Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive

Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive
General >> Older threads >> Hello, what can you tell me? http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1341259894 Message started by Ryan on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 8:11pm

Title: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 8:11pm

Hello, first post here on the site, I don't know much about my Krag but I was hoping you guys could shed some light on what I have. Obviously its a Carbine model that much i could figure out, has an engraved stock as well, is that common? Also I seem to have a rear sight that seems different, I cant seem to remove the bolt with it on, not sure how to remove the sight itself maybe you guys could help. Thanks!
Pics up soon.

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 8:11pm

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Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 8:34pm

Ryan:� Looks like you have a Krag infantry rifle that was 'Sporterized' by shortening the barrel, adding a pistol grip, filling the rear-sight opening in the hand-guard, checkering the wood extensively, and adding a commercial #57 Lyman 'Peep-sight'.� Your Krag's value would be based on its utility to a Hunter/Shooter ($275-$350 - IMHO).� It would be interesting to see a photo of the muzzle area and front sight.� Your Lyman sight has a button you push to 'quick release' the slide from its base.� You should then be able to dismount the bolt.� The custom work was not done by the arsenal.� ��

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 9:04pm

Ryan:� #476059?� Wow!� That's an incredibly high Model 1898 Krag serial number and probably produced in 1904.� That circle marking above the initials HH looks like the Springfield "crossed cannon" marking found on Ordnance Manuals.� Any chance your Krag is a .22 caliber?

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 1:25am

Ordnance seal on your stock.� I haven't seen that before on a Krag.

ord-seal.jpg ( 2 KB | 0 Downloads )

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 2:22am

Hmm well thanks for the info! it's not a .22 and when I get home I will take some more pictures including the barrel and muzzle. Ordnance thing seems interesting. Anything else I should take see pictures of? I remember there was also a number on the stock as well.

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 3:33am

Ryan:� The "knob' of your bolt's cocking piece is blurry in your pictures.� It appears a little odd.� Like there may be a small steel square fitted into a dovetail.� Lyman use to make a cocking-piece 'peep' sight that fit into a dovetail machined into the cocking-piece.� A clearer picture of the rear of the bolt would help.� Your serial # is close to the range of numbers used on .22 gallery rifles, hence my question about caliber.� Do you know if your rifle is in .30-40 Caliber?� Mallory (The Krag Rifle Story) reported #476045 as the highest serial number in the last lot of 1898 Rifles, manufactured in January 1904.� Your action is 14 digits higher.� There are some interesting questions here!� Maybe your receiver was unused surplus until completed into a hunting rifle by a gunsmith?� It would be interesting to see some pictures of your barrel and front-sight

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 4:02am

Ryan: If your bolt cocking-piece has a filled dovetail, it once carried an after-market Lyman 'peep' like this.

lyman3.JPG ( 14 KB | 0 Downloads )

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 4:05am

It is 100% a 30-40. I have fired it at least 30 times, last I fired it was Sunday. I will include more close up pictures of the bolt with my next set of pictures.

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Dick Hosmer on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 4:14am

IIRC, the highest observed number is just under 490000.

The .22s all seem to be around the 476-477xxx range.

I own standard 1898 rifle 482440, which was probably one of the left-over receivers used for replacement/repair. It's in very nice condition, but stock is dated 1902, so it isn't "as made".

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 4:37am

Alright, not exactly sure what you meant by "filled dovetail" sorry.. I'm learning all these terms as I go. Here are some more pictures.
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Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 10:20pm

Ryan:� Your bolt cocking-piece has been machined across the rear of the knob.� This machined dovetail now appears filled by a little square of steel.� This dovetail is not 'arsenal'.� It was probably done by Lyman or a gunsmith to hold a cocking-piece peep sight (later removed and filled). Also, your bolt handle has been slightly bent to give it a pleasant curve.

cocking-piece.jpg ( 27 KB | 0 Downloads )

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by butlersrangers on Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 10:33pm

Ryan:� If you ever tried a cocking-piece sight, it flies forward and kills follow-through.� Not hard to understand why someone ground it off and put on a conventional peep sight.

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Ryan on Jul 7^th, 2012 at 5:25pm

thank you all for the information! This gun has been in my family for several generations, my family will find the facts about it very exciting. thank you again! - Ryan

Title: Re: Hello, what can you tell me?
Post by Plain Old Dave on Jul 7^th, 2012 at 6:01pm

This is a fine example of a vintage sporterized Krag. Krag sporters like this one introduced American riflemen to bolt action rifles, and you might get more info at the Double Gun Forum. There are a few people there that are virtual encyclopedias of vintage sporting arms, military and civilian. Thought: The Ordinance stamp. Might this one be one that was sold off by the DCM?