First Ross

jibjedi

jibjedi

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Just received my first 1910 Ross rifle. Sellers write up says that it was possibly featured in The Ross Rifle Story. Not sure how legit that claim is.

But anyway, I have been keeping an eye out for one as my grandfather told me that he carried one through NW Europe during WWII, fighting along with the Canadian Scottish. I still haven't managed to get enough detail out of him as to why he might have been issued a Ross over a No.4.
He had a lot of driver training in all sorts of vehicles, so maybe that has something to do with it?

This Ross supposedly has an arsenal altered barrel. I thought maybe this rifle would have been similar to something he would have been issued if it is truly one that was altered by the Canadian government.

Is there anything I need to know before I go ahead and safely put a few rounds through it? I know very little about these rifles at this point.

Kind regards -TT







 
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But anyway, I have been keeping an eye out for one as my grandfather told me that he carried one through NW Europe during WWII, fighting along with the Canadian Scottish. I still haven't managed to get enough detail out of him as to why he might have been issued a Ross over a No.4.
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Now that's pretty interesting. I'd thought most of the Ross's had gone to the British home guard and Navy. I'd think that there must've been some No.1 Mk.III's to spare after the invasion for second line troops like transport and artillery if they were still short on the newer rifles.

Nice rifle BTW. I always find the intricate rear sight on these fascinating.
 
By the time of the D-day landing in Normandy, the Canadian Army was well supplied with the No.4 MK1* Rifle, manufactured by Long Branch arsenals,..i would think it would be odd that your grandfather would carry a obsolete Ross rifle, when the much superior No.4 rifle was available
 
x westie said:
By the time of the D-day landing in Normandy, the Canadian Army was well supplied with the No.4 MK1* Rifle, manufactured by Long Branch arsenals,..i would think it would be odd that your grandfather would carry a obsolete Ross rifle, when the much superior No.4 rifle was available
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Yes I tend to get a similar response from most people when I tell them about this. But the man is still alive to tell me this. He is 88 years old and still chops his own firewood, drives to town to pick up his mail, and can remember details about being at the Leopold Canal .....so I don't really doubt him.
Also, he gave me permission to have his records from the Canadian Archives printed off, and I have all the records they kept. Very neat to see his entire experience documented on paper. Everything from the day he signed up, through all his training, embarkation to France and his time in the low countries right through to northwest Germany.

As I mentioned, we haven't talked in extreme detail about everything. Out of all his many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren now, I am the only one to ever express an interest in this part of his life. He has kept most things buried away for a long time. I always want to know more, but feel that pushing to hard for answers at this point is somehow a bit cruel. He has definitely tried to forget the experience for the most part.
 
Ganderite said:
I think I supplied the rifle for the Ross Rifle Story - and that is not it.
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Fair enough. I didnt really purchase it with that being the main reason of interest. I was hoping though, that the part about the barrel being altered by the Canadian government prior to WWII, for use overseas would be true. Possibly making the rifle something similar to what my grandfather would have used.
 
jibjedi said:
Yes I tend to get a similar response from most people when I tell them about this. But the man is still alive to tell me this. He is 88 years old and still chops his own firewood, drives to town to pick up his mail, and can remember details about being at the Leopold Canal .....so I don't really doubt him.
Also, he gave me permission to have his records from the Canadian Archives printed off, and I have all the records they kept. Very neat to see his entire experience documented on paper. Everything from the day he signed up, through all his training, embarkation to France and his time in the low countries right through to northwest Germany.

As I mentioned, we haven't talked in extreme detail about everything. Out of all his many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren now, I am the only one to ever express an interest in this part of his life. He has kept most things buried away for a long time. I always want to know more, but feel that pushing to hard for answers at this point is somehow a bit cruel. He has definitely tried to forget the experience for the most part.
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ask him to describe the action cycling, the ross is a straight pull, rather than the enfield. memory is a very fluid and alterable faculty, and a few beers in the legion with ww1 vets talking about rosses might have slipped into his mind without knowing.

as with many old guys, take in all the stories you can, bring a tape recorder, bring a note pad, get it down, and when they say something that is incorrect, let it be. the real thing to take away from them is not historical details, we have lots of accurate information about that available, but the feeling and emotion of the times. you and i have little hope of understanding a world where the choice wasnt liberal or conservative, but fascist or communist. or where modern nations were rationing food to fight a war.
 
My grandfather also used a Ross in WW2. He kept it after the war ended, and gave it to me before he passed away. He sporterized it, and the nice flip up adjustable rear sight is missing, but it's an accurate rifle!
 
My brother hasn't been out shooting in 15 years and we went to the range with my mosin Nagant, k98, sks and my Ross. After we went through about 500 rounds I asked which one was his favourite. I was thinking the sks was going to be his pick but he said hands down it was the Ross. Very nice rifle to shoot good trigger pull and accurate. It was my favourite too. He wants one now
 
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