Question about sporterized Ross M10

[Ridolpho]

Anyone out there know what the significance of a "PH 163" neatly stamped in quite large font on receiver ring and barrel reinforce is? It's a cut down, sporterized rifle with properly crowned muzzle, and stock resembling Lee Enfield #5 carbine. Stock appears to have been laquered but, all in all, neatly done. The thing is mechanically very good but, of course, not a collectable piece (unless maybe Parker-Hale did a batch?).

Information

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[smellie]

Royal Navy, WWI.

Priddy's Hard ammunitioning depot by Portsmouth.

First one we have found!

There is also CRB: Royal Marines Light Infantry, Crombie.
And there is PLY: Royal Marines Light Infantry, Plymouth.

There is ALSO PHAB 1 and PHAB 2. We think these may possibly also be Priddy's Hard markings, except that these are on the woodwork.

PLY, CRB and PH are KNOWN Royal Navy markings.

Congratulations!!

Pics PLEASE!!!
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[Ridolpho]

Smellie: Thanks for the info. Will post photos as soon as I can find time- just learned how to get a couple of shots of an SMLE on the Lee Enfield forum.

Ridolpho

[Ridolpho]

Attachment 30886Attachment 30885Attachment 30887Sorry- this is the best I could come up with. Practicing taking closeups. Don't know anything about Ross's but why are there not apparent factory serial numbers? If the PH # was added as suggested at a facility in England, what were they doing that warranted stamping the numbers? Did this facility do re-fits?

[buffdog]

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In 1914 at the outbreak of WW1, the British Royal Marines had to give their SMLE rifles to the Army. In return, the Royal Marines got Japanese Arisaka 6.5 mm rifles.

In 1916, the Canadians had to exchange their Ross Rifles for SMLE rifles. Many of these Ross Rifles went to British Units that had a variety of miscellaneous firearms, including the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

As SMELLIE says, in the past three years we have learned a great deal about various markings on these 1910 Ross rifles. The rifles were apparently stamped by the receiving unit. The number is a rack number for that particular rifle.

Thank you for the pictures. This is the first one we have seen with the PH XXX number stamped on it. Quite a few PLY (Plymouth R.M. Depot) and CRB (Crombie R.M. Depot) Ross rifles have surfaced, and SMELLIE has two stamped PHAB on the wood.

The big clue on these rifles is that the stamping is on the metal of the action. Canadian Ross rifles of the time were stamped on the wood buttstock, and British ones were stamped on the metal.
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An interesting observation: This rifle is stamped on the right side. Markings are on both the Receiver and Barrel as similar to SMLE serial numbers.. The PLY and CRB rifles were stamped on the left side of the action.

A great find, and further confirmation as to the Navy and Royal Marines connection.
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Royal Marines - Scapa Flow 1919 - Scuttling of German Fleet.
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Royal Marine with 1910 Ross Rifle.
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[Ridolpho]

Smellie and Buffdog- thanks very much for the great info. At times I've regretted the space this gun uses up in my safe but with this info I appreciate it a lot more. The action and barrel are in very good condition and it's a shame there's no practical way to restore it to original (military) condition.

Ridolpho

[Promo]

Try to do a reproduction of a M1910 stock foreend and fix it to the rifle right behind the barrel band. If it's done properly you'll only notice if the barrel band is removed. I'm sure the guys here can help you with measurements.

[smellie]

Only problem with this is that the original barrel length for the Mark III Ross Rifle was 30.5 inches.

The post-war-Two "sporters" were made up with the barrels hacked back to 24 to 26 inches, depending on who did the job. And there are NO new barrels.

BUT...... the Canadian Army asked the Ross Company to make a rifle with a 26-inch barrel (awfully close to a 24, isn't it?). The Company made the rifle, the Army liked it, but the Government refused to buy it.

It might be an awful pile of fun to make one up just the way the Army wanted them.

You would need a nose-cap with the bayonet lug attached, and the screws for it. Nice thing is that Ross used American threads, so no trouble there. Nose caps are very hard to find in this country; you might have better luck down South.

The wood is no real problem. Many were stocked with American Black Walnut purchased from the USA.

I'll get the measuring tools out and measure-up one that I have here. Yours will make up really nice, I know. You can take it to the range, make people stare a lot.... and then shoot their BUNS off in the next iron-sight match. Those Ross sights are a real wonder once you get used to them.

And, of course, be sure to download your 1913 MANUAL from the sticky at the top of this page.

Enjoy!

And thanks for the photos!