Editing Ross rifle

{{gun
|name= Ross rifle
|image= Ross rifle.png
|caption= Ross rifle MkII
|origin= [[Canada]]
|type= [[Service rifle]]
<!-- Specifications -->
|frame= 
|length= 1320 mm (52 in)
|barrel= 711 mm (28 in)
|length_pull= 
|no_of_barrels= 
|weight= 3.9 kg (9.6 lbs)
|width= 
|height= 
|cartridge= [[.303 British]] ([[7.70×56 mm R]])<br>[[.280 Ross]]
|caliber= .303 in (7.70 mm)
|gauge= 
|action= Straight pull [[bolt action]]
|trigger_pull= 
|chambers= 
|twist= 
|ROF= ~20 rpm
|muzzle_velocity= 
|range= 
|max_range= 
|feed= 5 round [[stripper clip]]/charger
|sights= 
|radius= 
<!-- Service history -->
|service= [[1905]]–1916<br>1939-1945
|used_by= ''see [[#users|users]]''
|wars= 
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= [[Charles Ross]]
|design_date= [[1903]]
|manufacturer= [[Ross Rifle Company|Ross Rifle Co.]]
|unit_cost= 
|production_date= 1903-[[1918]]
|number= 420,000
|variants= Mark I (1903)<br>Mark II (1905)<br>Mark II .280 (1907)<br>Mark III (1910)<br>Mark IIIB (1914)<br>[[Huot Automatic Rifle]] (1916)
|notes= 
}}[[Image:Ross rifle RCRMM 2.jpg|thumb|Ross rifle in the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in London, Ontario]]
The '''Ross rifle''' was a [[Bolt action#Other designs|straight-pull]] [[bolt action]] [[.303 British|.303 inch]]-[[calibre]] [[rifle]] produced in [[Canada]] from 1903 until 1918,<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005">Phillips, Dupuis, and Chadwick ''The Ross Rifle Story'' (The Casket Printing & Publishing Co., 2005).</ref> which has the dubious distinction of quite possibly being the most despised rifle in Canadian military history.

While the Ross Mk.II (or "model 1905") was highly successful in target shooting before WWI, the close [[chamber]] tolerances, lack of primary [[extraction]] and overall length made the Mk.III (or "1910") Ross rifle miserably unsuitable for the conditions of trench warfare and the often dubious quality ammunition issued.<ref name="Duguid, Col. A.F.  1999">Duguid, Col. A.F. ''A Question of Confidence; The Ross Rifle in the Trenches" ([[Service Publications]], 1999).</ref>

By 1916, the rifle had been withdrawn from front line service, but continued to be used by many snipers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force until the end of the war due to its exceptional accuracy.<ref>''Without Warning: Canadian Sniper Equipment'' ([[Service Publications]], 2005).</ref>

The [[Ross Rifle Company|Ross Rifle Co.]] made sporting rifles from early in its production, most notably chambered in [[.280 Ross]], introduced in 1907.  This cartridge is recorded as the first to achieve over 3000 feet per second [[velocity]], and the cartridge acquired a very considerable international reputation among target shooters and hunters.<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
__TOC__
{{quote|The Ross rifle lived up to its reputation as a target rifle, accurate and effective in the hands of a marksman; but unfortunately it also lived up to and enhanced its record for jamming, and a rifle which jammed in such circumstance was damned.|Fortescue Duguid}}

==History==
During the Second Boer War, a minor diplomatic fight broke out between Canada and the [[United Kingdom]], after the latter refused to license the [[Lee–Enfield]] SMLE design for production in Canada. Sir [[Charles Ross]] offered his newly designed straight-pull rifle as a replacement. Ross was well connected in Canadian society and eventually landed his first contract in 1903 for 12,000 ''Mark I Ross'' rifles.

In this design, the [[bolt]] locking lugs are mounted on a screw, and when the operating handle is pulled or pushed, the screw automatically turns to rotate the locking lugs into place in the action receiver. The design is generally similar to that used on most [[artillery]] pieces. Unlike the more common bolt actions found in the [[Gewehr 98|Mauser]] and Lee–Enfield, the Ross action did not need to have the handle rotated a quarter turn before the bolt was pulled back, and this feature theoretically offered a higher rate of fire. In addition, unlike the Lee–Enfield, the Ross rifle could be disassembled more quickly without special tools,<ref>Rawlings, Bill. ''Trench Warfare: Technology and the Canadian Corps 1914–1918''. (University of Toronto Press, 1992). p.12</ref> though it was 1 pound heavier.

==Service==
The first 1,000 rifles were given to the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) for testing. Routine inspection before operational testing found '''113 defects bad enough to warrant rejection'''. One of these was a poorly designed bolt lock that enabled the bolt to fall right out of the rifle. Another was poorly tempered component springs that were described as being as "soft as copper". The RNWMP promptly reverted to their [[Winchester Model 1894|Model 1894]] [[Winchester Repeating Arms Company|Winchesters]] and [[Lee–Metford]]s in [[1906]].

