Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive

Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive
General >> Older threads >> Need help on 1898 Krag rifle. http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1311456224 Message started by coverga on Jul 23^rd, 2011 at 9:23pm

Title: Need help on 1898 Krag rifle.
Post by coverga on Jul 23^rd, 2011 at 9:23pm

Rifle is 1898 Krag, 1896 rear sight, correct front sight, full barrel, stock good with P behind trigger guard but no cartouche, bore shiny with fair to good rifling. Appears to be original configuration, but the bolt and receiver look like they were blued. Blue job not recent, very well done, has its own patina. Could this be an arsenal bluing? Owner wants 500, is this reasonable. Can bluing be "reversed" or just leave it alone if I buy it? Much obliged for any opinions.

Title: Re: Need help on 1898 Krag rifle.
Post by Dick Hosmer on Jul 24^th, 2011 at 4:24am

That's probably a "fair" price - definitely no amazing steal, but not a rip-off, either. What is the serial number? Is it low enough for the M1896 sight to be "correct"?

I'd carefully polish the stripped bolt body (only - don't polish any of the bolt parts) and just leave the receiver to age on its' own. When the rifles were refinished by the army, they were blued, as opposed to renewing/redoing the original oil-casehardening.

Title: Re: Need help on 1898 Krag rifle.
Post by coverga on Jul 24^th, 2011 at 1:57pm

Serial number is 168xxx. The bluing on the magazine, and side plate look very much like the bluing on the barrel, and trigger guard, same tone, same condition.

Title: Re: Need help on 1898 Krag rifle.
Post by Dick Hosmer on Jul 24^th, 2011 at 5:11pm

That's early enough - so, I'll stick with my initial comment, just polish the bolt body - satin finish, not mirror bright.