Billy, you are not alone in your quest for a great Krag at a reasonable price. That's why the prices are so high! Krags that are in original (or close) to military configuration and have not been visited by Bubba have gone up in price. We have been searching out Krags and buying them for years as members here at KCA and have struggled with our pursuits.

I have found some nice ones at auctions on the internet. It is a little intimidating to buy something at an auction without having it in hand to examine and, I admit, you take some risks. I have sent some rifles back that were grossly misrepresented or damaged or other problems. Same kind of things in dealing with Gun Broker.

You HAVE to know what you are looking at and what is faked or altered! Krags have often been altered and sold as something they are not. Many of us have dealt with this first hand. We always recommend two things: Get some good reference books on Krags and read through them and ask our advice before buying, if possible. Send pictures and descriptions and we will help you find something good and legit.

Since we have been through the growing pains you are dealing with, we can really help a lot. You are amongst friends here and we love our Krags.

Also, many of us buy damaged Krags and rebuild or restore them. It can be done but you do really have to know what you are getting into before going down this route.

Poyer is a good Krag reference for most people and is inexpensive on ebay.

Good luck and keep us informed!