My Great Grandpappy would say those would be fightin' words. ;D

He could have gotten a lever action in .30 Winchester Centerfire for deer hunting. But instead he got a lever action in .30 Government (like he had in his army rifle), so he must have been sold on it. Whenever he got the Winchester (made in 1899) the Krag rifle likely wasn't being sold by the government yet. Otherwise, he may have sporterized one for hunting.