M1905 Ross Rifle

Hello, I just found this forum through a search about the M1905 Ross Rifle. I hope this is the right place to post. thanks.

I have a relative whose spouse passed and she found he had a small collection of guns. She asked me about them but I'm not well versed outside of modern weapons. Based on my online research is an M1905 Ross Rifile Mk II with the U.S. surcharge markings on it. It appears completely unaltered (to my eyes) which I understand is pretty unusual for these. Also appears to be in good shape. Fortunately, I checked each of the firearms she found and this one was one that was loaded/chambered and ready to go sitting in a closet.

Does anyone have ideas on what the worth of this rifle might be --- she wants to move these out of her house --- and I don't want her to give them away.

I have attached 3 pictures.

You can always work with the moderators here and they'll fit your pics to the forum. We need lots of clear pics to be able to help effectively. Welcome to the forum.

Start with a full length picture of the rifle. That will give us a idea if it has a complete stock, front sight hood etc.Also check with her if there is a bayonet around,it will be marked Ross Rifle Co. If complete and not sporterized It will add to the value.

The Moderators here are well versed at valuations as they are Armourers, Gunsmiths and Gunshop owners, though as you can appreciate even for them there are difficulties with the appraisal as they cannot handle the weapon for a more definitive inspection but they will give you an honest figure based on what the pictures tell them. This may help your relative in stopping an unscrupulous person getting a good rifle cheaply. And they are out there make no mistake.........anyway welcome to milsurps

Sorry I did not reply earlier. I hope to put pictures up today. This rifle was in a different state and I just got back "with it" (was visiting, not just to look at the rifle):). Anyway. no bayonet on it but I did not ask there may be one. I took the butt plate off and there is a brass cylindrical canister (3-3.5" long) in there rolling around. It opens at one end but I did not open not knowing if I would damage something in there that would take away value.

Well, the brass cylinder is likely an oil bottle. It shouldn't damage anything to open, they can have value too...

Here are more pics of this rifle. The pic with the butt plate has the cylinder in it. thanks

After posting I looked at these again and noticed many appear to show rust on the metal. It's odd because there is absolutely no rust anywhere but some areas have a tarnish on them

That is about as nice as a Mk II 3* as they come. Does the brass oil bottle have any markings on the bottom? Typically there is a makers mark of some kind; google images shows lots of examples, a collectible in its own right. Nice markings on the butt stock too. Tom

No markings on the bottom of the oil bottle. There is a marking on the cap - a partial print of something circular. The stock does have a lot of markings on it so I guess its been to a few places but I don't have a clue what any of them mean. thanks

The markings are the Ross Rifle Company "roundel" stamp, followed by the II* designation. The rifle is serial number 715AU, manufactured in 1909. In Feb 1912 it was issued to the Canadian Garrison Artillery. I can't quite make out the stamp to the right, maybe a "CA". Could be 1st Battalion Canadian Artillery in March 1910.

Cheers

Ed

Ed, thanks for the information on the markings. I don't see the stamp you referenced that might be a "CA". The only one on the right that is anyway similar is "T C G A" jim

Very nice score! Hereabouts, you'd get an easy $1000. (Canadian) in that condition.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr68gto

Ed, thanks for the information on the markings. I don't see the stamp you referenced that might be a "CA". The only one on the right that is anyway similar is "T C G A" jim

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Sorry, should have said to the left. You have the Ross factory roundel stamp, the Mk II designation followed by the serial number stamped over and beside the date of manufacture, 1909. Above the Ross factory stamp is the 3* designation for the model or model conversion. Next to that, above the "II" is the scored out issue mark 1 over CA over 3-10 over 275. As best I can tell, that mark would indicate that in March 1910 the rifle was rack/rifle number 275, issued to probably 1st battery or battalion Canadian Artillery. Then the stamp next to that is the February 1912 one to Canadian Garrison Artillery, presumably rack/rifle number 2. The mark in front of the CGA is not a T I don't think, as the vertical is sloped. As it is, probably issued to 4th brigade, 7th battery CGA.

Canadian regimental marks are a bit confusing (or at least I find them so) and the only book I've ever been able to find on them is Manarey's Marks of the Regiments, and it is not complete. If anyone knows of a newer, more up to date and complete book, it would be great to know about that. When a rifle was issued to a unit, the unit and date of issue was stamped into the wood. When a weapon was reissued to a different unit, the original marks were "crossed out" and new ones stamped. Ross Mk III are very interesting as they sometimes have both the pre-war stamps and then the later CEF round stamps.

All the Ross Mk II3* I have seen which were sent to the US have their US issue stamp on the underside of the buttstock on the wrist, as yours is. You have your flaming Ordnance bomb thing, then US, then the rifle number. Some were further stamped depending on where they went. I've seen one with markings for a New York Home Guard unit.

Anyway, lots of history with that rifle, and neat to see who had it. It was definitely an artillery issue after it left the factory.

Cheers

Ed

Great write up Ed! I'm going save this and include with the Rifle. Can't be many people around that know how to interpret those markings. We might sell this, don't know yet.

That appears to be a MkII 3* with the US surcharge and serial number. It is one of ~20K that the US bought during WWI. Many were sold through the DCM post WWI. As I remember it, they were sold "as is" for $5.00 and a 1000 round case of .303 ammo was available for another $5.00. Sales were ceased in the 1920's because they had the enlarged chamber. I do not know the ultimate disposition of those on hand at the time. Hope this helps.
FWIW

at those prices, i'll take 20 and 100 boxes of ammo thanks. :D