....and a Krag followed me home.

[trails4u]

Well.... It made it to the bucket list, and I found one I just couldn't pass up! Still working on the bore, but it's showing great promise and I think it's going to clean up nice.

I'll be catching up on all the great Krag posts here as well.....looks like I have a lot to learn!!

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[WILCO]

Wondeful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FLINTNFIRE]

Nice , really nice , you will enjoy that one.

[smithnframe]

Very nice!

[swheeler]

You are going to enjoy shooting cast in that rifle, I see a 314299 mold or clone in your future, enjoy!

[georgerkahn]

Congrats on what appears to be a very fine rifle! Years back, I got the "Krag-bug", proving that one gets what they pay for, and in my case -- what one did not get ;)! To say mine was rough would be quite the overstatement; I never could get it to shoot very well. The "plus" side, however, it was one of very very few where I shot better than the firearm did!
If you have interest, Glenn Fryxell has a delightful page on the .30-40 Krag, you may wish to read: http://www.lasc.us/FryxellCB30-40Krag.htm
Mine was a real old-timer, a Springfield Model of 1898 .30-40 Krag, S/n 430,0xx which was made in 1902
BEST wishes!
geo

[JMax]

I have an 1898 also made in 1902 that was cut down to carbine length with a Lyman 48 peep sight. The bore is a bit dark but I shoot clay pigeons with abandon at 100 yards. I cast using the NOE equivalent of 299314 gas checked sized to .312” after PC. A wonderful rifle to shoot. I also have a Norwegian in 6.55x55 made in 1916 that also was cut down with a peep sight. It also is clay pigeon slayer at 100. Both were very inexpensive and I am not into collector rifles but love to shoot these pieces of history.

[jugulater]

The lyman 314299 design works fantastic in Krags with the original “oversized” .30 cal barrels. The US Krag rifles i’ve owned all shot great with the 314299. i kept the most accurate one, a Model 1898 with the 1902 style rear sight on the barrel with the nearly useless flip-up peep sight.

headspace is an important thing to check on these guns as the single locking lug is not known for strength.

[444ttd]

very nice krag!!!!! try a 165gr ranch dog ( https://bullshop.weebly.com/-30-caliber-cast-bullets.html ), it kills deer D-E-D!!!!!:veryconfu [smilie=l:

my krag was bubbasized(barrel was cut to 21 7/8"+/-) and it had a bishop stock(1950-60's don't know). i don't remember the serial number, but its a 1903 version. i found the original stock in my grandpaps basement. i then 0000 steel wooled it and put on johnson paste wax. since the rifle was bubbasized, i put on redfield no drill 102k peep sight. i and my son, have killed 10-12 deer with the 165gr RD(1926fps) and h4198. the krag is a BOOM, flop kinda rifle.

before
https://i.imgur.com/72PElHf.jpg?1

after
https://i.imgur.com/7BTwpwD.jpg

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Nice find, trails4u. It's unusual to find them with that much bluing remaining on the receiver and loading gate, so I'd speculate it wasn't carried that often and has been well cared for. Careful-- owing one sometimes leads to more.;)

[JoeJames]

Wow, I love the inspector stamps. I have never seen any before in that good a condition! Outstanding.

[trails4u]

Wow, I love the inspector stamps. I have never seen any before in that good a condition! Outstanding.

Yeah, Joe.... That was the deal breaker for me, along with decent finish left on the metal. I took a chance, hit the 'give it to me' button, and it seems to have been in my favor. Still working on the bore (lots of black/brown still coming out) but it'll get there. 10-15 patches a night with a little scrubbing in between....she'll be like new in no time. There is good evidence of sharp rifling....so I'm hopeful.

Thanks, all...for you kind words! I hope it shoots as good as it looks! :)

[Baltimoreed]

Wow, I love the inspector stamps. I have never seen any before in that good a condition! Outstanding.
Here’s my 1896 Krag rifle that I found in Baltimore last year. It was covered in cosmoline.
Btw, thats a nice rifle trails4u that followed you to the house.
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[trails4u]

Here’s my 1896 Krag rifle that I found in Baltimore last year. It was covered in cosmoline.
Btw, thats a nice rifle trails4u that followed you to the house.
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Nice!!!!!!!!

[gnoahhh]

Nice Krags all.

