GreigM - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

Your Dad's Krag is a Norwegian 'Occupation Model' that has been put in a custom stock. The metal has been refinished and it has been drilled & tapped for the commercial scope and Weaver mount.

The collector/historical value has been destroyed by the "sporterizing".

IMHO - The rifle's present value is its 'utility value'. (Probably $300 to $400).

These rifles are interesting because they were built grudgingly at the Kongsberg Arms Factory by unwilling workers. The Norwegians showed a lot of ingenious resistance in bogging down production.

The model was derisively called "Stomperud" after a 'screw-up' comic strip character, Army Private - "Nr. 91, Stomperud". (Kind of a Norwegian "Beetle Bailey"). (The Norwegians 'borrowed' the character from a Swedish comic strip, Private, Nr. 91, Mandel Karlsson).

Your are correct about 1943 being the year of manufacture. The second number, 573, is your rifle's serial number.

William Brophy's book, "The Krag Rifle", has a very interesting chapter on the Norwegian Krag models.

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