read.
Has anyone seen any CEF numbers other than 14-15-16?
For what it is worth, the 15th Bn exchanged its Rosses for SMLEs on the 15th of June 1915. Any rilfes actually used by the 15th Bn would likely have been at 2nd Ypres. A CEF16 would likely have been as well, unless the 16 is year of issue.
I simply do not know definitively what the CEFXX means. The majority of the DA rifles seem to be earlier ones, 1st Division. 14-15-16 could certainly be Bn. numbers, but could also be dates. Either explanation could be possible, the rifles going to the RN after withdrawal from Cdn front line service.