Yes Smellie;Tthere is a Mrs.Claus

[mr.e moose]

About 4 months ago me and my wife were perusing the shelves down at Mil-arm in Edmonton.Two collectors had consigned a pretty good array of military weapons ranging from dewatt machine guns to some nice shoulder fired weapons.So many goodies, so little cash.Snider's,Martini's, a Krag jorgenson,Johnson,Boys.No1mklll* with grenade cup,no4 still in the wrap etc,etc..Then I spotted it amongst a rack of rifles,Yup there it was a M-10 Ross complete with sling and bayonet.I asked to see it and sure enough CEF 16 stamp on the butt and D.A 69 on the receiver and bayo.Can I put it on layaway?Sorry we can't do that on consignments,damn I thought to myself I just can't spend that much right now.Well I just couldn't get that rifle out of my head so a couple days latter I went down with the intention of putting it on my Visa."The Ross? Sorry some guy bought it and a couple of the other rifles yesterday."Well needless to say my heart dropped.So to make a long story short Christmas day my wife hands me a gift and inside there is another gift,8 boxes later there it is unmistakably the bolt for a Ross.As I looked at her she quietly asked, would you like the rest of your present?Turns out my wife had gone down the very next day and purchased it for me.As my eyes welled with tears my children asked "Is that the best gift you ever received Dad? No I replied that distinction belongs to your mother.
Merry Christmas to all on CGN,and I wish you all a happy and safe New Year.

 

[desporterizer]

Sure beats a sweater! Now, how bout some pics?

 

[AdrianM]

damn...I'm getting a little misty over here guys...

Hang on to her bud. Or if the train goes off the tracks send her east! Haha Happy Holidays!

 

[5440fight]

That's awesome! Cheers! Here's to good women!

 

[millwright]

Mine are starting to water as well. Better get back outside and return to Iceman condition one. Hold on to that family sir

 

[rdelliott]

You married very, very well.

 

[purple]

You did a bit better in the spousal attentiveness/sensitivity dept than the lady travel agent I was dealing with today. Her "main gift" from hubby was a bird feeder and a big sack of bird seed with a secondary gift of a pair of bedroom slippers 2 sizes too small. I was sorry I asked if she had a nice Christmas. Sounds like hubby is going to be dining on that bird seed for a while and maybe wearing the slippers for earmuffs.

 

[smellie]

TWO Keepers, for sure.

As likely you know, your Ross was at Second Ypres with the 16 Battalion through the night battle after the gas attack against 8 Batt.

Following that, it served with the Royal Navy aboard the superdreadnought HMS CANADA until the end of the Great War.

Following that, it went to Chile and served in the Armada Chileno until 1969, when the glorious old ship went for scrap.

The rifle returned to Canada in 1976.

The DA marking is Chilean: Departamento de Armada: Department of the Navy.

About 450 Rosses actually went to Chile and half of those returned. Mine is DA 426, also 16 Battalion (Canadian Scots).

You have a WONDERFUL rifle.

Don't know anything about your Wife, except that she's one in ten thousand. She needs a big hug.

Sounds like a very HAPPY Christmas. Congratulations.

 

[RememberTheSomme]

Priceless. What an excellent present she prepared for you. RTS.

 

[Tinman204]

Wow that's a great gift!!! Your wife is a keeper for sure!!!

Hope we see some pictures, I can't ever get tired of looking a Ross rifles!

 

[buffdog]

.
That Lady you married is outstanding. This is one of the finest Christmas stories i have heard in a long time. My Compliments to "Mrs. Claus".
.

 

[Picatinny]

What a wonderful Christmas.

I hope you gave her something special too.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing such a heartwarming story.

 

[cantom]

Mr. e moose- you have an awesome wife sir!

 

[tommyinbc]

Wow....Now that's one heck of a Christmas present....What on earth can/did you get the wife in return..Please don't tell us it was an ironing board..?