Recently I read an article in an older publication that indicated some Krag rifles were used for a federal program known as the bank robbery defense program. Basically after WWI surplus weapons were distributed by the fed and FBI to discourage robbery attempts by having the weapons distributed to the banks themselves as well as surrounding business to dissuade robbers from making attempts. The article indicated that the weapons would not be centralized to one location but to others others in the nearby area to create the idea of greater intimidation.
I wonder if this could be a source for some of the Krag rifles that were cut done in a skillful manner to reduce the overall length for easier indoors handling/storage but still also retain all the original parts such as the front bands to not compromise the original design characteristics.
The author suggested the fed in Indiana was known to participate in the program supplying Krags and SW m1917 revolvers to mostly rural banks, south of Chicago.
Noted examples were bank of Pierre Indiana, three Krags and three 45 cal revolvers, north Judson three Krags and two revolvers, Bank of Brook three rifles and five revolvers Waveland, Winimac one revolver for each teller and no rifles, other arms were distributed to nearby business's postal agents etc and so on.
Just a thought for a possible explanation for so many rifles that were skillfully cut down maybe by outsourced smiths to support the program.
I have not been able to find any more information regarding the matter at this time but found the information very interesting and a potential possibility regarding cut down rifles. Maybe someone is more informed on the subject or has heard of this before.