Want a Ross rifle? Here are more than a couple at auction

[Abitnutz]

I was looking at the Rock Island Auction site and saw that they have more than a couple Ross Mk II and Mk III rifles up for auction.

Here's the link for the February auction. Auction Catalog 1034 - Rock Island Auction | Rock Island Auction

I have dealt with them before and and the firearms are usually in better condition than describe. However, like all auctions, the actual costs can be more than you expect. Read carefully what the buyers premium is as well as credit card costs and shipping.

[vykkagur]

I was looking at the Rock Island Auction site and saw that they have more than a couple Ross Mk II and Mk III rifles up for auction.



Here's the link for the February auction. Auction Catalog 1034 - Rock Island Auction | Rock Island Auction

I have dealt with them before and and the firearms are usually in better condition than describe. However, like all auctions, the actual costs can be more than you expect. Read carefully what the buyers premium is as well as credit card costs and shipping.

Looking at their "price estimates" in relation to what they're offering, and knowing the downside of auctions, I doubt that these would end up being worthwhile for Canadian customers. The only exception might be the first trio, with the factory M-10 sporter in .280, but auctions being auctions, I'm sure it likely will drive the price beyond reason. Probably be cost-prohibitive to get them out of the country, anyway. Pity. Some nice ones there.

[Eaglelord17]

Some of them didn't seem to bad for prices. The one lot I looked at had a Ross Mk III, Ross Mk II (whatever * variant it was), and a P14 which their high end estimate was 1600$ USD. In Cad that would be 2117$ roughly, and when you consider that for the Mk. III you can easily sell them for 1600$, and the Mk. II around 1200$, even when you factor in the shipping and import fees your not doing too bad and that's excluding the 400-600$ you would get for the P14.

The other advantage is your not dealing with the risks involved with the Canadian market as the US never had that 'restoration' market for Rosses Canada had.

Sucks everything is so pricy now days, haven't bought a rifle in a year because of it. Even the 'cheap' stuff on the Canadian market is in the 400$ range.

[boltaction]

Agree. I have purchased from RIA before and certainly for us in Canada unless you got an awesome deal, by the time you add commission, shipping, import fees from the FFL (IRG is probably the best to deal with) and taxes it can really bite you in the butt. Plus in these "Regional" auctions they lump several things together so you'd be stuck importing in things you don't want.

Lot 2505 is the best one for someone interested in a nice Ross sporter, as the third rifle in that lot appears to be a factory 1910 E with the express sights. Problem of course is that you have to purchase that badly refinished M10 .280 and the other badly butchered Model 10 to get it. Lot 5153 seems to be a nice, pretty unmolested Mark III with visible unit markings. It's missing a couple of front sight hood screws and the sight hood is as always on backwards but looks decent from the two photos supplied. The 1905 Mk II*** with it has had the wood sanded judging by how proud the buttplate is although the stock markings still seem to be visible.

Lot 6282 that Mark III has had the top of the sight hood amputated for some reason and the screw holding on the front band looks odd; maybe it's just not screwed in correctly. Judging by the big 177 stamped on the buttstock it may have spent time in India. If only those old girls could talk!

6771 aside from missing the sight hood looks like a good sample of a 1905 Mk II*** still with that No buckl sling.

4764 looks like the 1905 Mk II*** has been reblued but looks complete and stock marks are crisp.

[rcathey]

Plus in these "Regional" auctions they lump several things together so you'd be stuck importing in things you don't want.

I’d wager that Rock Island would be more than happy to re-consign the unwanted items for you. Pretty no-brainer on their part — no need to transfer anything, ship anything, or rephotograph anything. And of course they get twice the commission.

I’d certainly take that deal! Just throwing that out there.

[browningautorifle]

6771 aside from missing the sight hood looks like a good sample of a 1905 Mk II*** still with that No buckl sling.

That's a nice example of what I'm thinking is a US issue Ross, the blade is marked anyway. That would also explain the Kerr sling...nice.

[vykkagur]

Problem of course is that you have to purchase that badly refinished M10 .280

Wish I had that "problem"! The wood on that rifle easily could be refinished to a much better standard, and it comes in .280, a far more interesting caliber than the everyday .303. And, it's by far the most attractive of the group. For it, I'd happily trade the other sporter, express sights and all, plus a few beer tokens, any day of the week.

All academic of course. Even if I did have unlimited funds to line the pockets of the middlemen (which I haven't), I'm not about to get sucked in by auctioneers - especially ones so petty as to block us from downloading their photos.

[browningautorifle]

especially ones so petty as to block us from downloading their photos.

It's easy to take those pics from their sites, use a snipping tool and you don't have any problems with being blocked from downloading.

[boltaction]

vykkagur, if you look at the buttplate on that M10 .280 you will see the problem. The gloopy and flaking varnish is an irritant but the way that buttplate looks in that photo (which is not very good quality) I think some serious sanding was done, or some cutting. It should be a perfect, flush, high class fit and this it is not.

Ed

[vykkagur]

vykkagur, if you look at the buttplate on that M10 .280 you will see the problem. The gloopy and flaking varnish is an irritant but the way that buttplate looks in that photo (which is not very good quality) I think some serious sanding was done, or some cutting. It should be a perfect, flush, high class fit and this it is not.

Ed

You're absolutely right, I do see the poor fit of the buttplate. I fully agree that it's far from perfect, and the wood can never be returned to 100% original, BUT.... I still maintain that the stock can be restored to a high quality, albeit modified, condition. You'll end up with a fine-shooting and beautiful-looking rifle, far more so than that very pedestrian .303, to my taste, anyway. I'd rather sacrifice the original buttplate and finish on the stock and end up with a beautiful rifle, than settle for that very uninspired E-1910 whose only advantage is its originality. But then everyone's tastes are different. If they weren't, we'd all be owning the same rifle in the same caliber. Probably a Remingturd 700....