[[Image:Ross Mk II - Mk IIISB2007.JPG|thumb|Mechanism comparison between Ross Mk III (1910) and Mk II** (1907)]]
The Ross rifle was modified to correct these faults and became the Mark II Ross (Model 05 (1905)). In 1907, the Mk II was modified to handle the higher pressure of newly designed .280 Ross, this variant was called Mk II**. The Model 10 (1910) was a completely new design, made to correct the shortcomings of the 1905. None of the major parts are interchangeable between the 1905 and the 1910 models. 
Although the British were now encouraging standardization across the Empire on the Lee–Enfield, Canada stayed with the Ross. The Model 10 was the standard infantry weapon of the First Canadian Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force when it first arrived in [[France]] in February 1915.

{{quote|During the repeated attacks, the Canadians became frustrated with the failure of their Ross rifles. They jammed after firing, at most, three rounds. To force the bolt open, a man had to lie down and take his heel to it.|Arthur Bishop<ref>William Arthur Bishop, ''Canada's Glory: Battles That Forged A Nation''. (McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1996) ISBN 0075528096</ref>}}

The lethal shortcomings of the rifle were made apparent during the Second Battle of Ypres in [[April 1915]]. The rifle showed poor tolerance for dirt when used in field conditions, particularly the screw threads operating the bolt lugs, [[jam]]ming the weapon open or closed. Another part of the jamming problem came from the bolt's outer face hitting the [[bolt stop]], then deforming the thread shape. The bolt could also be disassembled for routine cleaning and inadvertently reassembled in a manner that would fail to lock but still allow a round to be fired, leading to serious injury or death of the operator as the bolt flew back into his face.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaSui_UqDX8 Video about how to misassemble a Ross rifle]</ref> Another well-known deficiency was the tendency for the [[bayonet]] to '''fall off the damn rifle''' when the weapon was fired. Many Canadians of the First Contingent (now renamed the 1st Canadian Division) at Ypres retrieved Lee–Enfields from British casualties to replace their Ross rifles.<ref>Dancocks, Daniel G. ''Welcome to Flanders Fields''</ref> Lieutenant Chris Scriven of the 10th Battalion, CEF, commented that it sometimes took five men just to keep one rifle firing.<ref>Dancocks, Daniel G. ''Gallant Canadians: The Story of the Tenth Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1914–1919''  (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1990)</ref>

{{quote|It is not surprising that many of the 1st Division armed themselves with with Lee-Enfield rifles acquired from British casualties.|G.W.L. Nicholson}}

Complaints rapidly reached the rifle's chief sponsor, the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence [[Sam Hughes]]. He nevertheless continued to believe in its strengths despite the professional opinion of Sir [[Edwin Alderson]], the British Army officer who was commander of the First Canadian Division.<ref>''Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment'' edited by Geoff Hayes p38</ref> The rifle became an element in political issues within Canada and between Canada and the British. Hughes responded to Alderson's criticism by accusing Alderson of ignorance and copied the letter to many officers in the corps. The effect was to undermine confidence in Alderson and the rifle. Hughes also made accusations that Canadian officers were induced to produce adverse reports on the rifle. After the reports on the rifle were published through the Ottawa ''Citizen'', and it became clear that his claims in the Commons that all faults had been cured were false, Hughes' defence of the rifle could no longer be supported by the Prime Minister.<ref>''Sam Hughes: The Public Career of a Controversial Canadian, 1885 – 1916'' Ronald Haycock   p250-251</ref>

In particular, the Ross was more accurate at long range than the SMLE, and this potentially overcame the serious problem British and Canadian troops had faced during the Boer War, with the accurate long-range fire from the [[7×57mm Mauser|7 mm Mauser]].

In all, approximately 420,000 Ross service rifles were produced, 342,040 of which were purchased by the British.<ref>Ross Rifle. ''The Canadian Encyclopedia,'' Online. Historica Foundation of Canada, 2007 [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006943]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ <big>Numbers and Nomenclature</big><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/><ref name="Duguid, Col. A.F.  1999">Duguid, Col. A.F. ''A Question of Confidence; The Ross Rifle in the Trenches" ([[Service Publications]], 1999).</ref>
|-
! colspan="2"| Delivery !! rowspan="2"| Designation on issue, or prior to 1911 !! rowspan="2"| Reported on<br>Charge M&D<br>March 1911 !! rowspan="2"| Epitomized<br>Nomenclature<br>July 1912 !! rowspan="2"| No. on Charge<br>M&D<br>August 1914 !! rowspan="2"| Nomenclature<br>1918
|-
! Number !! Date
|-
| rowspan="2"| 10,500 || Feb., 1906 || Rifles, Ross, Mk. I || Rowspan="2"| 10,000 || rowspan="2"| Rifles G.P.<br>Ross || rowspan="2"|  || rowspan="8"| Rifles Ross<br>.303" Cadet D.P.
|-
| July 1909 to<br>Nov. 1911 || converted to Rifles, Ross Mk. I* 
|-
| rowspan="2"| 19,300 || 1905 to Aug., 1907 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II (with sight Ross Mk. II) || rowspan="2"| 21,300 || rowspan="2"| Rifles, Cadet<br>Ross || Rowspan="2" |
|-
| 1910-1912 || converted to Rifles Ross Mk. II* 
|-
| 44,700 || Oct., 1907 to July, 1909 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II (with sight Ross Mk. III) || 38,300 || Rifles, Short<br>Ross Mk. I || 19,000
|-
| 26,000 || April, 1910 to Mar., 1912 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II<sup>3</sup>* (with Sutherland sight Mk. II)<br>converted from Mk. II (with Mk. III sight) || 7,700 || rowspan="3"| Rifles, Short<br>Ross Mk. II || rowspan="3"| 40,000
|-
| 4,000 || June, 1910 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II<sup>4</sup>* converted to Mk. II<sup>3</sup>* ||
|-
| 15,000 || August, 1910 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II<sup>5</sup>* (with Sutherland sight Mk. I) || 15,000
|-
| 1,700 || May, 1909 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II** (with new H sight) converted from<br>Mk. II with Mk. III sight || 700 || rowspan="2"| Rifles, Long<br>Ross Mk. II || rowspan="2"| 13,000 || rowspan="2"| Rifles, Long<br>Ross Mk. II.
|-
| 13,000 || 1911-1912 || Rifles, Ross Mk. II** || 
|-
| 235,540 || 1914 || Rifles, Ross Mk. III ||  || Rifles, Long<br>Ross Mk. III || 3,863 || Rifles, Long<br>Ross Mk. III
|-
| 66,590 || Sep 1914 || Rifles, Ross Mk. IIIB ||  || N/A || N/A || N/A
|}
Note: In the summer of 1910, the last 4000 of Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III were produced with an improved extractor introduced with the Rifle, Ross Mk II**. These were designated Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>4</sup>*. Almost immediately after production, all 4000 were converted to Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>3</sup>* by fitting them with the Sight, Sutherland Mk II.<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The above chart is left as presented by the Army Historical Branch rather than altered to include this additional information.

