I recently inherited 2 krag rifles, 1 that looks to be original and the other cut down, stock painted and barrel either nickel or chrome plated. The one that looks original has a very pitted barrel and bore, is there any way to re-barrel or anything else l could do to get it shootable again thank you for any info l can get on it. Serial #164986 not sure what year it was manufactured

Welcome to the Forum.  Pull up a powder keg and light a pipe and we'll get down to business.

You say the barrel is pitted?  Have you cleaned it yet to see how it shoots with factory or home rolled jacketed loads on paper?  I have a M1917 that looks like Pelosi's heart, black and rotten, but it'll hold the ten ring if I do my part.

Maybe your old boy will do the same.  Maybe not.  Ya gots to check.

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Mr. Gun Nutz,

Welcome to KCA. You've stopped off at the right place to learn about your Krags and how to best rekindle the old war horses!

Your one Krag serial number 164986 was manufactured at Springfield Armory somewhere in the range of December 1898 into January 1899. Since the feds use Krag serial number 152671 as the official Krag serial number made January 1, 1899 requiring registration, it would appear that your Krag was officially born in January 1899.

Yours is a Model 1898 Krag rifle.

There are original Krag barrels floating around out there for purchase that can be switched with your current worn barrel and some companies that will replace your barrel with a newly made one in great condition. Either way costs money and takes a skilled gunsmith with the correct tools to remove and switch barrels. Re-boring can be done but is not usually the best choice.

We have found, though, that many Krags with crappy looking barrels can still be quite accurate. You might want to clean yours up well, have it examined if there is any question of shootability or condition of the bolt and chamber (usually not a problem but I mention it to be careful), get some .30-40 Krag ammo and blast away! You might be surprised at the results you get.

At least you could check it out before getting into the cost too deep.

If you are able to do so, can you post pictures of your Krags? We love to see Krags and comment on all types of details from good to bad for what you have, always with friendly intentions.

I checked the Springfield Research Service manuals and your Krag serial number is not listed as a documented Krag rifle. Only about 5% are listed, so don't fret. Many people ask about that listing.

Good luck and welcome again!

Thank you for the info, they are a very cool part of history l am very intrigued by them. I dropped the nickel/chrome plated one off at my local gunsmith it had a baby crap brown painted stock 🥴 he is working on stripping it, sent me pics and low and behold it has an absolutely gorgeous walnut stalk cartouche still there but very faint looks like it maybe got sanded out before it got painted. It looks to have the original front sight with silver soldered base and blade pinned on but worn down front blade shooting about 14-16” high at 50yds with rear sight all the down

Oops, l meant walnut stock 🤭 The bore cleaned up pretty nice on that one too. Stock was cut down and barrel cut down to 23 1/2” that’s why l am surprised to see that front sight and not the band with the dovetail blade on it. Trying to figure out how to post pics of the other one now it has a C on right side of rear sight if that means anything, sorry still learning about them. It has a 30” barrel on it also, not sure if leather sling is original to the gun, it has a 75 stamped in it l will try get some pics posted, thank you again

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More 1898 pics

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The pictures are showing a pretty nice Krag rifle, so far.

If that rear sight with the "C" on the right side of the base is on this rifle, it is incorrect. The "C" marked rear sights were designed for the carbines which had 22 inch barrels compared to the rifle's 30 inch barrels. The ballistics are different and required sights with different graduations for that firearm.

If you do indeed have a carbine sight on the rifle, you can purchase a correct Krag rifle sight from ebay or Gun Broker or one of the online parts companies that have them for sale.

I have extra Krag rear sights I could "trade" you for your carbine sight, with a little extra cash, depending on the rest of your sight appearance, because the carbine sights are harder to find and usually worth a little more. The M1896 carbine rear sight can be worth $500 or more. Yours might be a M1902 rear sight but I didn't see all of it.

That sling looks mighty nice, too!

Keep the pictures coming. Thanks for sharing.

more 1898 pics. I do have a screw for the back of the trigger guard that is missing, just got it online

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Whig, thank you for the info, the rear sight has the peep on the back of it that slides up too not sure if that helps

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That's the M1902 rear carbine sight with the Sgt Peep flip-up aperture to assist sighting. The carbine base was graduated different for the carbine but the slide is the same on both.

