Ross Rifle....
- Thread starter Dantforth
- Start date
Serial number on DA426 is on the right side of the butt, near the buttplate..... but the rifle is a standard Mark III; it is NOT a IIIB.
Remember hearing about snipers in the Great War using a "stripped Ross" for ironsight sniping and believe that some of the scoped rifles may have been bobbed at the first band; this would likely have been done after they were no longer general issue.
I have the specs, dimensions on the original Great War targets here if anybody is interested and will post them if requested (if I can figger out how to get a Pic-a-cher onto this here screen). I have the Handbook and the Scoring Book both. (Along with a lot of my other manuals, I am putting them onto CDs right now.)
Match will be a great idea. Talked with my Shilo 2-man ironsight partner last night, he wants to borrow one of my Rosses for this match, same one he shot in the Shilo match. Guess I don't have any choice, do I? The more the merrier!
Remember hearing about snipers in the Great War using a "stripped Ross" for ironsight sniping and believe that some of the scoped rifles may have been bobbed at the first band; this would likely have been done after they were no longer general issue.
I have the specs, dimensions on the original Great War targets here if anybody is interested and will post them if requested (if I can figger out how to get a Pic-a-cher onto this here screen). I have the Handbook and the Scoring Book both. (Along with a lot of my other manuals, I am putting them onto CDs right now.)
Match will be a great idea. Talked with my Shilo 2-man ironsight partner last night, he wants to borrow one of my Rosses for this match, same one he shot in the Shilo match. Guess I don't have any choice, do I? The more the merrier!
Tried a googlesearch for the 16th. The Canadian Scottish. 15th is the 48th Highlanders. Both 4th Bde, 1st Division. It COULD be a 15, my monitor isn't great, and you're closer to it than I am. Different stamps, of course, but look how clear the 5s are in the rifle's serial number and date. Going to retore the top Ross, with the cut back forend?
Well, start looking. If and when one turns up, the actual restoration isn't that big difficult. Depending on stock date, the nosecap could be stamped or forged, but given that the wood will be new, either could be made to work. In the meantime, the rifle is still a shooter. At least the barrel is still full length.
15th
For Regiment or Battalion identification, always check www.regiments.org..it's my favorite.
Here is what you are looking for. Looks like a 16 to ...me but it might just be the picture. Seems like there were several Victoria Cross winners in the 16th.......worth researching the rifle if possible.
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/lists/cargxrefn.htm
Mario
For Regiment or Battalion identification, always check www.regiments.org..it's my favorite.
Here is what you are looking for. Looks like a 16 to ...me but it might just be the picture. Seems like there were several Victoria Cross winners in the 16th.......worth researching the rifle if possible.
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/lists/cargxrefn.htm
Mario
Okay, just to keep this thing going, has anybody out there ever run into a M-10 Ross with NEWFOUNDLAND markings?
Not generally known is the fact that the M-10 Ross was the official service rifle of TWO self-governing Dominions, Canada and Newfoundland. Newfoundland ordered 500 M-10s with equipment and had them shipped to St. John's. In the meantime, the Blue Puttees trained with long LM and LE rifles off the old HMS BRITON (built as HMS CALYPSO back in the 1880s, a 2400-ton auxiliary screw corvette with 3 masts, square sails, big smokestack and 4 guns on sponsons). Problem was that the Contingent sailed on the FLORIZEL before the Rosses were delivered, so the rifles were sent on a later ship but never did catch up with the troops. Britain armed the Newfoundland Regiment with SMLEs and that is what they used in Gallipoli, France and all the other fun places they got to.
The Newfoundland Rosses disappeared into storage in England.
My old friend Pte. Jack Snow, told me that he saw am M-10 Ross in the window at Ayres' big store in St. John's, just before he joined up. The rifle was resting on a bed of red velvet, with a huge Union Jack in the background, and there was a sign saying that this was the most accurate rifle in the world, which is why the Newfoundland Government had purchased it for their troops, at the sum of 28 dollars each.
So........ has anybody ever uncovered a Newfie Ross? My old friend Jack used the SMLE all the way through, never did get to shoot a Ross until we went to the range with DA426.
Not generally known is the fact that the M-10 Ross was the official service rifle of TWO self-governing Dominions, Canada and Newfoundland. Newfoundland ordered 500 M-10s with equipment and had them shipped to St. John's. In the meantime, the Blue Puttees trained with long LM and LE rifles off the old HMS BRITON (built as HMS CALYPSO back in the 1880s, a 2400-ton auxiliary screw corvette with 3 masts, square sails, big smokestack and 4 guns on sponsons). Problem was that the Contingent sailed on the FLORIZEL before the Rosses were delivered, so the rifles were sent on a later ship but never did catch up with the troops. Britain armed the Newfoundland Regiment with SMLEs and that is what they used in Gallipoli, France and all the other fun places they got to.
The Newfoundland Rosses disappeared into storage in England.
My old friend Pte. Jack Snow, told me that he saw am M-10 Ross in the window at Ayres' big store in St. John's, just before he joined up. The rifle was resting on a bed of red velvet, with a huge Union Jack in the background, and there was a sign saying that this was the most accurate rifle in the world, which is why the Newfoundland Government had purchased it for their troops, at the sum of 28 dollars each.
