I've been a fan of the Krag since my youth as my dad had one and it was the first high-power rifle I ever shot.  I've always wanted to pick one up and ran across this M1898 Rifle.  The only modification I can find is the sights were changed out, as I was told the former owner used it for silhouette comp.  The rear sight (minus base) was included along with the rifle and six boxes of ammo.  It was sold on consignment at a gun shop and the store owner contacted the previous rifle owner for me and unfortunately he could not find the front sight or rest of the rear sight parts (darn!).

I'm a very amateur firearms collector but like to shoot and hunt.  I don't think I could appropriately grade this rifle condition though think it would fit in good to very good category, save for the above noted modification.  The chamber, bore, rifling and crown all look excellent to me.  The stock is solid with a few minor dings, the receiver and action are solid and function perfectly.  I have yet to fire this rifle, though the prior owner shot it competitively at the same club the gun store owner shoots at, so I'm not worried about its function and accuracy.

Its SN is 3875XX (1902 mfgr), the cartouche is 1900, the rear sight I believe is 1901 variation.  Not knowing anymore about its history, I understand this could all be consistent with an armory rebuild, though have no idea what anybody did to this rifle other than the sight switchout.  In the pictures below I assume the "60C" stamped in the buttplate is probably some kind of rifle rack identifier or such.  I am curious if the "A. L." in the stock between the proofmark and trigger guard is some form of original Armory mark or just somebody's add-on afterwards.  The sling is a repro I bought.

I would like to restore this to original sights.  Does that seem like a feasible and worthwhile project?  I would have to find parts and would need a gunsmith to remove the ersatz front site and braze an original.

Pics below.

DocCasualty:  Where are you at in Northern Michigan?  There are several of us on the forum, who reside in the south of Michigan.  I live near Fenton.  Your Krag's hand-guard is for the 1901 rear sight.  The sight ladder you have is for a 1903 Springfield, not a Krag.  Word of caution: when you take your hand-guard off your barrel, slide it forward off the barrel.  Turn it 180 degree so the clips are up and clear the front sight base.  If you pull it off and snap it on the barrel, it is likely to crack!  I believe your beautiful stock is from one of the Italian Walnut blanks Springfield purchased in 1899-1900, when they were short on stock wood.  Your present stock was not the first one on your rifle.  The "A.L." initials appear on many 1898 Krag stocks and are probably the initials of a stock workman/sub inspector. The #60C or #600 is probably a rack number.  That is a mighty nice Krag that Buba got to!  You should be able to find a 1901 sight and screws on ebay or gunbroker.  Better yet, contact one of the forum members in 'Classifieds' (on the home page), who sell parts.  A 1901 sight with its peculiar screws can be found for around $75 to $90.  They also show up at gun shows.  S&S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y. has some Krag Parts, screws and a reproduction Front Sight Base.  Your Krag is so nice, it is worthy of a careful & skillful restoration.

1901 Rifle Sight and screws:

1898 Front Sight:

Wow, thanks for the detailed photos!  I'm excited about moving forward with this.  I know a couple of gunsmiths in TC and I'll have to see what they think they could do with a project like this front sight, once I obtain parts.  I know it's beyond my skills and you're right, I wouldn't want to leave it to another Bubba!

butlersrangers wrote on Mar 4^th, 2013 at 12:54am:

I've been thinking the same thing but haven't pulled it yet.  I need to do that to know for sure the parts I'll need.

I didn't buy the rifle with any promise of the stripped sight parts, though the owner relayed that I could have them if he found them.  I have a suspicion that they're probably laying in the bottom of a drawer in his shop or such.  Who knows, maybe he sold them or tossed 'em.   

BTW, I absolutely agree that those sights are ugly.  I honestly can't imagine doing that to such a nice rifle, though guess he was focused on function, not form.  Who knows . . .

psteinmayer wrote on Mar 5^th, 2013 at 1:59am:
Thanks for your comments.  I see there are some other 'ganders here!

I pulled that Williams rear sight tonight and it is the proper short screw and fits nicely in the rearward sight hole, so far so good.