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Ross MK II Rifle


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Here is a new item, Canadian Ross Rifle, MK II 3 star. The MK II model was introduced in 1905 to replace the MK 1 model. The rifle uses a straight pull bolt, which is inspired by the Austrian Mannlicher M1895 rifle. The action itself is quite smooth and operated very easily, which was intended to increase the rate of fire. The rifle weighed about 9 pounds and was 50 1/4 inches long and used .303 rimmed cartridge's.  It could hold 5 rounds internally, and had a level on the side which when depressed lowered the follower, allowing for rounds to be quickly dumped into the magazine storage area. Later models would incorporate a stripper clip feed system. Overall the rifle feels very light and balanced, about a pound lighter than the SMLE and shorter. 

The Ross rifle was designed mainly for marksmanship, and did quite well as a sniper rifle. However it did not perform well in field conditions as the Canadian soldiers found out in 1915 at the second Battle of Ypres which by this point were using the MK III model. Canadian soldiers complained of jamming issues as well as the bayonet falling off, and resorted to picked up SMLE rifles off dead or wounded British troops and throwing the "Canadian Club" down. Eventually over 420,000 Ross rifles were made, and were used in WW2 as well. 

In 1917, when the US entered the war, they were is need of rifles as the military expanded too fast for the weapons on hand. Rifles were being made for other countries, such as the P14 for England, and Mosin-Nagants for Russia and even rifles for France. The US bought some of these or bought the factories that made them, in the case of this rifle, bought them directly from the country itself. The US purchased 20,000 MK II Ross rifles with accessories, bayonets, etc. for $12.50 each, along with nearly 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition. These rifles were used stateside for training purposes. The US marked Ross rifles used the Khaki Kerr web slings as well as the M1907 Leather slings. This rifle has the US flaming bomb acceptance stamp just behind the trigger. 

Another interesting not on these rifles is that just about all the rifles history is located on the butt stock side facing the bolt. On this rifle, the manufacture's roundel is slightly visible, which reads "Ross Rifle Co. Quebec Canada, 1905, Patented".  Right of the roundel is a "II" indicating it is the MK II version. Above that is a "3 *" The "3" stood for a major change and the stars indicated minor changes. Right of all that is the serial number "32" over 1908, the year of manufacture, and to the right of that is a numbering system, "AI". Once the rifles got to 9999, they added a numeral, starting at "AA", then "AB", etc. The bayonet pictured is designated the US Ross Model 1905 "Mark 1" Ross Rifle Bayonet. It has ROSS RIFLE CO. / QUEBEC / PATENTED 1907 on the pommel.

The buttstock plate a compartment for the oiler, which is the type 4, used from 1906-1950's marked Dominion Arsenal. DA over C-Broad Arrow over 17. Canada's first government shell and cartridge factory, the Dominion Arsenal, was established in 1882 in Quebec City. 

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Magazine cut off lever, in front of the trigger.

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US Stamp and flaming bomb markings

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Oiler Storage area

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Flip up rear sights

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Rear side of the bolt, the button with the vertical lines is the safety selector, which moved right and left. 

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Magazine dump lever. 

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Front sight and bayonet.

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Here is an example of the sniper version of the Ross Rifle (MK III). Only about 500 were made, and used the US made M1913 musketry sight. The majority of these sights were used on the Ross but a few were used on the P14 as well. Sniper versions of this rifle are extremely rare today. The two leather boxes on the top are the 2 different versions of the carrying case for the scope.

Photo source, internet

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  • 1 year later...

Image of a Canadian soldier with the Ross rifle and bayonet

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