Ross rear sight designer

AdrianM

AdrianM

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Hi all,

I read an interesting letter in the Chronicle Herald (Halifax newspaper) today. The Herald is running a weekly special every Saturday remembering the Great War (there is also a special exhibit in the city at the Citadel that is honoring the centennial of the Great War). Today in the paper a gentleman wrote a letter about the fact that his grandfather was the designer of the rear sight of the Ross rifle (didn't mention what model). The man's name was Robert Sutherland. He was from Balmoral Mills, Nova Scotia about 12 kms from where I live.

Anybody able to back that story up? I just thought it was a neat bit of trivia.

Adrian
 
The Sutherland Rifle Sight Comany operated in New Glasgow, CBI for several years before changing their name to the Canada Tool and Specialty Company.

They made precision rifle sights for Lee rifles, for export (where they were quite popular) and for the Mark II Ross Rifle.

Their line included precision Open sights as well as excellent Aperture sights. Some Match rifles were fitted with both types at the same time!
 
smellie said:
The Sutherland Rifle Sight Comany operated in New Glasgow, CBI for several years before changing their name to the Canada Tool and Specialty Company.

They made precision rifle sights for Lee rifles, for export (where they were quite popular) and for the Mark II Ross Rifle.

Their line included precision Open sights as well as excellent Aperture sights. Some Match rifles were fitted with both types at the same time!
Click to expand...

Thanks Smellie - a very informative response. However, I feel the need to make a very slight correction if "CBI" refers to Cape Breton Island. New Glasgow is on mainland Nova Scotia, not the Island. There is a community by the name of Sutherland's River a short distance outside New Glasgow.
 
@ B_noser:

Sorry for the booboo; I didn't realize they had stolen it. Either that or I was halfway lost and not seeing the map right; roads get confusing when you are driving all night and the radio is speaking Gaelic and the highway is solid ice! Sorry for misplacing it!

Next time I am down that way I'll try to make it in sane hours; would like to see Sutherland's River.

Is there anything left of the old Sutherland's Factory? We need to preserve what remains of our heritage while there still is something TO preserve.

I do remember at least one INCREDIBLE collection down that way...... and some awfully-nice people.

My apologies for moving your town, Friend! Hope you can find it, get it home again!
 
Historical footnote

In keeping with your historical coverage of the First World War, it might be of general interest to note that the sight used on the Ross rifle by the Allies at the start of the war was invented in 1904 by a Nova Scotian, my grandfather, Robert Sutherland of Balmoral Mills.

The patent was sold to the Canada Tool and Specialty Co., which set up a manufacturing plant in New Glasgow. The Ross rifle was later replaced by the Lee Enfield, a shorter rifle that was more easily cleaned and thus better suited to trench warfare.

Robert Sutherland, Hammonds Plains
Click to expand...

ht tp://thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1246286-voice-of-the-people-oct-25-2014
 
Mr. Sutherland was from Balmoral Mills, a few km from Tatamagouche. I'm sure he must have been related to Alexander Sutherland; the builder and operator of the Sutherland Steam Mill. I've had a quick look and I haven't turned up anything conclusive but there weren't (and still aren't) that many families living in the area. He must be a son or a nephew. It would explain his mechanical and design skill.

*after more research I found out that Robert was the son of Alexander R. Sutherland. He lived from 1847 to 1912.

http://sutherlandsteammill.novascotia.ca/
 
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