Is anyone aware of any user installable barrel bands available to place on a Krag sporter? I'm updating my Dad's old Model 1899 to use for deer hunting this year and would like to place swivel studs into the stock for ease of carry. But I have concerns about the weakness of the stock in the thin area beneath the magazine potentially resulting in fracture at that area while using a sling to transport in the field.

Thanks,

RomeoJim

You are wise person to realize the need for something like a barrel band. Even without a sling the 2 trigger guard screws are too close together and many stocks have been broken by the action wanting to come out of the stock when it is fired.
In years gone by there was a commercial fix almost as good as a pillar. Butler's Rangers has posted a photo of the old ad. Getting an original barrel band and using wood working tools to fit it to your new location may be the best. Fitting a forward pillar would require metal working skills as well as wood working skills. I am not aware of any commercial pillars today.
There are swivels that attach to the barrel but that does not help with the weakness of just using just the 2 trigger guard screws to hold the receiver down.

I just bought a barrel band with the sling loop from movieman630 on ebay. I think he had more. This is probably what you're looking for. check that out.
Kerry

A picture of your Krag's forearm might give a better idea of what might work.

Solutions also depend on type of front sight. If the front sight is easily removed, more possibilities exist. If the front sight base is brazed or soldered on, installing a band is trickier or more limited.

As others have mentioned, Krag Stocks tend to develop cracks if the barrel is not solidly 'held down' in the barrel-channel.

In the 1920's and 30's, gunsmiths put elegant barrel-bands on sporting rifles. In time, tastes and practices changed and barrel-bands went out of use.

If the wood will allow it, fitting an original Krag barrel-band is a great solution. Brownell's has a variety of commercial barrel-bands that might be adapted.

The Rice Company once had a practical solution. I have a Bubba 'altered' 1903 band that is a crude temporary fix. (Both are pictured).

I've enclosed a photo of my grandfather's Model 1898. It has a thin barrel band with a screw that goes through and anchors the stock to it. It can be seen not far behind the front swivel stud.

Butlers Rangers, I had a friend that had a Savage with that style band. He broke the band and I fabricated a new one for him out of the black strapping used on pallets. Feeler gauge stock would have also worked but would have needed bluing to look good. Thanks for the reminder I had forgotten what it looked like.
Also his rifle did not look like that, so that style of barrel band was used on other rifles making the likely hood that it is still available even greater.
If Jim is able to make this work I am sure others could benefit from the part numbers and the experience pulling this off.

Dick,
The next time you have an excuse to that one down can you take some photos?
I looked in Brownel's catalog for the 340 Savage part #s and not there, not sure how to contact Savage to check. That system was easy and good, I am thinking how to make that Part #34, and I do have the right size collet a 1/4 x 1/2.
Looked further in the Brownel's and they have some one piece bands #593-159-004AQ 593-159-003AQ that would be appropriate for a Krag without a front sight or a removable front sight. They are cheap enough but I have no idea what the look like as the drawing is poor and small.

Numrich gun parts corp. was the source of the old Savage model 340 schematic.

FWIW - I searched their site and they appear to have the Savage band & screw in stock, but, not the special nut.

I have no idea of the dimensions of the Savage parts. I just always thought they had a good idea for a barrel-band, that was discrete and could be put on without removing the front sight.

A handy person could build a variation on such a band. I like Dick Hosmer's idea for trapping the nut.

A 'quick-detachable' swivel-screw, of the machine-screw variety, would be a nice anchor screw for such a barrel-band.