Ross Stalking Telescope Write Up

[User00040]

I haven't seen one for sale, I haven't looked yet, what should one look for to avoid a fake?

If you reference my booklet at the start of the thread there are many different bits to look at.

I can spot a fake Rolex (grew up in Asia where they are all made) so have an eye for detail.

If you find something then feel free to message me and ask, don't worry I won't poach it

 

[bogtrotter]

It will be post war @bogtrotter , I would think mid 1950's due to the change in Ross logo and no longer offering Brass, just 'light metal' (I suspect some sort of nickel/tin alloy) and Aluminium.

I poached the pictures off the 'Scottish Sporting Estates History' facebook group, if you are not there then you should be!

Thank you, yes I am on that facebook group but never saw that.

 

[gerarddwatts]

.

I have seen pictures of @Freeforester 's work and he makes them well, so does Norman Kelman of Achnasheen.

Cases will not be cheap, as you are looking at a decent cut of saddle leather, which takes a lot of effort to stich properly.

As you know Norman Kelman, Kinlochewe, made me 2 cases recently. I am so chuffed with his workmanship and skill. An artist. Nice chap to blether with too. As you say expensive, justifiably so, but turn a glass from an ornament to a working heirloom

 

[Klenchblaize]

Good to see an appreciation of handsewn leather articles and an acceptance we should expect to pay an honest price for such workmanship.

K

 

[DengueDave]

Hi there,

I thought I would share some pictures of a Ross Scope that I have , complete with lots of inscriptions...no idea whether these are for best/most successful estate for that particular year...Can't seem to load them directly so have attached the link

Ross Scope

The Scope is the most expensive aluminium one shown on Caberslash's wonderful book...

Would be really grateful for any input from the more experienced on the forum..

Thanks D

 

[User00040]

Hi there,

I thought I would share some pictures of a Ross Scope that I have , complete with lots of inscriptions...no idea whether these are for best/most successful estate for that particular year...Can't seem to load them directly so have attached the link

Ross Scope

The Scope is the most expensive aluminium one shown on Caberslash's wonderful book...

Would be really grateful for any input from the more experienced on the forum..

Thanks D

Hi Dave,

Looking at the photo's it does indeed appear to be the top of the line Ross stalking scope, in used but otherwise good condition (original blacking on the tubes/draws).

Very interesting to see that it belonged to a Colonel, it's from the interwar period, a point in time which probably had the best sport that the 20th Century had to offer.

They are indeed sporting estates in the Highlands so he must of been a well-connected guest of the lairds, as very few places sold a day's stalking back then, you either rented the whole forest for a season or knew someone who could afford it!

Thanks for sharing, will PM you shortly.

 

[DengueDave]

Hi Dave,

Looking at the photo's it does indeed appear to be the top of the line Ross stalking scope, in used but otherwise good condition (original blacking on the tubes/draws).

Very interesting to see that it belonged to a Colonel, it's from the interwar period, a point in time which probably had the best sport that the 20th Century had to offer.

They are indeed sporting estates in the Highlands so he must of been a well-connected guest of the lairds, as very few places sold a day's stalking back then, you either rented the whole forest for a season or knew someone who could afford it!

Thanks for sharing, will PM you shortly.

Thanks for taking a look,

The Col. Chaloner mentioned was the 1st Baron Gisborough who seemed to have an illustrious military career...the current 3rd Baron's family are still in Gisborough and also the House of Lords...

Not sure why the estates would be engraved on the Scope such as that...almost an annual cup type event..?

I still have the end cap and the guillotine lens cover all work well....

Photos make the leather look worse than it appears in real life strangely enough..

Regards Dave

 

[NigelM]

Just found this thread. What a fantastic piece of work. Really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing it with us.

 

[Freeforester]

Hi there,

I thought I would share some pictures of a Ross Scope that I have , complete with lots of inscriptions...no idea whether these are for best/most successful estate for that particular year...Can't seem to load them directly so have attached the link

Ross Scope

The Scope is the most expensive aluminium one shown on Caberslash's wonderful book...

Would be really grateful for any input from the more experienced on the forum..

Thanks D

Might have been the owner’s way of commemorating the forests over which he had stalked?

 

[DengueDave]

Might have been the owner’s way of commemorating the forests over which he had stalked?

Thanks ,
That does make some sense...
Regards Dave

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Thought I’d give this a bump. Have ended up with a couple of Ross’ and it’s a brilliant write-up for working on them; thanks, @caberslash!

I could see how collecting them could become a bit addictive - they’re works of art!

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Thought I’d give this a bump. Have ended up with a couple of Ross’ and it’s a brilliant write-up for working on them; thanks, @caberslash!

I could see how collecting them could become a bit addictive - they’re works of art!

@Dr. Strangelove ……It’s no good teasing us with “have ended up with a couple of Ross” ……photos please or your post doesn’t count.

Just read the whole original post again from start to finish and it still captures my imagination and sparks my interest yet again !

All thanks due to @caberslash.

Oh and thanks Dr Strangelove for resurrecting this interesting post.

 

[Bigron321]

Dear All,

I have been collecting Ross telescopes and doing some research on them. Having found some useful posts on these boards I thought it might be helpful to share my writings through a short booklet that can be viewed through this Google Drive link.

All the sources used can be found on Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine if you search for the author and title, but if you want a copy of the British Army 1947 Sniper's manual then PM me.

If I have made any mistakes or there is something that you think I should include, please let me know. I do not cover the principles of observing deer in the field, such as aging on the hoof etc. this is simply advice on the telescope in context of stalking.

I hope you enjoy it, please feel free to download and share if you do.

Best Regards.

@caberslash I didn’t know Ross were now doing a thermal version

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

@Dr. Strangelove ……It’s no good teasing us with “have ended up with a couple of Ross” ……photos please or your post doesn’t count.

Just read the whole original post again from start to finish and it still captures my imagination and sparks my interest yet again !

All thanks due to @caberslash.

Oh and thanks Dr Strangelove for resurrecting this interesting post.

My apologies, very remiss of me!

Pictures (apologies for the tape measure, I don’t have a stand-alone photo of the Watcher’s telescope):



The case for the No. 4 also bears the initials M.H.S.G - it possibly belonged to this gent: Malcolm Grover - Wikipedia

 

[Klenchblaize]

@caberslash I didn’t know Ross were now doing a thermal version

Surely you’ve seen the “Best Thermal Draw Scope” thread?

K

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Thanks for the photos l knew you’d post some, now l still have photos (courtesy of caberslash) from the original catalogue of the “Watcher” if it’s any use.

So good to see this thread again.

 

[User00040]

Surely you’ve seen the “Best Thermal Draw Scope Drone" thread?

K

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Thanks for the photos l knew you’d post some, now l still have photos (courtesy of caberslash) from the original catalogue of the “Watcher” if it’s any use.

So good to see this thread again.

View attachment 324861

Mine is a shade under that - just weighed it at 1lb, 5.2oz. Lovely and compact though!

 

[Heym SR20]

If you have ever wondered how they used to make these telescopes the following video is well worth a watch. It features Broadhurst Clarkson and Fuller who were another major manufacturer of draw telescopes. Not as good optically as Ross.

 

[LensBoii]

Thank you @caberslash for this excellent writeup, and for all those who commented. I read the whole thread with interest while working on my own telescope.

I added lens specifications and a geometrical optics model. It might be useful to restorers or tinkerers. The drawing is to scale. I'm grateful for any feedback and contributions.

https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/threads/optics-data-ross-london-deer-stalker-3.271339/