'Gunnutz' - The model 1902 carbine sight that you appear to have on your rifle is a rare sight. Only 1,000 were made.

Although rare, your 1902 carbine sight is not in high demand, so it does not seem to command the price that the other Krag carbine sights do.

The model 1902 rifle sight is correct for your Krag and very common.
The 1902 rifle sight-base is taller than the carbine version. Your rifle will likely shoot quite low, at 100 yards, with its present incorrect rear-sight.

A couple more pics, trying to get a better rear sight pic

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Thank you butlersrangers for that info, it’s great to have people with the knowledge about these guns for us newbee’s to learn from. It’s interesting because the other 1898 that l have also has that same rear sight. The front sight blade on the other one seems much shorter almost seems like it is worn down kind of rounded off more than this one. I have shot the other one with factory loads 180 gr Hornady soft points it shoots 14-16” high at 50yds, may have to try to find a replacement blade for the front sight if they are available anywhere. Thanks again guys for the info and sharing your knowledge very much appreciated

When I bought my Krag, it's barrel looked rough. After cleaning with Hoppe's no. 9, and C4 carbon remover, it looked fair. Then I used Kroil, and JB's bore cleaning compound. Now the bore looks good, and shoots very accurately.

Reproduction Krag front-sight blades can be purchased from S&S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y. (Their Catalog is view-able online).

The Krag front-sight pin is tapered. It should be driven Left to Right. The rifle blade (alone) is normally .413" tall, when measured out of its base.

A taller front-sight will lower the point on the target where your 'cut-down' rifle groups.

Since this Krag's barrel was shortened, the front sight base was undoubtedly re-attached.
The base is very likely shorter than it was originally.

You might be further ahead just making a new 'taller' blade (out of a coin, sheet metal, or brass) and experimenting.

It is unlikely an original blade will be quite the right height, because the location and base height have all been changed.
These changes have altered the 'sighting angle' to the point you are shooting a foot high.

Maybe the gunsmith, you have working on this Krag, can estimate, make, and insert a taller blade, while he has your gun?

Just an after thought on your 'cut-down' Krag.

Plated or Chromed, painted stock, shortend barrel .... It is likely this was made into a 'parade rifle' by some Veterans or Drill Group.

IMHO - You don't want to pour too much money into this Krag.

The chrome or nickel plated Krags were only used for parades or other celebratory purposes. If done well, they can look really neat. I have one in my collection that was nickel plated. I bought it because it is in nice condition and the nickel plating is excellent. But, as Butlers says above, they are not in much demand and not very valuable.

All Krags can be collected and enjoyed. If yours is plated, though, it may need the bore and chamber checked out. Sometimes these were altered to allow only blanks to be shot or to prevent shooting altogether. Some of these parade rifles had the firing pin removed or striker hole welded shut. Also, if the bore was plated along with the external metal, it could affect proper function with a .30 caliber bullet.

So, be cautious if considering trying to shoot the parade rifle.

I sent a personal message to you. Look at the top of the page to link to your message.

Can you post pictures of the parade rifle?

Thanks!

As Butlersrangers mentioned above...replacement Krag front sights can be purchased from S & S firearms.

Here's a link to their website which list an extra tall front sight that can be filed down to meet your needs.

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Thank you Capt. Frank l will try that, so far l have tried shooters choice and sweats 7.62. I don’t have a borescope but if l hold it up to a light it looks like it has some pitting in the chamber and in the barrel, not sure if it had Ammo with corrosive primers shot in it and not cleaned or just neglected over it’s lifetime. The rest of the gun on the outside looks great, like a 120 year patina. I am going to try your method and see if it will clean up some more. Thank you all for welcoming me to your forum and for the ongoing knowledge you share, these rifles are a great part of our firearms history and l am enjoying learning more about them.

butlersrangers, l will check that website out for front sight blade, thank you. I just stopped by the gunsmith shop today and l think l am just going to have him refinish the stock, he got all the baby crap brown thick paint stripped off and l really can’t nor could he, believe what a beautiful piece of walnut was hiding under it. He has done quite a few older military firearms and he said he has never seen wood like that. It is nickel finish on it and in very good shape he said it was done very well so l am going leave it alone. He set the barrel w/action back in the stock and it looks pretty good. I will get some pics posted as soon as l get back. He is going to do an oil finish so l am excited to see the finished product

