| M1905 "Ross"
Technical data : Total length : 371 mm Was used on : M1905 "Ross"
General information : The first pattern Ross bayonets had a very remarkably shaped, almost blunt, blade and a rather uncommon handle. Although the pommel is stamped with “ROSS RIFLE CO. QUEBEC PATENTED 1907”, the bayonet was intended for use on the M1905 “Ross” rifle. The first version of the rifle was not designed with a bayonet lug and it was only in 1908 that the Canadian government decided to add this feature.Test showed that the shape of the blade did not allow the bayonet to penetrate thick layers of clothing and the decision to modify the point to a much sharper form. In 1910 the M1910 rifle was adopted and, due to the bigger muzzle diameter of the new rifle, new bayonets had to be designed. The Canadian army chose a model that was almost identical to the sharpened M1905 but had a bigger muzzle ring. The inner diameter of some of the existing M1905 bayonets muzzle rings were filed out until they were 2.4mm larger. During the First World War, the Ross rifle soon became infamous due to its tendency to jam when used in the trenches. It was much appreciated for its accuracy but the mud and clay at the Western Front made the Ross rifle useless. After the war the United States bought about 20000 rifles and bayonets to equip their Home Guard. These specimens were stamped with “US” and the American ordnance logo (a flaming bomb). Official and commercial conversions of these bayonets to daggers are known as well. Known makers : Ross Rifle Co., Quebec Images.
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