I have a pair of CMP purchased carbines and one cadet rifle, all of which both have an large brass insert riveted into the magazine effectively acting as a block, only allowing single loading. 

I have a copy of Poyer's book but can find no reference to this.

Hoping someone here knows what it is and why it may have been installed.   These are some of the guns that came back to CMP years ago from the various veterans groups when there was a Clinton administration order for that to happen >:(.

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I believe that was an improvised adapter so 'Blank Cartridges' could be fed through the magazine.

Likely done for a Veterans' Group Honor Guard.

Hollywood 'prop guns' for the movies also had such alterations.

Possibly replacing  the Side-Plate will restore magazine function.

Yep.  Blank adapter.  I have one too.

Now that makes sense, thank you!

In the past I have heard of Krags having modified chambers to fire '06 blanks. Is this a concern for Fatdog?

Good point Fred, it could be.

I suspect this brass device was to feed .30-40 blank cartridges, but ....

He needs to visually check the chamber to make sure if it has not been altered.

If there is anything suspicious, a 'chamber cast should be done.

Here is a photo, (that a fellow KCA member posted years ago), of a .30-40 cartridge-case fired in a chamber crudely altered to accept .30-06 blanks:

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FredC wrote on Feb 10^th, 2020 at 3:24pm:

In the past I have heard of Krags having modified chambers to fire '06 blanks. Is this a concern for Fatdog?

Is this a concern?!  My very first Krag is an 1896 in the 34000 range.  Oh it was love at first sight.  I got it home from the antique store and a had a good look at it.  I found the the crown on the bolt face had a chunk broken out of it and the rest was bent inwards.  The bore was black as Hiliary Clinton's heart and choked with crud.  I had a buddy look at it for a second opinion.  While he was doing that I grabbed a 30-06 round a slipped it into the chamber.  It chambered just like it belonged there.

I had that barrel spun off.  I guess I should have a new one put back one.

So everyone reading these pages look at your "new" old guns very carefully before you put a box of ammo in the same room as it.

'fatdog' - This will make you happy.

IMHO - (This kind of stuff is why every Krag enthusiast should eventually buy and own the late Frank Mallory and William Brophy's books)!

Page 184 from: "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, by Franklin Mallory.

Your adapted Krag may contain an Arsenal produced device. Relatively rare - IMHO!

Please show us more, (clear detailed pictures), of your "adapted" Krag rifle and carbine.

This kind of 'oddity' and member sharing is why I love the KCA site.

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I can't believe the government would sanction a device that would make the rifle or carbine non-standard should the adapter block be removed.   I wonder if Joe Farmer found any records on the device.

William Brophy put a very clear photograph of the 'blank device' in his book, "The Krag Rifle", page 135.

From what I gather: (The original blank cartridges for the U.S. Krag, had a 'paper bullet' containing a black-powder charge. This paper projectile allowed feeding through the magazine and the paper bullet disintegrated upon firing, as a safety measure.
The pre-WW1, M-3 blanks were shorter and without projectile. They required the bronze device and some alteration of the follower in order to feed through the U.S. Krag).

The device, Brophy described, was nicely made, held in place by a Screw through the side-plate, and serial numbered to match the receiver.

(I am 'Persona Non Grata' with Mr. Farmer. Perhaps someone, who has his book and access to his site, can review his materials or ask him).

butlersrangers wrote on Feb 10^th, 2020 at 6:04pm:

(The original blank cartridges for the U.S. Krag, had a 'paper bullet' containing a black-powder charge. This paper projectile allowed feeding through the magazine ).

When I was reading this I was hoping the black powder projectile would explode on impact. NUTS. I could have used such a round on cowbirds. Cowbirds hit this area in flocks of tens of thousands, they  will pull all of the seedling oats out of a field planted for grazing and spread an infection that can kill a cow in a day. I could just see such a device being fired into a tree and the blast stunning a thousand then going under the tree and stomping them all. I do have a license from the state to trap them but it involves going into the trap and twisting their heads off one at a time. You have to wear gloves doing this as they will try to bite you.

You've got some tough stuff in Texas!

Why not make .30-40 bird shot loads?

Fred - No exploding bullets for you.

Y'all will burn down the house!

I saw something like what you're describing, Fred, on "Walking Dead" the other day.

Twisting their heads off one at a time. I hope you're wearing gloves!

Maybe we should rename it "Walking Fred"!

We sure got off track now! With flocks of several thousand hitting the wing at once, if you get 10 or 12 birds per shot you are doing good with dove loads, 3 to 5 is the usual. Really you just drive them away for a few minutes then they are back. You all probably have the same birds up there, you just have not noticed them. They migrate to this area during the winter always a few around but huge numbers in the fall and  winter. Correct name for them is "brown headed cow birds" not to be confused with the white cattle egret which is a beneficial bird.

Some Krag cartridges
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Two "Guard" cartridges, a paper bullet blank, a  standard ball round and a "bulletless" blank

Thanks Ned for posting the picture of various Krag rounds.

I was going to CMP, Anniston when the Krags were available. I saw several with this modification although the brass inserts were secured with screws through the side plate on the ones that I observed. There were two classes of Krags: 1) the ones turned in from VFW's, American Legion Posts, etc. and 2). ones belonging to the movies studios ( MGM, RKO etc, ) that were traded to the CMP for M1903/03-A3 drill rifles that was needed for the TV series South Pacific. The ones from the VFW's, American Legion, etc were, in general, in better condition. I still have my M1898 with 1898 cartouche and M1896 rear sight. I wish I had bought one from RKO. Could have been used by John Wayne or Errol Flynne.

butlersrangers wrote on Feb 11^th, 2020 at 9:18pm:

Thanks Ned for posting the picture of various Krag rounds.

I wanted to post a picture of just the blanks together for comparison relevant to the blank firing adapter, but that was all I could find for now.

Thanks for the insights.  I clearly have three of the exact blank adapters described by Mallory.

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"fatdog" - Thanks for sharing pictures of this interesting device!