CRB meaning

[boltaction]

I've seen some theories, but is there a definitive answer on what the CRB found on some receivers and bolts means? Canadian Rifle Battalion? Canadian Reserve Battalion? Canadian Railway Battalion? ??????

I've got a 1916 dated Ross M10 with standard Ross issue marks on the right side of the butt, some vertically stamped large font marks on the left side (could be read if the rifle was stacked vertically) and then a CRB 385 on the bolt handle.

thx

Ed

Information

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[Badger]

Some old threads on the same subject that may help ...

M10 Ross Question

CRB on Ross M10 - What does it mean

Ross Model 10....

Regards,
Doug

[buffdog]

For the past year, SMELLIE and I have been looking into some of these markings on the Ross rifles. It started out with a question on the PLY markings stamped on the Ross, and spread to the CRB and PHAB markings on the Ross Military Mark III rifles. Although some vague records exist of the rifles traded in by the Canadians for the SMLE rifles in 1917, there are some very strong indications of where some of these rifles went.

We are about 95 % sure that the PLY markings were stamped on the receivers of the Ross rifles issued to the Royal Marines at Plymouth, England. Correspondence with the Royal Marines Museum, and knowledgeable collectors tends to support this.

The Weedon List after WWI shows approximately 30,000 Ross rifles available for sale to the Trade. These were sold and most of them converted to sporters by factorys in England. They were marked with British Proof Marks.

Information from a very knowlegeable Australian gun collector points to an interesting aspect. The British Royal Navy was scrambling for small arms for their ships and Royal Marine complement. Winchester 92, Remington 14 1/2 in 44-40 calibre, Japanese Arisaka, Mausers, and other various small arms were obtained, including many Ross rifles. Pictures of the sinking German fleet in Scapa Flow in 1919 show Navy and Royal Marines armed with the Ross.

Information from Australia brought to light other possible markings, particularly the CRB for CROMBIE and the PHAB markings for PRIDDIES HARD, both Royal Navy establishments. This is being further looked into.

The picture below shows two rifles that were sporterized in England. The top rifle has the PLY stamping and the lower one has a CRB stamping on it. These rifles could be identical twins, and certain modifications that have no Ross factory manufacture have been made to them for sporters. Note the two screws on the barrel for an open rear sight.