==Replacement==
Canadians retained the Ross even as additional contingents arrived in France. By the time of the Somme battles of July 1916, Sir Douglas Haig, the new Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, had ordered the replacement of all Ross rifles in the three Canadian Divisions by the Lee–Enfield, which was finally available in quantity. Hughes refused to accept that there were problems with the Ross, and it took the intervention of many influential people to persuade him otherwise. In November 1916, Hughes resigned after Sir Robert Borden's decision to appoint a Minister of Overseas Forces. Ross rifles were then used in training roles, both in Canada and the UK, to free up more Lee–Enfields for the front. After the [[United States]] entered the war in 1917, Ross rifles were shipped to the U.S. for the same reasons, freeing up supplies of the [[M1903 Springfield]] rifle. Hughes' reputation was inevitably tarnished, but Sir Charles Ross had already made a considerable fortune from his rifle design and manufacturing contracts despite its reputation.

At around same time, the [[Dominion Rifle Factory]] (Quebec City) converted a number of Rosses into the [[Huot automatic rifle]], under the guidance of a designer named [[Joseph Alphonse Huot]]. It was an effective design, feeding from a [[drum magazine]], and cheaper than a [[Lewis Gun]]. Unfortunately, despite successful trials, the war ended before it could be entered into service.

==Military variants==
<b>Rifle, Ross Mk I</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
This was the first production military model Ross Rifle. The first few hundred were fitted with the full-length folding <i>Sight, Ross Mk I.</i> Before any were delivered, the sight was replaced with a shorter version graduated to 2200 yards rather than 2500 yards. Years later, this sight would be designated <i>Sight, Ross Mk I*</i>.  Many weapons would have this replaced with the <i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i>, a curved sliding "Lange Vizier" type. The barrel was 28 inch long, and the fore-stock ended 4 inches short of the muzzle. The front band had a bayonet lug. The safety was operated by a square sliding button on the rear of the bolt handle. The magazine cut-off was on the lower right of the magazine protruding through the stock, and pressing it down engaged the cut-off. The magazine cut-off release was inside the front of the trigger guard, and depressing it would disengage the cut-off. A large lever was on the right side which was used to depress the magazine follower for "dump loading" all five rounds at once. The weapon was a straight-pull cock-on-close design. There was a sliding trap in the butt-stock for cleaning tools. A total of 10,500 were manufactured. A number of the original 500 were re-purposed as training rifles and fitted with longer front barrel bands used on later production <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II</i>. This was done so they could more easily endure the stress of constant bayonet practice.

