I just found an old Ross rifle made by the Ross Rifle Co Quebec Canada 1905 . I think it was my grandfathers from the great war. Can anyone tell me more about this gun. The action works well and trigger works great but is pitted pretty bad. What a nice sight picture on the gun. TAzz
found an old ross rifle
- Thread starter TAZZY9899
- Start date
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
Ross
Likely a sportered 1905 Ross, maybe a factory sporter. Only a pic and more details can confirm. One thing though, not your Grandfathers in the Great War however.
Cheers
Likely a sportered 1905 Ross, maybe a factory sporter. Only a pic and more details can confirm. One thing though, not your Grandfathers in the Great War however.
Cheers
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
A Ross rifle with full wood (he! he! he! He said, 'Full wood.'), is a rare beast. The overwhelming normal for Rosses is to find one with the stock shortened and the hard to replace parts gone.
As for being your grandfather's ... well. Nice story but without documentary proof, it is just a family story. Grandpa told someone, who remembered something, who repeated another thing years later, and so it goes. He might have TRAINED or CARRIED on that model, but the chances he left the battlefield, went through demobilization and got off the troop train carrying off an issued item of the King's Property are pretty slim.
As for being your grandfather's ... well. Nice story but without documentary proof, it is just a family story. Grandpa told someone, who remembered something, who repeated another thing years later, and so it goes. He might have TRAINED or CARRIED on that model, but the chances he left the battlefield, went through demobilization and got off the troop train carrying off an issued item of the King's Property are pretty slim.
You are referring to the Mk. II** target rifles?
Yes. Issued and private purchase both.
Generally, but not invariably, the ones sold commercially will be serial numbered with tiny numerals on the left side of the barrel breech. Issue rifles should have normal military butt markings. These rifles are service configuration.
Factory sporters were sold commercially, and are serial numbered as described above.
Yes. Issued and private purchase both.
Generally, but not invariably, the ones sold commercially will be serial numbered with tiny numerals on the left side of the barrel breech. Issue rifles should have normal military butt markings. These rifles are service configuration.
Factory sporters were sold commercially, and are serial numbered as described above.
I am now very interested in the origin... Its quite a story my mother tells me he joined the canadian armed forces when he was 14 in 1917 in Newfoundland and was deployed overseas but got sent home when he got the measels and his age discovered. His older brother was in the same unit and took him under his wing. His name was Harry Stares and his brother was an officer Frank Stares. The rifle was his but does not seem to be a military model from what I have seen and read here.I will post some pictures when I get a chance. Thanks for all the info. TAzz
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Ian I think you have my intent wrong.I do not think now the rifle was issued or used by him during the war periods. It looks like after what I have read here it is a non military gun. It just a very interesting story that I just heard today for the first time after looking into the rifle origins here and asking my mom about it. I woud like to find out more about the story of my grandfather. I know that his brother lived in scottland after the war and not much more. My grandmother has passed so details are few. Would that have been a British Unit at that time. TAzz
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15 B'n CEF carried the Mark II (1905) Ross when they went overseas, only CEF Batt to carry this rifle.
The 500 Newfoundland Rosses were supposed to be Mark III rifles. They paid $28 apiece for them, $5 extra for the bayonets. The "Florizel" left St. John's with the Blue Puttees on board before the rifles could be delivered, so the Newfies arrived in England weaponless, were issued SMLEs. They had trained with MLE and MLM rifles in St. John's, many borrowed from the stock aboard HMS BRITON (built as HMS Calypso), the RN training ship stationed there. Some of these MLM and MLE rifles got into circulation later on. When the Rosses arrived in Blighty, the Newfs already were equipped, so the Nfld Rosses disappeared into British stores and haven't been seen since. These would have been very early-production Mark III rifles, would have been nice and accurate.
The 500 Newfoundland Rosses were supposed to be Mark III rifles. They paid $28 apiece for them, $5 extra for the bayonets. The "Florizel" left St. John's with the Blue Puttees on board before the rifles could be delivered, so the Newfies arrived in England weaponless, were issued SMLEs. They had trained with MLE and MLM rifles in St. John's, many borrowed from the stock aboard HMS BRITON (built as HMS Calypso), the RN training ship stationed there. Some of these MLM and MLE rifles got into circulation later on. When the Rosses arrived in Blighty, the Newfs already were equipped, so the Nfld Rosses disappeared into British stores and haven't been seen since. These would have been very early-production Mark III rifles, would have been nice and accurate.