Y'all do realize don't you that there are a lot of reproduction inspector's stamps out there? If the stamping is out of character with the condition of the stock one has to question its validity, especially if the stock is uncharacteristically nice indicating expert reconditioning or expert "aging" of a new stock. One absolutely must view such things with a jaundiced eye.

[Adam Helmer]

Trails4u,

VERY NICE Krag! I was fortunate to obtain two 1898 rifles in Excellent condition here in rural PA 20 years ago. My first Krag was a M1896 Carbine "Bubba" cut the barrel to 16" and put it in a sporter stock. The bore was rusted when I bought her for $40. My gunsmith put on a new barrel and put original sights back on for $50. I fell in love with the smooth action. A few years later I got both rifles and a year later found an original bayonet and scabbard at a yard sale for $12.

It appears your rifle has the Buffington windage adjustable rear sight. One of my rifles has the tangent rear sight and the other has the Buffington. I was surprised to see the pristine condition of the stock stampings! I wonder how the stock impressions avoided a century of wear?

Adam

[trails4u]

Trails4u,

VERY NICE Krag! I was fortunate to obtain two 1898 rifles in Excellent condition here in rural PA 20 years ago. My first Krag was a M1896 Carbine "Bubba" cut the barrel to 16" and put it in a sporter stock. The bore was rusted when I bought her for $40. My gunsmith put on a new barrel and put original sights back on for $50. I fell in love with the smooth action. A few years later I got both rifles and a year later found an original bayonet and scabbard at a yard sale for $12.

It appears your rifle has the Buffington windage adjustable rear sight. One of my rifles has the tangent rear sight and the other has the Buffington. I was surprised to see the pristine condition of the stock stampings! I wonder how the stock impressions avoided a century of wear?

Adam

Based on the overall condition of the rifle (metal, stock and bore) I honestly don't think it's seen a ton of use throughout its life. You never really know, I guess? The guy I bought if from said it was a safe queen belonging to his father-in-law....reportedly that's where it spend around the last 50 years or so. Truth? Who knows....? It also bears no rack stamps or markings, so not likely to have been pushed into post-war service either. I have no reason, yet, to doubt it's authenticity. I've also shared photos over on the Krag Collectors website....maybe someone there with more knowledge than myself will chime in.

[rmcc]

NICE find!! I have (2), an 1898 and a 1900. Love the Buffington rear sights! I found the recipe of 40 grs IMR 4350 with 220 gr JRN from Hornady shot to calibrations on sights, or as close as I can shoot. You will love shooting it. Mine likes the Lyman 311467 sized to .311

[Drm50]

I lucked out kinda, missed a local estate sale and the guns. Family called me up and ask if I was interested in buying military ammo. Bought several ammo cans of M2 30 ball, 7.62 NATO and 5.56.
I had old WW2 type ammo cans with 30/40 in same type of throw away bandoliers and a drywall bucket full. Frankfort Arsenal 1905 stamped on bandoleers. Down side even though ammo was shiny new it was broke down inside case. I pulled over 2k rds and salvaged bullets. I only got a little over 100 good brass out of the deal.

[Baltimoreed]

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My first krag was a faked carbine [didn't do my homework] but rather than try to put it right which is impossible I decided to make a krag/scout rifle out of it. Turned out nice, already had a IER scope and horse traded for a nice sporter stock. Shortened the already cut bbl a bit more. My next krag was a legit 1899 Constabulary/school rifle and my last was the minty ‘96. Btw, the bowie bayonet on my school rifle is one that I put together from a parts 1917 bolo and a junky krag bayonet. Great rifles especially now that we can get .30-40 brass.

[Andy45]

Back in the 70s I worked for a nice gent who gifted me with a couple rifles as part of payment. An original minty Krag carbine and a minty all matching G-43. Ammo for these was expensive at the time. A few years later I decided I had to have a good varmint rifle and was talked into a pricy Sako .243. I didn't know much about guns at the time. A local dealer convinced me that neither of my old rifles were safe to shoot (one locking lug & cast receiver, respectively). Like a dummy I used those rifles to bring down the price of the Sako. I still have it, and it's taken a lot of chucks & deer, but it also reminds me of my gullibility back then. I'd rather still have either of those rifles now instead of the Sako.