Ross Project Rifle

[Aragorn243]

Hell froze over and I got an original bayonet band/lug. I don't have time to work on it right now though but after the holidays I'll work at getting it fitted. It will be a challenge as has everything else. It had some damage that had to be fixed first and that at least I did. I've also found all but one of the other missing parts. Still need the spring for the magazine cutoff.

I also need to replace the barrel, no luck on that front.

I haven't done anything with this in quite a while. I started sanding the stock but didn't get very far and hung it up.

[RossMkIIEnjoyer]

Really coming along. I've got an original rear upper handguard if you want it. Hope you get a line on someone who can duplicate the barrels. I found a guy who is very good but he quoted a minimum of $1500 to thread and chamber a contoured blank. His time and expertise is worth it but I can't afford that. And no telling the final bill. Need to find someone to 3d laser scan the thread of some barrels and maybe then I could get a program written and some barrels turned out on a CNC lathe.

[tiriaq]

Mk. II rifles (except the II**) have a very unusual breech thread. 3 t.p.i., left hand, modified buttress. The breeching was designed so that once the set screw was backed off, a barrel could be readily changed.
Finding a lathe that can cut 3 t.p.i. can be a difficult, and cutting the unusual thread is a challenge. I suppose the program could be written and tooling developed to duplicate the shank with a CNC machine.
Then barrel blanks of appropriate length and contour would have to be sourced.

[Aragorn243]

I was doing some light cleaning in my office and found the bayonet lug yesterday so decided today would be a great day to fit it. Getting the front sight off wasn't a big deal. It was stuck on there pretty tight but I got it off with a block of wood and a child's toy hammer I keep for these things.

Fitting involved some file work but only took about an hour to do so not bad at all. It's back together, I still have a lot of stock sanding to do but the horrible little rear handguard is gone and replaced with the original one RossMKIIEnjoyer sent me. Looks a lot better now.

Now I'm down to the spring for the lifter and a new barrel but it at least looks complete now.

Two things I could use some assistance on. The length and size of the screw that holds the bayonet band on and the exact distance between the end of the bayonet lug (the front) and the receiver. I don't trust the rough fitting of the stock cuts and want to make sure I have it right before I drill it and put a screw in it.

[Low & Slow]

I'll try to get mine dug out Sunday, and give you what I can off of it.

[Low & Slow]

OK. I get 23 7/8" from the front of the cap with the bayonet lug to the front of the receiver ring. I also measured almost exactly 22" from the rear of that band to the front of the receiver ring. Muzzle to front end of cap 3 1/2". The retaining screw comes in at .618" long, diameter at the unthreaded shoulder is .180". The screw head is elliptical in cross section, and the threaded end is flat, rather than pointed. Here's a pic. Hopefully that's precise enough for your purposes.

[Aragorn243]

Thank you very much. Of course the screw has to be a weird one. I'll probably just get a smaller diameter normal screw for it until the real deal comes along and enlarge the hole. The measurements are great, that will allow me do make sure I have the length right for when I get a proper barrel for it.

[Bluenoser]

To the best of my knowledge, all screws on a Ross are standard SAE thread. Three sixteenths is .1875".

[Aragorn243]

Some good news, the bayonet lug is set at the correct distance without having to do anything more. The screw also appears to be identical to the middle band screw which I would think would help in locating a replacement.

[Aragorn243]

I did some sanding today and put one coat of BLO on it. looks pretty decent.