| description: | St. Charles was the 6th rifle range built in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is 9 miles west of the city centre, 1/2 mile north and 1/2 mile west, of Assiniboia Downs Racetrack. In the photo are hardy worker pioneers with family. Note one of the men has traded hats with the woman and the baby is playing with the rifle. The men have $25.00 Mark II Ross Rifles in an era when a man worked 14 hours a day for $1.00. So the purchase of a new Canadian-made Ross Rifle from Quebec required considerable thought. Note the Martin target aperture receiver sight and eyepiece on the Rifle. The competition between the Canadian Ross Rifle and the British Long Lee Enfield at $18.25 (proven in the Boer War) raged on at the St. Charles Range. The rapid rate For The .303" Ross MK II with 5 round Harris Box Magazine was 5 shots aimed, in 40 seconds; for the Lee Enfield it was 10 shots in 40 seconds. A staff sergeant is on the left. |