<b>Carbine, Ross Mk I</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
The RNWMP purchased 1000 shorter versions of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk I</i>. The main difference was the barrel length of 26 inches. The full stock of the rifle was retained, and the barrel projected only 2 inches past the fore-stock. As presented for inspection, the carbines used the shorter version of the <i>Sight, Ross Mk I</i>. However, at the inspector's request, the weapons were delivered fitted with <i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i>.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk I*</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
This designation was a 1909 re-designation of those <i>Rifles, Ross Mk I</i> that had been fitted with the <i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i>.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II / Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk II</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
After various complaints had been received, the weapon was re-designed to address the issues. The 28 inch barrel length was retained, and the <i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i> was used. The most noticeable change was the replacement of the side-mounted magazine cut-off control and trigger-guard mounted cut-off release with a single hook shaped control inside the front trigger guard that performed both functions. The action was also changed to cock-on-open. The safety was similar to the earlier model's, but the slider was moved by pushing a round button instead of a square one. Changes were introduced in production without change in designation until the introduction of the <i>Sight, Ross Mk III</i> when the nomenclature of the earlier rifles was expanded to <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk II</i>.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
<i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i> proved more fragile than desired, and it was replaced with a simpler version, the <i>Sight, Ross Mk III</i>. Instead of a curved bend to the slider, they employed a straight slider with curve-cut sides bent down. The official nomenclature for this model was <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i>. The 28 inch barrel was retained, the sight change being the difference. As before, further improvements would be introduced to production without bothering to change the designation.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II*</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
In early 1909 it was decided to adapt the <i>Rifle Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk II</i> for cadet use, doing full maintenance and upgrading components to later production changes. The <i>Sight, Ross Mk II</i> was retained, however. 5,800 weapons were so converted from late 1909 to mid 1910. The weapons were designated <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II*</i>. This designation identified specific conversions of older weapons and did not reflect any changes to new production.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
Development of this weapon began in the spring of 1908, and the planned designation was <i>Rifle, Ross Mk III</i>. This model was intended as a major improvement over the previous <i>Rifle, Ross Mark II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i>. The barrel length was extended to 30.5 inches, the rear hand-guard was simplified, the safety was replaced by a completely new flag-type safety, and the rear sight was changed to the third-party <i>Sight, Sutherland Mk I</i>. The magazine cut-off was dispensed with entirely. By the time it was ready to be produced in numbers, an even more radical design change was in the works to become the Mk III, and this model was desiginated <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i> instead. In May 1909, it was decided to convert some 500 of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II, with Sight, Ross Mk III</i> to the new design for field trials. This was increased to 700. While these weapons were being trialed, production of the shorter "Mk II" continued, with some of the "Mk II**" changes being introduced. In 1911, the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i> became the standard, and production began. Some 13,000 were newly manufactured before this model was superseded by the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk III</i> in 1912.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>3</sup>*</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
This rifle was an adaptation of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II</i> to use the <i>Sight, Sutherland Mk II</i>. Some internal improvements were made as well. The original sliding button safety and the magazine cut-off were retained, along with the 28 inch barrel and the stylish older rear hand-guard. None of this model were newly manufactured. All were converted from <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i> or the later <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>4</sup>*</i>. Some 26,000 were converted from 1910-1912. 20,000 were sold to the United States in Nov, 1917.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>4</sup>*</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
This rifle was a simple upgrade of the last 4000 manufactured <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i> to include the new larger extractor introduced with the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i>. The 28 inch barrel, stylish rear hand-guard, sliding button safety, and magazine cut-off were retained. They were completed in the early summer of 1910, then all 4000 were immediately converted into <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>3</sup>*</i>.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>5</sup>*</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
The last of the Mk II line would be produced using the <i>Sight, Sutherland Mk I</i> and simplified rear hand-guard of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i>. The 28 inch barrel, sliding button safety, and magazine cut-off were retained. Starting in 1910, some 15,000 were manufactured.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk III</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
For all practical purposes, the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk III</i> was an entirely new design. It incorporated the 30.5 inch barrel and flag safety of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i>, taking that re-design much further. The internal double-stack magazine was replaced with an exposed single-stack magazine. The "dump loading" lever was gone, and a charger guide was added for loading with stripper clips. A magazine cut-off was employed, but the design that lowered the magazine shell was discarded and replaced by one that restricted the rearward travel of the bolt. The bolt-stop plunger was replaced by a flag lever with 3 positions (cut-off enabled, bolt release, cut-off disabled). The bolt was far sturdier and had multi-thread locking lugs. A new rear sight designated the <i>Ross Battle Aperture</i> was installed on the bridge of the receiver rather than on top of the barrel. World War I increased demand, and at least 235,540 were produced for Canadian forces.

<b>Rifle, Ross Mk IIIB</b><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/>
The British government chose to purchased a version of the <i>Rifle, Ross Mk III</i> with a far simpler rear sight known as the <i>War Office Pattern Sight</i>. The stock was also strengthened. Some 66,590 were produced.

Note: A <i>Rifle, Ross Mk III*</i> may have existed, employing a strengthened action, new front barrel band, and different front sight. The one source mentioning it considers the designation dubious.<ref name="Hogg p177">Hogg and Weeks 2000, p. 177.</ref>

==Military redesignations==
In 1907, <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II</i> became <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk II</i> and <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i>.<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/><ref name="Duguid, Col. A.F.  1999">Duguid, Col. A.F. ''A Question of Confidence; The Ross Rifle in the Trenches" ([[Service Publications]], 1999).</ref>

In 1912, all military variants were redesignated as follows:<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/><ref name="Duguid, Col. A.F.  1999">Duguid, Col. A.F. ''A Question of Confidence; The Ross Rifle in the Trenches" ([[Service Publications]], 1999).</ref>

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk I</i> and <i>Rifle, Ross Mk I*</i> became <i>Rifle, G.P. Ross</i> (G.P. meaning general purpose).

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk II</i> and <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II*</i> became <i>Rifle, Cadet, Ross</i>.

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk II with Sight, Ross Mk III</i> became <i>Rifle, Short, Ross Mk I</i>.

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>3</sup>*</i> and <i>Rifle, Ross Mk II<sup>5</sup>*</i> became <i>Rifle, Short, Ross Mk II</i>.

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk II**</i> became <i>Rifle, Long, Ross Mk II</i>.

<i>Rifle, Ross Mk III</i> became <i>Rifle, Long, Ross Mk III</i>.