So........ has anybody ever uncovered a Newfie Ross? My old friend Jack used the SMLE all the way through, never did get to shoot a Ross until we went to the range with DA426.
Klunk said:
I've got some I can put up here.. Pretty basic PDF files that fit on an 8.5X11 sheet of paper.. One is a 6" circle with a 2" white square.
I would think we aren't talking any great distances, or round count.
Something like maybe 3 targets with 10 rounds per target, at 100 and 200m?. How bout a 5 shot group target added just to compare as well. Would bring our round count up for the day to 35 rounds.
It would all be the same target. You need at least one witness to sign your target. Everybody shoots on the same day and close to the same time.
Anything else???
Oh ya, you have to post a pic of the 5 shot group target along a pic of you with your Ross in order for the score to count :lol:
smellie said:
Well....do they have any specific markings?...they probably wouldnt have the little CEF circle...
Considering the number of guns in Canada that were privately owned in England at one time it certainly is possible
I dont know if the 'same day' is too important. It could be snowing here while you are living it up in the sunshine. Maybe a few days that cover a weekend. Target must be shown with a current newspaper (like kidnappers do :shock: )...
Jason at Gunco just had DA208 in on consignment, complete with matching bayonet. I believe that it has been sold. Reasonable condition, usual nicks, dings bruises; unfortunately someone has scrubbed (wire wheeled) the barrel from the middle band to nosecap, bayonet hilt, and scabbard throat. 1916 dated, no Cdn unit marks.
Recent Ross acquisitions include 10E and 10R .303 sporters. Someone had a go at scoping the 10E, two holes in the receiver ring, two more in the rear bridge, so I think that I will finish the job, and mount an appropriate older scope. Its OK mechanically, bore is shooting grade, and the stock is respectable. The 10R is a rather nice rifle, although someone allowed some corrosion to start on the barrel out from the forend, and then scrubbed it. Fine bore, action, and stock. I think that the barrel will respond to some careful restoration.
If any one is looking for a shooter grade project Mk. III, Jason has a candidate. I'm sure its a bitser, the stock is from one of the Indian deacts, with the two little semicircular cuts in front of the receiver ring. A couple of armourer style inlays will remedy those. The rear sight has had a PH 6 hole eyepiece installed in the windage slide. The barreled action is decent, with a better than average bore. BUT, the forged nosecap is missing. Finding one can be a problem, of course. Price is $200. I already have a fine shooter, otherwise I would have bought it.
He has another Mk. III, all original, but it has some stock damage. Looks as if was fired with the screws loose, with wood damage by the receiver ring, behind the tang, and at the rear of the trigger guard. The rifle doesn't present too well, as is. $350($375?).
Also three sported ones. A decent shooter III, cut barrel and stock @$150, a Mk. II, not too badly done for the same, and a real shame, a II** target rifle. Cut reworked stock, cut barrel, newer commercial sporting sights. You can see where the bridge for a rear aperture sight had been, and the shadow of the rear sight base on the barrel, so it would have been made 1910 or so. It's $75, and made me ill thinking what it had once been like.
Recent Ross acquisitions include 10E and 10R .303 sporters. Someone had a go at scoping the 10E, two holes in the receiver ring, two more in the rear bridge, so I think that I will finish the job, and mount an appropriate older scope. Its OK mechanically, bore is shooting grade, and the stock is respectable. The 10R is a rather nice rifle, although someone allowed some corrosion to start on the barrel out from the forend, and then scrubbed it. Fine bore, action, and stock. I think that the barrel will respond to some careful restoration.
If any one is looking for a shooter grade project Mk. III, Jason has a candidate. I'm sure its a bitser, the stock is from one of the Indian deacts, with the two little semicircular cuts in front of the receiver ring. A couple of armourer style inlays will remedy those. The rear sight has had a PH 6 hole eyepiece installed in the windage slide. The barreled action is decent, with a better than average bore. BUT, the forged nosecap is missing. Finding one can be a problem, of course. Price is $200. I already have a fine shooter, otherwise I would have bought it.
He has another Mk. III, all original, but it has some stock damage. Looks as if was fired with the screws loose, with wood damage by the receiver ring, behind the tang, and at the rear of the trigger guard. The rifle doesn't present too well, as is. $350($375?).
Also three sported ones. A decent shooter III, cut barrel and stock @$150, a Mk. II, not too badly done for the same, and a real shame, a II** target rifle. Cut reworked stock, cut barrel, newer commercial sporting sights. You can see where the bridge for a rear aperture sight had been, and the shadow of the rear sight base on the barrel, so it would have been made 1910 or so. It's $75, and made me ill thinking what it had once been like.
Here is a sample target that I think would work. It will print off on an 8.5X11 sheet of paper.
I am thinking (feel free to add comments/suggestions) that if we all use a couple of these at 100 and 200m with anywhere from 5 to 10 shots per target it would be consistent.
The PDF printable target link is at the bottom.
http://www3.telus.net/hansonk/rosstarget.pdf
I am thinking (feel free to add comments/suggestions) that if we all use a couple of these at 100 and 200m with anywhere from 5 to 10 shots per target it would be consistent.
The PDF printable target link is at the bottom.
http://www3.telus.net/hansonk/rosstarget.pdf
