M-10 Man at Arms

[Ax.303]

There is a good article in the April issue of Man at Arms Magazine.
Basically it is a story of how a fellow picked up a Ross M-10 at a yard sale for 20 dollars. The stock and some other small parts were missing due to being left behind when the owner moved.
He was able to acquire the missing parts when someone saw it at a gun show some time later. 
 
I see Barry even commented on it, in the letters to the editor section of the next issue.

The rifle is in very nice shape and has the turned down bolt, and 24 inch barrel.

The question this one brings up is that although it has all the other markings found on the M-10 barrel (Made in Canada, 280 Ross Proved 28 Tons, and the Canadian proof mark) it has no serial number.

I have personally seen two other M-10s that were the same. I have also seen at least six 1905-Rs and two Commercial Mk II**s with all other factory marks butt no serial numbers.

In the case of the 1905Rs all had circle P, .303 Ross and Canadian proofs on the barrels, and serial # stamped on and under butt plate.
For the Mk II**s there were proof marks and the stock and butt plates were stamped with serial #s

Common wisdom has always been that factory replacement barrels had the original serial number applied with a one or two added depending on how many times it was replaced.

What I have been seeing seems to suggest that this was not always the case.

Has anyone else seen similar to this or have some ideas on this?

[admin]

This is intriguing.  Unfortunately, I can't say I have an explanation.  With the original stock missing, we don't know if it was perhaps a presentation rifle made up special.  Of course, we typically do find serial numbers on presentation rifles.

[Ax.303]

You will have to read the article. The great part about this one is that the stock that he ended up with was the original for his other parts.

The action and parts that were purchased at the yard sale were in a box marked "B" and the stock and other Ross related items came from a box marked "A"

The seller had told the new owner that the missing parts were left behind when he moved and were in a box marked "A".

As I said earlier, this is not the only one out there.