In 1918, <i>Rifle, G.P. Ross</i>,  <i>Rifle, Cadet, Ross</i>, <i>Rifle, Short, Ross Mk I</i>, and <i>Rifle, Short, Ross Mk II</i> became <i>Rifle, Ross, .303", Cadet D.P.</i> (D.P. meaning Drill Purpose).<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/><ref name="Duguid, Col. A.F.  1999">Duguid, Col. A.F. ''A Question of Confidence; The Ross Rifle in the Trenches" ([[Service Publications]], 1999).</ref>

==Sniper rifles==
Because of its long range accuracy, the Ross rifle continued in use among Allied snipers after it was withdrawn from normal front-line use in Europe. British snipers found the rifle accurate out to 600 yards and more, with only one inherent disadvantage: the Ross accepted only perfectly clean ammunition, totally free of mud and grit, or else it invariably jammed.<ref>Winter, Denis. ''Death's Men'' (London, 1978) p.81</ref>

Two types of Mark III sniper rifles are identified by different telescopic sights. Five-hundred rifles were fitted with 5.2X Warner & Swasey Company Model 1913 prismatic telescopic sights manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio. Serial numbers for rifles manufactured in 1915 have a FK prefix; while those manufactured in 1917 have a LU prefix. Another 907 rifles were fitted with [[Winchester Repeating Arms Company]] A5 telescopic sights. Both telescopic sights were mounted offset so the iron sights were usable and the rifle could still be loaded from charging strips.<ref>Cotterill, Daniel ''[[American Rifleman]]'' (November 2008) p.83</ref>

==Sporting variant==
Ross settled a gun factory in Hartford, Connecticut, with machinist J. A. Bennett, to produce a sporting rifle called '''Model 1897 Magazine Sporting Rifle''' a hinged hammer type rifle. By the same time, he made commercial agreement with famous gunmaker firm [[Charles William Lancaster]], inventor of the oval bore, to be his exclusive UK agent.<ref name="cotw19">Phillips, R., Knap, J. Jerome, "Sir Charles Ross And His Rifle" (ISBN 0919316115)</ref><ref name="cotw110">'''Blue Book Of Gun Values''' – F.P. Fjestad – ISBN 1-886768-67-6, ISBN 978-1-886768-67-3</ref>
*'''Caliber'''; .303 Brit.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

Early 1900, he brought out the '''Model 1900 Sporter''', still made in Bennett's factory. This action used a coil spring to activate the firing pin, instead of the hinged-hammer of the M1897. Very few of these sporting rifles are known to exist. The militarized Pattern 1900 was also the first to be offered for trial to Canada.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>
*'''Caliber'''; [[.303 British]].<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

Following was '''Model 1903 Sporter''' some of these rifles were made in Hartford, Connecticut, but most (200 units, made from spare parts) were assembled at the brand new fabricating plant in Quebec City. Some of the Pattern 1903 Sporting Rifles were made in the [[.370 Express]] calibre, while some prototype chambered for .450/[[.500 Nitro]] is known to exist.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>
* '''Calibers'''; .303 Brit. (common), [[.256 Mannlicher]] (rare) and .370 Express (rare)<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

Some sporterised M1905 (Mk II) military rifles were made available to general public in 1906. This model was called Model M. In 1907, Ross brought out the '''Model E''', his first entirely Canadian-made rifle, based on the 1905 military action, chambered for [[.303 British]] and .35 WCF. Following was '''Model R''', which was a plain looking rifle, no checkering, in caliber .303 British only. In November 1906, Ross while in the process of developing a new and very powerful .280 caliber sporting cartridge, made some experimental tests with a necked-down version of the new [[30-06 Springfield]] case which he called the .28-1906 (one rifle is known to exist). This led to the design of the [[.280 Ross]]. The new high-pressure round required some strengthening of the bolt and action receiver, but the rifle was otherwise only slightly different from the .303 Mark II. This design, called MK II**, was a transitional step between Mk II and Mk III actions.<ref name="cotw19"/> 
*'''Calibers''';
'''Model M''' (1905 Mk II action); .303 Brit<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model R''' (1905 Mk II action); .303 Brit.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model E''' (1907 Mk II** action heavy barrel); .303 Brit., 35 WCF<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model 1907 'Scotch Deer Stalking Pattern''''; .280 Ross <ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

Model 1910 ('''Mk III''') was made with a totally different bolt head; instead of having the solid bolt lugs travel in a vertical position and lock in a horizontal position, like for the '''Mk II''' and '''Mk II**''' (see illustration), Ross turned it 90 degrees so it travels in an horizontal position and locks vertically. Then, he used screw threads on the lugs outside which are locking into the matching threaded receiver. Some very scarce Mk II** with the same threaded lugs and receiver are known to exist. He also used the same shape of heavy barrel as used on the Mk II**. The M-10, in .280 Ross, is considered by many as being the finest rifle ever made by the '''Ross Rifle Co'''.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>
*'''Calibers'''

'''Model R-10'''; .303 Brit.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model E-10'''; .303 Brit and .35 WCF<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model M-10'''; .280 Ross<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

1912 saw the introduction of the [[.22 rimfire]] sporting rifle. While using a simpler mechanism, it was still a straight-pull action. This model was very popular in Canada.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>
*'''Calibers'''; .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle.<ref name="cotw19"/>

'''Model 1912 Cadet Commercial'''.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Model 1912 Cadet "Leftover"''' (no serial numbers or any other markings)<ref name="cotw110"/>

The problems with the Ross in combat were that it was really a sporting design of rifle asked to do the work of a military rifle under trench warfare conditions. However, as a sporting rifle, the Ross became quite popular after the war. The new .280 Ross cartridge gained it a fine reputation for medium-sized game, and for a time after 1918 it was a fairly common rifle on safari. It also proved itself as being an outstanding '''Match Rifle''', building a strong reputation for accuracy.

