Hi Folks: I'm a new member. I inherited from my Grandfather (dead for nearly 50 years now) a 30-40 Krag (If my limited understanding and research is correct) I can't seem to attach photo's for you to review. It is stamped: U.S. Springfield Armory 1894 - 4900 (assume serial number) There is no "M" designation, no other stamps or info on the rifle. From what i read, 1894 is not listed as a "variant" of the 1892 or other model krags? It has the trapdoor, missing bayonet, missing cleaning rod, etc. It has sentimental meaning, I want to get it cleaned up and kill a big game animal with it. It has not been fired for over 50 years at least. The front sight was replaced with a filed down buffalo head nickel, made in desperation by my grandfather while packed deep into the mountains in the late 1920's. I  hope you folks can share some info about this particular model. Is it a model 1894? Or was it made in 1894 for example, these are the questions I am starting with. Thanks for your help.

Maybe I figured how to load a photo?

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can you load more than one photo per message?  I'll quit bugging you folks now.

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One of my Krags has a front sight blade made from an old silver (winged mercury) dime.  The blade made from a nickle would be wider and might be easier to see on a hunting rifle.

Your Krag is a Model 1892 made in Fiscal Year 1894.  The number is the serial number of the action.

What is the barrel length? Do you have an overall picture?

Sorry, not at home to measure the barrel, but this pic will show it.  It appears full size.  Thanks

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I once saw a trapdoor with a Krag sight mounted.  Now I can tally the reverse.

Your rifle is interesting in a bipolar fashion.  Incredibly so.

An unaltered 1892 with some truly bizarre alterations conducted in private hands.

The stock is worth more than an entire later Krag in ok shape.

I christen thee "roller coaster Krag."

I've been asked by a couple of folks to add a few more pics to better determine the exact model and history of this Krag.  I've been told it's rough and needs re-finished and re-blued and I've been told NOT in any way to re-blue the metal, simply and carefully remove the paint splatter and clean and oil it.  It's pretty rough but I hate to modernize it. Thanks for the replies.

PS: On the worst/ fuzziest photo it shows a couple of metal pins or something odd on the left side of the bolt section, what are those? shims placed by someone after the fact? I can take a better photo later if necessary but if you folks know I am curious.  Thanks again

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I quit being lazy and took a couple more pics of the little metal pins or whatever they are.  Is this normal or just another bastardization of this gun?  Thanks.

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Do not reblue or refinish!!!! The shims I believe you are talking about are either what is left of the magazine cut off or a pin shimmed in place to fill the groove to improve feeding.
This appears to be a very fixable Model 1892!! Wish I had inherited it!!

Am I nuts, or is the top of the front of the receiver dovetailed?  Someone must have had something mounted there at one time or another...  I'm also interested in the channel in the bottom of the forestock...  Did early Krags have a cleaning rod located there (ala Trapdoor)? 

I agree though - Don't modernize or re-blue...  It's absolutely fixable!

psteinmayer wrote on May 14^th, 2012 at 12:06am:

Did early Krags have a cleaning rod located there (ala Trapdoor)?

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Would it mess it up to somehow carefully get the paint drippings off?  And curious, how would a trained Krag restorer "restore" this gun? And when i say clean it up, I meant other than getting the paint off it, to clean inside barrel, get the dust and grime off and oil the bolt, etc.  No blueing or staining.  But the paint drops seem awful.

5MadFarmers...  I stand corrected...  I've not seen too many very early Krags, so I didn't know about the under-barrel cleaning rod.  Beautiful examples, I might add!

Mark Sam...  It certainly would be ok to remove the paint spots, but just be careful how you remove them, or what you use to do so...  I know that there are others who have removed paint...  Check out this thread:   (You need to Login; You might want to contact Kirk in a PM to ask him what he used to remove the paint.

Paul

psteinmayer wrote on May 15^th, 2012 at 4:20pm:

5MadFarmers...  I stand corrected

Didn't see where you asserted anything to correct.  You asked a question and the picture answered it.

Cheers.

Once again thanks to all who have responded  for your advice and patience.  I will move very slowly.  Which I'm good at. I've looked and held this gun for 41 years.  Im not the guy to do it but I'm still curious what a true collector and restorer would do to this Krag?  Do you refinish it top to bottom or keep it as is such as stock dings , cracks, pitted barrel. Etc.   Anyway. Thanks again this has been very educational. 

Mark Sam:  You have been given very good advice by people who appreciate your Family Treasure.  There is No Way your Grandfather's Krag should be made to look 'New' like those idiots on "American Restoration" do to legitimate antiques.  Your Krag is something that has been entrusted to you.  It is for you to enjoy for a time, but it will be here after you are gone.  "Do Nothing" is sound advice.  This Krag has changes that were done by your Grandfather out of necessity (i.e. incorrect replacement sights, front stacking swivel & handguard removed, receiver ring dove-tailed for now missing sight).  You have a rare Krag that was altered by an ancestor (A beautiful thing).  Keep it as is!  Maybe, obtain correct missing parts just to have them.  You can clean the bore.  Attempt to wipe off paint spots on wood with soft cloth and mineral spirits or turpentine.  Use a pick and toothbrush, as Mr. Hosmer suggested.  You can put some moisture and luster back in the wood by hand rubbing with linseed oil or linseed oil/turpentine mix.  You can wipe down metal parts with Hoppe's #9 to clean off paint, dirt, surface rust and dried 'gunk'.  You can protect the metal by wiping on RIG (rust inhibiting grease).  The wood stock can be periodically freshened with a rubbing of linseed oil or "Pledge" spray furniture polish.  If the wood stock, action and bore are sound, take her out and shoot her!

Your comments are a succinct summary of what has been told me.  I will quit thinking about "fixing" it and just do as you and others have said.  Thank you all.