Ross Rifle Identification?

[fritz1255]

Fritz, I like it as is. It may not be a high dollar collector piece but still an interesting rifle that could be a good shooter. If the rust on the barrel bothers you it could be removed by the electrolysis method. Thumbs up! Salt Flat

Thanks, I am not planning to do anything to it except shoot it. I had been looking for a Ross rifle for months and found this one at a small gun show at a great price. I must have looked like Gomer Pyle at a strip club (Shazam!). The bore is in great shape, looking forward to taking it to the range next week.

[gordon byrne]

CANT SAY FOR SURE BUT I THINK RRco MAY HAVE MADE 1905 RIFLE IN FULL WOOD CONFIGURATION FOR THE CIVILIAN MARKET AS WELLAS THE MILITARY,THIS ONE AS BEEN CUT BACK TO THE MID BAND .SHOULD BE A GREAT SHOOTER ,ENJOY.

[Surpmil]

Okay, here is a picture of the three-digit serial number. I was going to try to explain this in words, but could not figure out how. Left side of the barrel, at the end of the chamber area.

Attachment 103411

That's not the serial number, opinions vary, but steel or barrel batch numbers or some other factory "in house" record is the most likely explanation.

Bear in mind that these rifles were designed to shoot MkVI ammo, not MkVII. The commercial equivalent is no longer loaded, but you could duplicate it with 215gr round nose slugs and a suitable load in MkVII cases.

My advice is strip it down and clean it well and get it headspaced before taking to the range. It's tired looking, but a good one to start with and the mechanical condition is what matters.