The evolution of this sporter is sad and some here may think what it eventually has become even adds to that in a way.... It was 2007 and browsing a LGS I came across this cut down Model 1898 - the first Krag I had even seen.  Knew of them and wasn't looking for one but was definitely attracted to it. The legendary buttery smooth action and the clean condition with not a speck of rust on it - in fact, all the metal and wood was still covered with cosmoline - had me going back over to handle it for the fourth time when over my shoulder I heard "You can have it for $50 off the tag." So with that the rifle and a box of Remington ammo followed me home that day.

To say this rifle had been butchered would be an understatement. This Bubba's middle name must have also been Bubba! The forestock had recently been cut off with a grinding wheel WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE BARREL!!! There were deep nicks cut into the sides and bottom of the barrel and the end of the now shortened stock still had the grooves around it to prove it.

The barrel had been cut to 24" and a banded sight base was literally hammered onto the end of it. There was no crown to speak of so I wasn't surprised the bullets all keyholed at 50yds but I was just checking the overall function with a few rounds to gauge what I had. 

I didn't want to put much into it including the cost and permanence of drilling and tapping holes in the receiver so attached a Williams receiver sight and front base to it with JB Weld. I decided to cut the barrel an additional 2.5" behind the battered front sight base to 20" because I liked the handling of that length in the woods with various carbines I owned. I filed the muzzle as flat as I could get it and used a RCBS chamfering tool to clean up the crown and it shot surprisingly well with jacketed and cast (311284 and Lee 309-200-R) and even round balls even though the first 8" or so of barrel was pretty much shot out. 

This is what it looked like at that point.

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