well we know it is a model 1898 the serial number does help though, it is a sport stock on it and seem to have a after market site on the from and some form of rear peep site. The rear site does appear to be the one for the Krag but you did not show a good picture of it. and are the two screw hole on the top of the barrel behine the barrel band? and what is the length of the barrel and of the stock.

your rifle was built in 1899 in April or May of that year

James:  Leave it and shoot it as is.  It is a nice old sporterized Krag and possibly a family heirloom.  Restoration would be a waste of effort, a waste of money, and come-up short.  Enjoy it as it is and save money to buy an as issued Krag if you want one.  My 2-Cents

I dont know of any place that restores Krags, it would cost a lot, you would have to get all of the needed parts then find a good gunsmit to restore it and that would be the most cost for the project, like the other person stated, leave as is and enjoy it. With what it would cost you could by a very nice rifle in the same model as the one you have now, or in another one that you may want to get.

James:  The Krag ('Sporterized') was an incredibly popular and inexpensive Deer Rifle all over the U.S. from the 1920s to the 1950s.  During the Great Depression, a surplus Krag could be obtained for a few Dollars.  The Krag introduced many Americans to the Bolt Action Rifle, at a time when Lever-Guns were King.  For hunting, it was most practical to shorten an Infantry length Rifle to Carbine dimensions.  Very few Krag sporters are practical candidates for a Restoration.  Your Sporter appears to have an interesting commercial 'Peep' sight.  It would be interesting to see a picture of this sight.  Many of these After-market sights are collectible and worth $75 to $150.  The metal finish in your photos looks nice.  Try cleaning off surface rust with #0000 steel wool saturated with Hoppe's #9 Solvent.  Don't re-finish your metal.  Save the original finish.  The bolt is suppose to be unfinished ('in the white').  Just wipe down your wood with Linseed Oil.  'Pledge' Furniture Polish seems benign to gunstocks.  Sporter conversions are a legitimate part of the Krag Story.

James,

To measure the barrel, close the bolt and drop a cleaning rod down the muzzle until it rests against the bolt face.  Then, just mark the cleaning rod at the muzzle and measure it.  Most cutdowns are 22 inches, although some are 24 inches, and I have heard of a couple cut to 20 inches too.  My sporter is 24 inches!

As for cleaning, I would remove the bolt, and just run some patches down the bore!

Paul

As far as cleaning goes...  unless you have some serious problems or major crud building up in the magazine gate, I would avoid disassembly beyond removing the stock, bolt, side plate, and disassembling the bolt.  I have been shooting my Krags for a few decades, and have never disassembled beyond removing and disassembling the bolt and scrubbing the bore... and I've never had a problem!  IMHO, it's just not necessary!

Paul