'''Match Rifles'''

'''Ross Mark II** Commercial Target Model''' in .303 British, with a 30.5 inch (770 mm) heavy barrel, was a real success in the Match Ranges from 1908 to 1913. This rifle was looking like the military Mk II**, using the same bolt, except having the sight bridge mounted on the receiver. A scarce '''Presentation Target Rifle''' was also available. Unlike its military counterpart, it had the serial number stamped on the barrel.<ref name="cotw110"/>
 
'''Model 1907 and 1905/1910 Match Target Rifle''' These very important single-shot rifles (two rifles are known to exist) are bearing special feature that would make the M1910 so different; the threaded locking lugs and receiver.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

'''Military Match Target Rifle''' unlike the military Mk III this rifle was using a box type magazine with flat floorplate. It was using the Ross Mk III military sight modified to fit the .280 Ross ammunitions. Barrel was 26&nbsp;inches long.<ref name="cotw19"/><ref name="cotw110"/>

==Developments==
After the rejection of the Ross as a battlefield rifle, the [[Dominion Rifle Factory]] adapted the action to a [[light machinegun]], the [[Huot light machine gun|Huot]], using surplus rifles. These were cheaper than the [[Lewis gun]]s then in use. They were put to extensive trials; the war ended before they entered service.<ref>Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare''. (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 13, p.138, "Huot".</ref><ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/><ref>"Arctic Airmen" Kimber London 1987"</ref>

==Other users==
Ross rifles were used once again in the [[Second World War]]. The Mark 3 Ross rifle was supplied to the Royal Canadian Navy, the Veteran's Guard of Canada, coastal defense units, training depots, the British Home Guard, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Port of London Authority Police and the Soviets. Coast guard units in Ireland were armed with Ross rifles during 1920 to 1921.<ref>Ross Rifle. ''The Canadian Encyclopedia,'' Online. Historica Foundation of Canada, 2007 Ross Rifles were again used in Spitsbergen. These were collected hurriedly from stocks held on Shetland Islands UK in May 1942 to re-equip the survivors of Operation Fritham who had lost everything when their ship was sunk. The Ross rifles and equipment being delivered by Catalina 210/P captained by Flying Officer Tim Healy [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006943]</ref>

== Users ==
*[[Canada]]<ref>Berton, Pierre. '' Vimy''. Anchor Canada: 2001.</ref>
*[[Chile]] <ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> In 1920, Britain delivered the <i>Almirante Latorre</i> (ex <i>HMS Canada</i>), which had been sold to Chile, but snapped up by the Royal Navy when World War I broke out. Aboard the ship were 200 Mk III Ross rifles which became property of the Chilean Navy.
*[[China]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> British born Morris Cohen, a General for Sun Yat-sen, acquired 500 Ross rifles (probably Mark I) for the Chinese in 1911, described as "weren't up to much, but good enough for training". He made a second trip to Canada in 1925 to buy more Ross rifles, but it is unknown if any were acquired.
*[[Estonia]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The British supplied Mk III Rosses to the Baltic states after World War I which wound up in the hands of the Soviet Union after their occupation in 1940.
*[[France]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> An off-hand comment by Sir Charles Ross, stating that the French "never complained" about his rifles, leads some to believe that some Ross rifles may have been supplied to the French during World War I.
*[[India]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> Around 8,000 Mk III Rosses were supplied to India in 1942 for "policy duty", but were withdrawn in 1943.
*[[Indonesia]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The Mk III Rosses supplied to the Netherlands are believed to have remained in Indonesia.
*[[Latvia]] MkIIIB<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> Ross rifles were used by newly formed Latvian army during the Latvian War of Independence. They were delivered, together with ammunition and other war materials, by British warships. After the war, Ross rifles became the standard issue service rifle of Latvian army, since the decision was taken to standardize rifle calibers to British .303.
*[[Lithuania]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The British supplied Mk III Rosses to the Baltic states after World War I which wound up in the hands of the Soviet Union after their occupation in 1940.
*[[Luxembourg]]<ref>[http://www.mnhm.lu/pageshtml/virtualmuseumtour.php GRAND-DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG]</ref> Issued to the Grand Ducal Guard in 1945, replaced by [[Lee–Enfield]] in the same year.
*[[Netherlands]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> Britain is believed to have supplied Mk III Rosses to Netherlands forces bound for Indonesian "police actions", issued from stores at Woerden.
*[[flagcountry]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The British shipped some 300 Mk III Rosses to the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, and these weapons transferred the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1941 to see active duty during World War II.
*[[Soviet Union]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The British supplied Mk III Rosses to the Baltic states after World War I which wound up in the hands of the Soviet Union after their occupation in 1940.Some of these were supplied to Republican forces for the Spanish Civil War. Some additional weapons are thought to have been supplied under a lend-lease arrangement during World War II, though this has never been verified. In 1954, Ross Mk IIIs converted to Russian 7.62mm ammunition were used successfully in the World Shooting Championships in Caracas.
*[[Spanish Republic]]<ref name="Phillips, J. 2005"/> The Soviets are believed to have supplied Ross Mk III rifles to Spanish Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War. These weapons were used by Canadian and American volunteer units and were originally believed to have been supplied by Canada, which the Canadian government denied.
*[[United Kingdom]]<ref name="Hogg p175">Hogg and Weeks 2000, p. 175.</ref> – issued to the Royal Navy to free up Lee–Enfields for land use.
*[[United States]]<ref name="Canfield, Bruce N. 2000">{{cite book|last1=Canfield|first1=Bruce|title=U.S. Infantry Weapons of the First World War|date=2000|publisher=Mowbray|location=USA|isbn=0917218906}}</ref><ref name="Canfield, Bruce N. 2010">{{cite book|last1=Canfield|first1=Bruce|title=U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles|date=2010|publisher=Mowbray|location=USA|isbn=1-931464-43-X}}</ref> The US purchased 20,000 Mk II<sup>3</sup>* for use as training rifles for [[World War I]].
* [[White Russia]]<ref name="Reine Smith">{{cite web|url=http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/spanishcivilwar1.html|title=spanishcivilwar1|first=Reine|last=Smith|website=www.carbinesforcollectors.com}}</ref> The British supplied arms (probably including Mk III Rosses) to the White Russian movement after World War I which most likely wound up in the hands of the Soviet Union after the end of the Russian Civil War.

