Found Ross....

NavyShooter

NavyShooter

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Goodday gents,

Well, I came across a Ross today, alas, it's been sanded. Not COMLETELY, but just enough to annoy me....and make the markings almost disappear from the stock.

My buddy brought it over to me, and I've spent an hour or so looking, poking, prodding, hmmming and haaawwwwing over it. It's nice, smooth, metal is in great shape, bore is outstanding, someone a long time ago took the time to white-highlight all the stamping on it, so it looks quite sharp.

Here's the beastie....came with a Bayonet, alas, the locking lug for the bayonet is absent, and it's jammed on quite solidly. I'll try to gently tap it off tomorrow.

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It's nice, but with the wood sanded up, it's not quite my thing. I've seen Ross's lately for some *crazy* prices, and I think with the sanding, this one's been, well, it should be a bit lower than some I've seen lately....anyone got a clue what it might be worth?

The serial number has a "PH" Prefix, and there's a "PH 1941" in the bolt channel (stamped in the wood) so I'm wondering if it was pulled out and inspected/certified by Parker Hale or something in 1941 for Home Guard use or something? The Serial number is NOT a DA ###, so it's not one of the HMS Canada rifles.

I'll add some more pics here, and let some experts sound in with their thoughts.

We started in the family room with a couple of toys....and compared this rifle with my HMS Canada Ross....(and drooled over the 1919...)

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Here's what's left of the markings:

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Soooo....thoughts????

I note the pinned bolt as well.

Thanks!

NS
 
I'm no Ross expert, but I like it, looks to be in pretty good condition.

I would certainly add it too my collection
 
From information posted at milsurps.com, PH is a RN mark, although the ones mentionned there were stamped on the receiver. Brit. proofs.
The bolt pinning was WW2.
Looking at the grain pattern in the wood, at the middle band, I wonder if the stock has been stretched? Easy enough to remove the screw and slide the band foreward to check.
 
Looking at pic 4, I have to wonder if the wood forward of the barrel band hasn't been re-made. The wood grain doesn't match.
 
It's good for a Ross. Snag it!

As to what it's worth, I don't have much to go on, but I know a fellow with one and he wants $700 for it with the bayo. I also see sporters that they are asking north of $350 for. Now on the internet, the prices are nuts!
 
There is a 1905R factory sporter for $200 at Accuracy Plus in P'boro right now. It is a bit tired, but it is all there.
 
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The "PH" could be a British Navy marking for "Priddies Hard." The British use the word "Hard" in the context that we use "Dock". SMELLIE has some Ross rifles marked "PHAB" or "Priddies Hard Ammunitioning Base." Information from the Royal Marines Museum has supplied us with explanations for a lot of the Ross rifles that they used, and the locations, types and pictures. "PLY" was for the Royal Marines Depot at Plymouth and "CRB" was the Depot at Crombie.

You might try to use a "black light" such as one used by Stamp Collectors to view the Watermarks on Stamps, and shine it on the butt stock and it just might make visible additional markings.

This rifle also has the typical British Proof Marks that were put on rifles intended for Export and Sale.
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NavyShooter said:
....

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....

Soooo....thoughts????

I note the pinned bolt as well.

Thanks!

NS
Click to expand...

My dad claims to have done an in-kind contract at the old Globe Firearms with a jig, electric drill and supply of pins to block the bolts from being incorrectly assembled. His claim was a marked Ross, that disappeared in a house burglary.

Right now, beggars can't be chosers. A full wood Ross is desireable in any Canadian collection, regardless of finish. The presence of some of the scarce parts, like the nose cap and foreend, mean it could become a pattern for an enterprising metal worker or man with an XYZ-axis wood router.
 
I would love to have a Ross in full military spec in my collection. Sanded or not it would still be desirable to me. I really just want one with a nose cap so I can attempt to make one here in my shop, it would be a labour of love, but if I could inspect one maybe I could recreate it. Then I could maybe make several and help out those whom are looking for one.

Anyhow, that's a very nice Ross, thanks for sharing the pictures.
 
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