I recently brought home my grandfathers 1898 Krag from my father's home. I used this gun for Elk hunting in Montana as a boy. I need information on how best to disassemble, clean and inspect it to make sure it is still suitable to shoot. Any information about this gun would be welcome. The serial number is 98829. Pictures are attached. There is a mounting hole (?) about 1 1/2 inch in front of the rear sight. Is the rear sight original? I will add a number of photos. Thanks

1st pic of my gun

Is this the standard original rear sight?

Is this hole in front of the rear sight standard or is this a mounting hole added at a later date? Thanks for any help you can give me. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

Craig R.:  Your Grandfather's Krag, Serial #98829, probably started life as a U.S. Army Infantry Rifle built in June 1898 (at Springfield Armory, Mass.).  The Stock has been shortened in the forearm area to make it into a handier length for hunting.  It appears the barrel band has been ground to remove the sling swivel and now has an open 'slit' and uses friction to hold it in place.  Your rear sight is a commercial sporting sight made by "King".  Your barrel has been altered by being 'dovetailed' to hold the King sight.  The original sight would have been the 1896 model Krag sight and held on by two screws.  The tapped holes for these screws may still be present on your barrel.  The "medalion" is filling the wood opening for the rear sling swivel and probably bears the name of a previous owner (G.E.Wait).  You have a nice looking sporterized Krag with a family connection.  It would be interesting to know the barrel length and see a picture of the front sight.  Chuck

Good info. Thanks. Too bad it wasn't left in its original state. I don't hunt much anymore, if I did I have a newer lighter rifle to use. I just need to clean this one up and occasionally shoot it for old times sake (and cause it is always fun to shoot different guns).