Hi all, just got my other Krag back today from the gunsmith. I had the stock stripped and refinished, he put 10 coats of tiny oil on, worked on the trigger pull, fixed a couple cracks in the stock, replaced two pieces of wood that were missing just in front of the bolt handle and just in front of the side plate and glass bedded the action, it was a little loose in the stock. Still amazed at the wood on this 120ish year old military rifle

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I debated about the nickel finish if l should have him get it back to blued but it is in good condition and l ended up liking the contrast of the natural walnut with the nickel plating so l am going to leave it that way. Not sure if anyone can give me any info on the he sights it looks like a SA installed front sight but l’m not sure. The barrel has been cut to 23 1/2 inches on it. Would that be something SA would have done? Cutting the barrel down reinstall the front sight and put nickel plate finish to make a ceremony gun or parade gun? Thank you for any info you can give on it

Gunnutz-

Your reworked Krag looks great with that wonderful new stock finish. Very nicely done and it certainly has brightened up the rifle dramatically. I have a nickel plated Krag rifle and, even though it has no military collector's value, I bought it because it looks neat! The nickel plating is much nicer than the chrome plating crap I've seen.

Generally, Springfield Armory did not refinish Krags in nickel or chrome and did not create "parade" rifles. They did create school rifles to be used at certain military institutions but not like ours. Your barrel was apparently cut and a new front sight was put on by someone else.

Your front sight, in the one picture, looks a little off. The top of the sight base looks non-parallel to the barrel. The base does look like a good welding or brazing job but I can't see the entire base.

The pictures below show how precisely Springfield Armory brazed the bases on the Krag barrels. It is seemless and almost invisible. There can be seen a small rim where the brazing was done but very light in most cases.

Otherwise, you have a nice Krag. You can shoot it, if the action is sound, and enjoy it. Many pitted barrels have enough rifling to still be very accurate. Don't worry about that.

Good job!

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Here are pictures of my Nickel Plated Krag.

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Whig, your nickel plated krag looks great, very clean. After looking at your front sights in the pics l noticed mine looks different at the base, it doesn’t flare out as much front and back, could mine have been cut off when the barrel got shortened and re-welder maybe? That may be why it shoots about 14” high at 50yds here is another pic of my front sight.

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Whig, l meant to ask, which rear sight is that on your nickel krag? I’m still trying to learn about them all, thank you

The incorrect rear sight on my Nickel plated Krag is the M1892 sight.



Krag Sights - Left to Right: Model 1892, 1896, 1898, 1901, 1902:

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Great informative pics thank you l really appreciate your forum and the knowledge you all share.

Gunnutz - If you 'mouse-click' on the KCA Logo at the top of this page, it will take you to a KCA Main Page.

Click on the tab marked "photos" and it will open all kinds of interesting stuff.

FWIW - I believe your front-sight is a sleeve, that was made from a section of the original barrel-muzzle. It then appears to have been mounted on a 'step', machined at the tip of the shortened barrel.

There is nothing wrong with that and it explains the apparent seam around the barrel.

The first attached sight photo and the one 'Whig' used are from the KCA information pages.

The second attached photo is of an actual model 1898 sight. (The KCA photo that Whig posted shows one that was modified, by rounding the corners and eliminating out-side notches, to make a variant of the 1902 sight).

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I don't see as anyone mentioned Bobby Hoyt in PA. If the bore in your 1898 is indeed, ruined, Bobby can reline the bore. You will have a brand new bore and keep the originl barrel with the rifle.

I have an 1898 Carbine he did and the work is invisible. He has done 3 other rifles for me.

Thank you Mark, does Bobby Hoit have a website or do you have any contact info for him? Do you remember how much he charges to re-bore a krag barrel, mine is a 30” barrel

last I knew it was north of 2 bills, south of 3.

Freischutz Shop, 700 Fairfield Station Rd., Fairfield, Pa. 17320. His phone # 717-642-6696

Check the contact info, this was 2017

👍 thank you