Ross rifle restoration

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MrHarpSeal

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I’ve been looking at getting a Ross rifle for a little bit know. I’ve seen them going for about 2.5-3k on ####### for unsportetized examples. At that point I’d rather just restore a sporter rifle. I’ve seen spotters go for about 600 give or take, and full wood costs about the same. This got the entrepreneurial side of me thinking. I know there is demand for them, as I think almost all Canadian gun owners, especially people interested in Milsurp know about them. They’re almost on par for the relationship that the US has with the M1 Garand or the M1903. I have some experience in woodworking and some limited experience in gunsmithing. I understand that it would be most practical for me to restore rifles with uncut barrels and a decent bore condition. I don’t believe that the Ross had the finicky stocking up process as the number 4 or SMLE, due to the pressure excerted at the muzzle cap. I know I’d have to worry about the bedding and stuff. I’d do this as a side hustle to find my Milsurp habit, I wouldn’t plan to start a full fledged business around this. I would just like some input on this on wether it’s a half decent idea or if I’m completely out of my mind. I’m planning on doing a single 1 as a test to see if people are interested, if it doesn’t end up working out and I’m stuck with it it wouldn’t be the end of the world🙂
 
The problem is, at least that I've run into, many of the Ross' have their barrel cut down to make it un-restorable. Metal bands are also rarer than hens teeth. There is a guy I follow on social media (RossRifleRestorationsDOTcom) who makes repro stocks and bands. I don't know if there is enough supply of sporter Ross' to make it worth your time?
 
DiMP said:
The problem is, at least that I've run into, many of the Ross' have their barrel cut down to make it un-restorable. Metal bands are also rarer than hens teeth. There is a guy I follow on social media (RossRifleRestorationsDOTcom) who makes repro stocks and bands. I don't know if there is enough supply of sporter Ross' to make it worth your time?
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I’m not really valuing in my time as I basically see it as an extension of the hobby. I’ll go to gun shows around my area and see if I can find some good sporter candidates. I only imagine doing 1 or 2 rifles per month, just to get some more money for more rifles 🙂. I have to do more reading on the rifles as well, to see what I’m getting into.
 
You might start with a rifle with full length barrel and stock cut out from the middle band. Make a forend replacement section, and do a solid splice hidden by the middle band. You'll need to find a nosecap. Mk. II (1905) nosecaps are much easier to locate than Mk. III (1910).
Make sure the rear sight is complete. Replacements are not cheap.
Bore condition can be a real problem, and affects value.
Bedding a Mk. III is akin to bedding a P'14 or Mauser. The Mk. II has the joy of the Harris magazine to deal with.
 
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