==See also==
* [[Huot automatic rifle]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* Austerman, Wayne R., "Weapon That Failed" in ''Military History'', Vol. 7, No. 6, April 1991 (Stivers Publishing)
* Bodinson, Holt, "Sir Charles Ross and His Straight Pulls" ''Guns'', Vol. 58, No. 11, Issue 682, November 2012 (Publisher Development Corp.)
* Bracegirdle, Cyril, "The Scandal of the Ross Rifle" in ''The Gun Report'', Vol. 29, No. 9, February 1984 (World Wide Gun Report Inc.)
* Canadian Military Publication, ''Handbook For The Canadian Service Rifle, Ross Mk III, 1913 Pt I'' (Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa, HQ 70-55-41 89514-I-1, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Canadian Military Publication, ''Handbook For The Canadian Service Rifle, Ross Mk III, 1913 Pt II'' (Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa, HQ 70-55-41 37765-II-1, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Canadian Military Publication, ''Ross Rifle Handbook 1907'' (Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa, 2686, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Canadian Military Publication, ''Ross Rifle Handbook 1907 (Reprinted 1917)'' (J. De Labroquerie Tache Printer to the King's Most Excellent Magesty 1917, Ottawa, 29685--1, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Canfield, Bruce N., ''U.S. Infantry Weapons of the First World War'' (Mowbray, 2000, ISBN 0917218906)
* Canfield, Bruce N., ''U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles'' (Mowbray, 2010, ISBN 1-931464-43-X)
* Carlyle, Randolph, "Our National Arm" in ''The Canadian Magazine'', Vol. 31, No. 5, September 1908 (H.C. Maclean Publications/The Ontario Publishing Co. Ltd.)
* Coterill, Daniel, "Lost Confidence - the Military Ross Rifle" in ''American Rifleman'', Vol 156, No. 11, November 2008 (NRA)
* Crossman, Edward Carthart, "The Rifle of My Dreams" in ''Arms and the Man'', 1909 (NRA, Reprinted by Ross Rifle Company in ''The Ross Rifle'', 1912)
* Duguid, Archer Fortescue ''A Question of Confidence'' (Service Publications, 2002)
* Fitzsimons, Bernard, editor, "Huot" in ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare'', Volume 13, p.1385 (Phoebus Publishing, 1978)
* Hamilton, Douglas T., "The Ross Rifle and Its Manufacture" Parts 1-4 in ''Machinery'', Vol. 18 (Engineering & Shop edition) / Vol. 11 (Railway edition), No. 2 - No. 5, October 1911 - January 1912 (The Industrial Press, Reprinted as ''Manufacturing the Ross Rifle and Press Button Knife'', Lindsey Publications Inc. 2006, ISBN 1-55918--344-6)
* Hogg, Ian Vernon, and Weeks, John S., ''Military Small Arms of the 20th Century''. Seventh edition, Iola, WI, USA (Krause Publications, 2000, ISBN 0-87341-824-7)
* Knap, Jerome, "The Saga of the Ross Rifle" in ''Guns & Ammo'', Vol. 20, No. 6, June 1976 (Petersen Publishing)
* Nesbit, Roy Conyers,''Arctic Airmen'' (Kimber, London, 1987)
* Paddock, Howard P., ''Description and Management of the Ross Rifle .303 Military Model'' (Tenth Infantry, NYG, Albany, New york, 1918, reprinted on demand by ReInk Books/SN Books World, New Delhi, India 2018)
* Phillips, Roger F., Dupuis, François J., and Chadwick, John A., ''The Ross Rifle Story'' (J. A. Chadwick,1984, Reprinted by Leonard, Michael W. 2002, ISBN 0973241608)
* Phillips, Roger F., Knap, Jerome, ''Sir Charles Ross And His Rifle'' (Museum Restoration Service, ISBN 0919316115)
* Rawlings, Bill. ''Trench Warfare: Technology and the Canadian Corps 1914–1918''. (University of Toronto Press, 1992).
* Ross Rifle Company Publication, ''The Ross Rifle Catalogue 1912'' (Ross Rifle Company, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Ross Rifle Company Publication, ''The Ross Rifle Sporting Catalogue 1909''  (Ross Rifle Company, Reprinted on-demand by Cornell Publications)
* Scarlata, Paul, "The Canadian Ross Striaght-Pull Military Rifles" in ''Man at Arms'', Vol. 21, No. 2, March/April 1999 (NRA, Reprinted as "The Remarkable Ross" in ''Gun Digest'', 68th Edition, 2014, Krause Publications, ISBN 1-4402-3542-2) 
* Schreier, Konrad F. Jr., "The Redoubtable Ross Rifle" in ''Guns & Ammo'', Vol. 18, No. 11, November 1974 (Petersen Publishing)
* Stent, H. V., "The Ross Rifle Ruckus" in ''Guns'', Vol. 4, No. 5-41, May 1958 (Publisher Development Corp.)
* Stent, H. V., "Sir Charles Ross Controversial Rifles and Cartridges" in ''Rifle'', Vol 16, No. 4, Issue 94, July/August 1984 (Wolfe Publishing)
* Stetzer, Tim, "The Candian Ross Mk II" in ''Inside Military Surplus'', Fall 2015 (Engaged Media Inc.)
* Tantum, William H., "Sniper Rifles of World War 1" in ''Guns'', Vol 11, No. 9-129, September 1965 (Publisher Development Corp.)
* Tenth Parliament of Canada, ''Official Report of the Debates of the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada, Fourt Session - Tenth Parliament 7-8 Edward VII 1907-1908, Vol. LXXXVI, 12 May - 10 Jun 1908, inclusive'' (S.E. Dawson, Printer).
* Walter, John, ''Allied Small Arms of World War One'' (Crowood Press, 2000, ISBN 1-86126-123-3)
* Walter, John, ''Rifles of the World'', Third edition (Krause Publications, Inc. 2006) (ISBN 0-89689-241-7).
* Webster, Donald Blake, ''Military Bolt Action Rifles 1841-1918'' (Museum Restoration Service, 1993, ISBN  0-88855-004-9)
* Wieland, Terry, "Ross Model 1905" in ''Rifle'', Vol. 48, No. 4, Issue 287, July 2016 (Wolfe Publishing)
* Whelen, Townsend, "Notes on the Ross Rifle" in ''Arms and the Man'', Vol. 51, No. 10, December 7, 1911 (NRA)

