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This batch shows the only problem with the stock - a small chip-out at the base of the receiver.

'OBXJER' - Welcome to the KCA Forum. You have a nice looking model 1898 Krag.

Dick Hosmer has given you correct information on model and original manufacture time frame of your Krag.

Go slow and conservative with the cleaning. A lot of enthusiasts, new to U.S. Krags, are unfamiliar with how Krags were finished and should appear.

Case-Hardened receiver colors and patina on metal parts has been lost on many Krags by aggressive cleaning and lack of knowledge as to what is correct. Light surface rust and crud can be removed with small patches of #0000 steel wool saturated with Hoppes #9 solvent. A light touch will avoid harming metal finish and patina. Wipe solvent and loosened crud with paper towels as you move along the metal.

Initial wood cleaning should be done with soft rags and mineral spirits. Follow up with a wipe of Linseed Oil. (It appears to me you may have an American walnut stock and an Italian walnut hand-guard. Their colors may not match perfectly. That is 'OK' it happened).

To avoid cracking the hand-guard, it should be removed by sliding it toward the muzzle, after first removing the Stock and rear-sight. If 'snapped' over the barrel, hand-guards will crack. Take advantage of the barrel taper for easy hand-guard removal.

The pin that holds the front-sight blade in its base has a slight taper. To remove the pin, it should be driven 'left to right'.

"Grandpa's Gun parts" in the KCA Classifieds is a good source for original Krag parts and accessories.

If your Stock does not have a 'cartouche' (initials J.S.A. and a date) on the left-side in front of the wrist, it is likely the stock was replaced during an Armory refurbishment. Many Krags were repaired and refurbished between 1903 and 1918.

There is a minor chip/crack in your stock in the area behind the side-plate. A little wood glue, while the wood is dry, should repair that.

Your rear-sight is the model 1902 type that has probably been Armory rebuilt. The serrations look like a 1903 leaf.

Thanks everyone for the info.
I misread the chart on this Serial # site ( (You need to Login to view media files and links)). Thank you for correcting me. As you pointed out, I have an 1898 Model Manufactured in 1899.
I dismantled the rifle today and completely agree. This is almost assuredly an arsenal rebuild. The stock is too perfect, and (as was pointed out) the hand-guard doesn't match the stock, most of the screws haven't been bunged up, and it was still covered in cosmoline. The barrel only has some very minor pits along the stock line and is in very good condition.
I have restored 2 Martini Henrys, a 1906 M96 Mannlicher Dutch Rifle, a Yugo 24/47, and a 303 SMLE and of all of them, this rifle is in the nicest condition. A little cleaning and oiling and it will be ready to shoot. Now to make the cartridges.
Thank you again for your input.

I saw that on the slide right off.  I also noticed the cross hatching of the leaf, that makes for very fine adjustment, though it's very hard to feel when you've moved only one notch.  From the 1903 sight perhaps?

Did they ever make a sight micrometer for that model? If not, I wonder if you could jury-rig something?

Dick Hosmer wrote on Oct 28^th, 2017 at 3:08pm:


It seems unlikely anyone bothered with fine adjusters for the 1898, 1902 or 1903 sights since serious competitors of that era wanted a Buffington - and they (eventually) got the 1901 and 1905 sights to satisfy the need.