Ross Self-Loading Prototype?

Any opinions on that one: Rare Canadian Ross Prototype Self-Loading Semi-Automatic Rifle

I only know the Huot, therefore would love to know what you'd think of that one? Somehow pretty amazing, but could this one be from Charles Ross himself?

FWIW, I am going to that auction and I'll be getting video of that rifle, so we can get a better idea of how it's supposed to work.

I'd love if you could just post a dozen more pics when you get back...interesting.

Yep, I definitely will!

There has been a lot of discussion about that piece over on Rossrifle.com. The consensus is that that piece is unlikely to be anything Ross. It may have just been a convenient straight pull sitting around to be a base for someone's project. It's a Home Guard rifle, so could not possibly be any earlier than about 1916instead of 1910 as it is billed, and the bolt has no resemblance to a Ross at all. The exposed spring etc all just looks very unprofessional. I will be interested to see what it goes for. It would be nice to have the barrel band--nice early one there.

Ed

Price realized, including the 15% buyer's premium, was 11,500. *That would have been a top bid of 10,000...............that's a VERY large pile of money for something like that.

Ed

Saved this auction information for posterity and future resaecrh by members.. ;)

LOT SOLD $11,500.00

Quote:

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Lot #: 146
Estimated Price: $5,500 - $8,500
Rare Canadian Ross Prototype Self-Loading Semi-Automatic Rifle
Serial #: HG15239
Manufacturer: Ross Rifle Co
Model: Self Loading Prototype Type: Rifle
Gauge: 303 British Catalog
Page: 185
Barrel Length: 30 Inch round
Finish: blue
Grip: N/A
Stock: walnut
Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun
Condition Rating:

Description: This is really a one of kind prototype self-loading Ross rifle. This unique rifle was developed specifically by Charles Ross circa 1910-1918. Obviously he was one of the numerous companies at this time that was attempting to develop some kind of self-loading semi-automatic rifle for not only the Canadian Commercial market but probably for future Government sales. Based on the overall configuration of the rile you can certainly tell its lineage, as the complete trigger guard, box magazine, barrel, barrel bands and forward section of this rifle is exactly like the Canadian Ross MKIII rifles. The complete action/receiver section is a all new design effort. The written documentation provided by the consignor notes that this rifle was developed in the 1910 time frame specifically by Sir Charles Ross. During the WWI time frame he brought this rifle to the Savage Arms company for further testing/evaluation. It remained with the Savage Arms, R&D department until 1946 when it was sold to one of the Savage production Engineers, prior to the move by the company from Utica NY to Chicopee Falls, Mass. This rifle is a very large and complex rifle design employs a brass vertical locking block mechanism similar to the later 1921 Thompson SMG and also has a similar appearance to the later 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) designed by John Browning. The only markings on the rifle are the serial number on the barrel which is "HG15238", which was probably associated with the original MKII/III Ross rifle, where those parts came from. Certainly a very interesting early Ross Rifle Company Prototype design that would be worth doing more research on.

Condition: Very good with the barrel and barrel bands retaining 95% of their blue finish with the receiver/complete action in the white, showing some machining marks in various areas. The stock, forend and handguard are all good. A very unique and certainly rare one of a kind Canadian Ross Prototype rifle. This rifle is complete and has been hand cycled, however since it is a prototype design, it is being listed as a display piece only, not in shooting condition.

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Here's the video I got of the gun at RIA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2p85ImYjAA