"New" Ross questions

T

thomasb

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Yup, I'm a newby here. Be gentle with me. Long time lurker, first time poster. A brief intro - I'm a newly minted apprentice machinist, after serving 20 years in HM Canadian Army fixing guns, and I'm currently residing in rural Manitoba.

Enough about me, lets talk Rosses. I just picked up my first this weekend after swearing to stick with Lee Enfields, and nothing else. Well, maybe a P-14. And a Garand. Then you need a bayonet. How about a helmet? Couldn't hurt...I'm sure you all know what a slippery slope it becomes...

Anyway, this is what I know about the rifle I got, and this won't take long. It is a Mk 3, M-10 Ross that has been "sporterised", but retained the upper handguard, barrel band, and sights. The bolt has been pinned, and I suspect the chamber enlarged because of the "E" on the barrel. I checked some old threads, but couldn't find one on specific markings. Sorry if I missed something.

It cleaned up not bad, but I'm now curious about the provenance. Here's what is on it, hopefully someone with more knowledge can assist:
Right side of butt (from left to right): "cartouche", "111" (MK3 as I learned from CGN), then, one above the other in descending order - "W328"(not sure about the 8, could be 6 or 9), "###"(ser#, again CGN), "1917" (date obviously), then to the right - "LI". The LI has me perplexed.
Top of stock : "3" (facing the shooter), then "R60" readable from the left.
Bottom of stock: a "crown over 16", a "crown over 13", a "crown over 10", and finally "Y over 927".
Receiver and barrel: Both have a "crown" over "BM" and the "DPC" stamp, the barrel has an "E" beside what may be an "O". Woodwork beside the chamber area has "D" with "crown over 26" on right side, and "P" "44" on left side.

Well, that's it. Hope this makes sense, it does to me, but then I wrote it. I'd post a picture, but my wife has either hidden or destroyed the camera, and isn't around to show me how to use it anyway.

If anyone has any info as to the rifle's history and would like to share, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks in advance.
 
LI is part of the serial number, ###LI, W328, and Y over 927, I don't know. Crown overs are inspectors' marks. Proof marks on the barrel. Pinned bolt sleeve means service during WW2. Has the barrel been cut? Should be 30 1/2".
 
Definitely look at restoring, or having it restored. Full length rosses are getting quite rare, and are beauties to shoot. The front stock band seems to be the only thing you'd be needing, so that's encouraging. When you get a chance, post some pics!
 
"LI" is only part of your serial number- the "###" over 1917 followed by "LI" is the full serial.After "999 over 1917 LI" was reached, "1 over 1917 L J" was the next rifle. As long as your "###"'s are real numbers, your barrel is still 30 1/2", the wood was attacked and wounded by Bubba ahead of the middle band only, and you can find a later, forged nosecap, a replacement stick of walnut spliced under the band then stained and distressed to match, you'll have a fairly decent rifle again.
 
Thanks guys, makes sense. The ser # on the butt does't match the three digit # on the bolt, but if they were anything like Enfields, I don't suppose that matters too much. As soon as I get ahold of the camera, I'll post pictures.
The wood is still good up to about 2 inches past the barrel band, and I have some parts coming, so restoration may be the way to go. I've been reading the advice on another thread regarding how to go about it, and it all seems pretty straightforward.
Thanks again for your help.
 
thomasb said:
Thanks guys, makes sense. The ser # on the butt does't match the three digit # on the bolt, but if they were anything like Enfields, I don't suppose that matters too much. As soon as I get ahold of the camera, I'll post pictures.
The wood is still good up to about 2 inches past the barrel band, and I have some parts coming, so restoration may be the way to go. I've been reading the advice on another thread regarding how to go about it, and it all seems pretty straightforward.
Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...

Did you find a nosecap for it? That's the tough one...
 
Yes, I think I have gotten lucky and tracked down some spare bits. Here is a photo. Hope it works. If not, I may need more help from someone.
000_0595.jpg
[/IMG]
 
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thomasb said:
Yup, I need some help. I tried following a "picture posting primer" from this site, but it doesn't seem to work for me. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Post the pic on the web on Photobucket. Copy the URL, then hit the yellow insert image above this box and paste it in the box after highlighting the www that's already in the box.
 
OK, posted on photobucket. Clicked on yellow box, inserted copied text from IMG code bar on photobucket to box from yellow box here and nothing. Tried a few of the other photobucket choices - html code bar, direct link code bar, and still nothing.
Ah well, one picture of a cut up Ross looks like any other.
 
thomasb said:
OK, posted on photobucket. Clicked on yellow box, inserted copied text from IMG code bar on photobucket to box from yellow box here and nothing. Tried a few of the other photobucket choices - html code bar, direct link code bar, and still nothing.
Ah well, one picture of a cut up Ross looks like any other.
Click to expand...

It can be tricky. Once again, right click direct link second line down, right click then hit copy, then hit the yellow insert image box on CGNTZ and www will be in the box. Drag your mouse across that till it highlights(nothing should be left in the little window), then hit paste, it will be overwritten. If you do everything exactly as I said it will work, I do it all the time.
Remember that you have to go past your text by a line or two, and be on a new line when you do this, or it will all mix together with your words and be a schmozzle.
Each pic goes vertically down the page on a new line, or the pics end up all beside each other to the right like a chain reaction collision.:runaway::wave:
 
Whdda ya know, it works. Thanks, cantom, for helping me into the 20th century. Now I gotta figure out how to make it smaller so I can put in a couple more pictures.

000_0595.jpg
 
Hopefully, with a little luck, I have the parts coming. The Barrell is 30.5 so it has not been cut. Haze Grey - Thanks for the link

Thanks for all your help guys!
 
thomasb said:
Hopefully, with a little luck, I have the parts coming. The Barrell is 30.5 so it has not been cut. Haze Grey - Thanks for the link

Thanks for all your help guys!
Click to expand...

Oh nice, uncut barrel...you're lucky. Onwards!

Hey Thomas! Does your buttstock have all the proper Mk III and unit stampings intact on it? If so I'd look into that extension piece. I believe the same guy can supply a whole new stock if the markings are sanded off anyway. Might be worthwhile in that case.
 
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Yes, all the stamps are there, however no unit stampings for some reason, unless the hancarved "DF" means something other than Bubba's initials. One step closer to finding the bugger.
Here's a so-so photo. (thaks again, cantom). There is a tiny "W 328" or maybe 6 above the ser# that doesn't show up real good that I'm not at all sure about, and the cartouche is faded.
The upper handguard is present, so all I really need now is a proper stock and/or filler piece.
Does anyone know if the stockduplicater already has a Ross model stock to work off, or would I have to supply?
Klunk- thanks for the offer, I should have a nosecap coming, but if it doesn't work out, I'll let you know.

000_0581-1.jpg
 
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