I am sure I am right about my 1898 rifle, but after removing the rear sight and then running the rear barrel band forward, will the handguard slide forward and off without taking the entire barrel out of the stock. Please let me know as I want to be carefull. Thanks for all the past help.

remington:  You have to remove the stock to slide your Krag's hand-guard forward.  There are relief areas cut into the stock for-end to clear the springs riveted onto the hand-guard.  The rest of the fore-stock barrel channel is in contact with the barrel and would prevent the hand-guard sliding forward.  Also, it is advisable to rotate the hand-guard 180 degrees on the barrel.  As you slide it down the barrel, the gaps  in the "C" shaped handguard springs will allow it to clear the front sight stud.

Thank you butlersrangers, I knew I was wise in checking with you experts being I am fairly new to Krags and this 1898 is in too great a shape to hurt it.  Charlie

Remington, If you are going to have it off for an extended time, get a wood dowel and sand it down to the barrel size and diameters where the spring sat. Carefully slide it onto the smoothed dowel to keep the spring tension at barrel size. Removing, also slide carefully. Don't spread the spring clips or you guarantee cracking it. If you are only looking to clean or for photos, not a problem for short duration. John

Hello John42768.
   If you are going to remove the upper hand guard for an extended period of time place a 25 cent piece in the rear spring and a Nickel in the front spring. They can be a bear to insert in some as some springs seem to have a lot more tension than others. At the present I have an '01 guard, totally split from end to end, with the coins in it, waiting for me to find a really good glue to stick it back together so it will hold. Try it as I know it really works.
                        best Regards, S.O.H.1898 

Hi S.O.H. '98, Thanks for the heads up. Good luck with your repair. We know the coins aren't much good for anything else these days anyway. :) John   

soldierofhistory1898 wrote on Jun 30^th, 2012 at 12:40am:

Hello John42768.    If you are going to remove the upper hand guard for an extended period of time place a 25 cent piece in the rear spring and a Nickel in the front spring. They can be a bear to insert in some as some springs seem to have a lot more tension than others.

I just did a complete disassemble of my 1898 rifle (probably the first it's had in over 95 years).  I used a quarter in the rear clip, but I used a penny in the front clip... worked like a charm!  I tried a nickel in the front clip, but it was way to big, and I would have cracked the handguard trying to get it in.