== External links ==
* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/rossrifle.htm Ross rifle at First World War.com]
* [http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl24-e.htm Ross rifle at World.guns.ru]
* [http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/rifles.htm?title=Bayonets Ross Bayonets at www.canadiansoldiers.com]
* [http://www.rossrifle.com/ RossRifle.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaSui_UqDX8 Forgotten Weapons – Myth and Reality of the Ross MkIII Rifle]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaSui_UqDX8 Forgotten Weapons – Myth and Reality of the Ross MkIII Rifle]
* [https://canadaatwarblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/cefs-ross-rifle-fiasco-responsible-for-countless-of-casualties-fact-or-myth/ "CEF’s Ross Rifle Fiasco, Responsible For Countless Of Casualties Fact or Myth!"]  Canada at War Blog, [[April 21]], [[2015]].
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US643984A/en US Patent 643984, 20 Feb 1900, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Magazine Bolt Guns]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US747777A/en US Patent 747777, 22 Dec 1903, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Magazine for Firearms]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US802117A/en US Patent 802117, 17 Oct 1905, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Firearms]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US975286A/en US Patent 975286, 8 Nov 1910, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Trigger Mechanism]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US975287A/en US Patent 975287, 8 Nov 1910, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Magazine for Firerarms]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US1021706A/en US Patent 1021706, 26 Mar 1912, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Firearms]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US1055801A/en US Patent 1055801A, 11 Mar 1913, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. -Sight for Firearms]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US1141582A/en US Patent 1141582A, 1 Jun 1915, Ross, Charles H.A.F.L. - Firearm (M1910)]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US963389A/en US Patent 963389, 5 Jul 1910, Sutherland, Robert and Piebald, Eric Julius - Rifle Sight]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US675004A/en US Patent 675004, 28 May 1901, Harris, Henry - Magazine Firearm]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US723864A/en US Patent 723864, 31 Mar 1903, Harris, Henry - Magazine for Repeating Firearms]
* [https://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=415-1913-Ross-MkIII-Rifle-Manual Handbook for the Canadian service rifle : Ross, Mark III 1913 Part I and II]
* [https://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=415-1913-Ross-MkIII-Rifle-Manual Ross Rifle Handbook 1907]
* [https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2013/5/28/the-ross-rifle-in-us-service/ Canfield, Bruce, "The Ross Rifle in U.S. Service" in ''American Rifleman, 28 May 2013'']



{{WW1 British Weapons}}
{{WW2 Brit Comm Infantry Guns}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross Rifle}}
{{categorize gun
| Nationality  = Canadian
| Manufacturer = 
| Caliber      = .303
| Operation    = 
| Subaction    = 
| Action       = bolt-action
| Subtype      = service
| Type         = rifle
}}
[[Category:Straight-pull rifles]]