Interesting 1905 Ross Pickup

[hatrick]

I just picked up an unusual 1905 Ross that has absolutely no markings on the stock. The stock looks 100% original and it is definitely a military model as there is no serial number on the barrel and it does have the proper acceptance stamp on the barrel chamber. It is not a US purchase model and I grabbed it because it had no stock markings and was a straight Canadian model. Any ideas about the lack of markings?? The stock has not been sanded or refinished either.

The only two things that need a bit of TLC is that the tip of the firing pin is broken off (the tip was actually still inside the bolt head). I see that Numrich has the "pin-on" type firing pin and is sold out of the "threaded" type firing pin. How do I tell which one I currently have and need to replace. I assume it is the "pin-on" type as it has the football shaped pin holding the cocking piece on but I am not sure.

Also, the front and rear band screws are incorrect replacements as the front one is a dome head machine screw and the rear is a slightly undersized dome head wood screw. Any ideas on where to get the correct screws?? I assume they are both normal, tapered head wood screws.

And lastly, the front stock cross bolt is missing the little "plug" that goes in the left side.

Thanks,
Eric

Information

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[oldpaul]

Ross sold some MkII rifles in military configuration to civilians that would be without the normal military butt stock stampings, ostensibly for use in military type rifle competitions. Perhaps your rifle is one of those. I own a Ross in MkII 5* configuration that falls into this category, e.g. no butt stock markings, although mine does have a serial number on the barrel. The difference in the two types of firing pins is obvious and I think you have correctly identified which one you have (pin type on the left, screw on type on the right). The front and rear band screws should be identical and like the screw in the bottom of the first picture. I am sorry I cannot help with the small parts but some British rifles (Martini Henry ?) have these very fast threaded wood screws and may be adaptable. Pictures are always appreciated. Regards. Tom

[hatrick]

Thanks so much for the information. Interesting that a military rifle would go to civilian sales when it has absolutely no serial number on it.

Thanks for confirming the two firing pin types. I can at least go and order a replacement FP. I guess my search will go on for proper band screws. I looked at Martini Henry screws and only saw buttplate screws which are obviously too large. I'll post a separate message looking for those and maybe someone has a couple of spares along with the stock crossbolt "plug".

Thanks,
Eric

Best regards,
Eric

[Surpmil]

It's worth taking a close look at the profile of the right side of the butt also. Sometimes the markings were comprehensively sanded out, probably to conceal the rifle's history in cases where the rifles were ordered destroyed but "somehow" weren't. I have one like this myself. Black light will sometimes reveal at least fragments of the markings.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Regarding "replacement" screws for the Ross:

Did Ross use the weird "Enfield" standard threads as per Martinis and Lee Enfiields, (pre No4), and P-14s, or did they conform to a different thread "standard"?

[Ax.303]

Ross screws are standard American thread.