How can you tell the difference?

[Oatmeal Savage]

This is posted on CGN. I am not trying to stir anything up, just would like information. Beyond the commercial sight, that anyone could have mounted, how do you tell this is a factory sporter and not a bubba'd military rifle?

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133086

[tiriaq]

That is a genuine 1905R Ross sporting rifle. Apart from the Winchester sight, barrel band, barrel length, front sight base, general stock styling, the serial number is a give away. Commercial Rosses, both 1905 and 1910 based are almost invariably serial numbered on the left side of the breech of the barrel with rather small figures.

[Oatmeal Savage]

Great thanks, I learn something here every day:-)

[tiriaq]

Keep in mind that it has been said that Charles Ross never made the same rifle twice.... 1905 and 1910 based sporters (not .280s) were made in two basic grades - R, the plain version, no checkering, Winchester rear sight, and E, checkered stock of a different contour, usually an express type rear sight on 10E rifles. The sporters and II** commercial target rifles were set up in the custom shop at the factory, and this was a real custom shop. The superintendent was an enthusiast, and was receptive to special orders. 1910 sporters have a barrel contour similar to the 1905 sporters, much slimmer than the 1910 service rifle barrel. This is how you can distinguish a 1910 sporter from a sported Mk. III service rifle at a glance. .280 sporters have the fancier checkered stock, and can be instantly identified because they have a flush Mauser type magazine rather than the protruding 1910 .303 type. In addition to the 1905 R and E sporters, there are earlier 1905 based sporters which really look like a sported military rifle. Basically they are, because they were assembled using factory sported military pattern parts. Ross sporters and II** target rifles were made to very high standards, equal in quality to any competing sporting rifles. Since I got interested in Rosses, I have found more sporters than service rifles. The sporters are light, graceful rifles. Incidentally, prior to WWI, the HBC sold 1905R .303 sporters for $25. Even though this was the economy model, if you compare the price to a working man's weekly wage, these were not inexpensive rifles.