Whig wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 4:15pm:


Because the -ahem- gentleman acquired a modified 94 without a cleaning rod, which are more rare than a virgin goat in Mecca, and sold it as near original.  It is a repro rod.  A hundred and twenty year old piece of brass should not be bright and shiny as a new candle stick. it should look like it has been touched and oxidized.  Similiar to a bright new one cent coin and a thirty year old one.

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You are focusing on the stock.  It is a transient item.  You can change a bad stock for a correct stock, heh if you can find one, and all would be good.  Most of the time when someone says the 1894s were modified to 1896 means the hold open notch has been cut into the receiver.  And the cocking piece is typically a 1896.

That notch, and all other parts being equal, can be a few thousand dollar difference in the value of the Krag from what I have seen over the years.

One of the guys here picked up the most complete Krag I have ever seen.  It even had the original squared cocking piece.

Well that is the problem.  Did every Krag get sent back to Springfield for mods?  After reading Joe Farmer's book I would think not so much.  Did most?  Yep.  Did a rare unicorn fall through the cracks?  I'm thinking yes.

I would not pay thousands for a 1894 if the "specialness" is gone and it is a run of the mill 800-1000 dollar Krag.  The specialness is an unmodified receiver.  Everything else is just parts.  Of course if the rifle is under a certain date then you can get into the lunatic hunt for the correct serial numbered parts.  3140 has its matching parts and original cleaing rod.  112 does not. 

Culpeper wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 5:41pm:


I'm gonna hold you to that bub!!!