Went to a gun show in Belleville, IL (south-western IL, just across the river from St Louis) this morning, saw 2 Krags from the same dealer, both overpriced in my opinion. Both 1898's, one oriiginal, very nice $1100, the other not quite as nice, but close, a cut-down rifle, $850. Both well above my interest level in $$.

I'm still looking for that 1896 Krag original stock and handguard set for $150. I know, just dreaming....

An observation about gun shows in my area (Southern Illinois and SE Missouri), fewer vendors,the show today was only about 2/3 normal size, empty tables in a typically sold-out show, and when I drove in about 11AM parking lot was only about half full for that time of morning. In addition, some vendors were not particularly eager to deal. They seemed adamant to bargain or negotiate at all with prices. Maybe Illinois politics (i.e. recent gun dealer licensing legislation, among other affronts to believers in the Second Amendment) has discouraged dealers and enthusiasts.

I can recall an artist's rendering in a gun magazine years ago of a very happy fellow loaded down with treasures (helmet, rifle, webgear etc. with the caption "Coming Home from the
Gun show". Not any more, for me at least - I came home today completely empty-handed.