Premium gunsmithery on a U.S. Springfield Armory M1898 Krag Jorgensen

[clcustom1911]

Not a "sniper rifle" but, some vintage rifffle gunporn.

My buddy wanted me to look over a 30-40 Krag he recently acquired... Looks like one of the "sporterized" cut-down versions after the Army dumped them in favor of the 1903...

This one had the side-loading box magazine removed. The action is so gummed up with years of dust and whatever that when you pull the trigger the striker just kind of moves forward sluggishly like an entitled millennial looking for an entry-level job.

My first course of action is going to be to remove the barreled action from the stock then de-funkify as best as I can. Serial number puts it made in 1902 from what the Power of The Internet tells me.

Unique piece:

Super-precision muzzle crown:

He also showed me pretty fair condition Krag:

Looks like the linseed oil in the stock has bubbled up and hardened as a texture... indicates to me the rifle was exposed to some kind of heat?? Maybe a house fire at some point? The wood would burn before the level of heat would endanger the heat treatment of the metal, right?

 

[Macca]

Heat probably,but not necessarily much.
At a guess,i’d say too much oil has at one stage been applied & it has leeched out thus creating the texture.

 

[clcustom1911]

125 year old linseed oil vs isopropyl alcohol... Challenge accepted.

 

[Liberator52]

Nice start. Some of those shoot real well. Some like. .310 diameter slugs better than .308. Might slug the barrel when you get that far along.

 

[clcustom1911]

Nice start. Some of those shoot real well. Some like. .310 diameter slugs better than .308. Might slug the barrel when you get that far along.

I've read that. The lands/grooves actually look pretty good with clean edges and visually a good throat from what I can see with the naked eye.

 

[kraigWY]

Little known fact about those 98 Krags. When the Springfields came out they couldnt compete with the krags. In trying to push new Springfields, the Army banned the Krags from Service Rifle and National Matches. Wasnt until about 1909 the got the bugs worked out and they were able to compete with the Krags.

Of course that was then, now no bolt action military rifle can compete with the Springfields in rifle matches.

 

[Spartan67]

Im looking forward to see how this project looks on completion.

 

[Dan M]

That stock looks like Italian Walnut...which was used to stock late Krags.

 

[clcustom1911]

That stock looks like Italian Walnut...which was used to stock late Krags.

I don't believe this is the original stock for the rifle. The serial is 9999 which puts is manufactured in 1895. The receiver has no other markings accept the serial number.

 

[Dan M]

I am not tracking you on that...stocks were never serialized. The final acceptance stamp JSA over the year (J. Sumner Adams) will be on the left side of the stock and a script P in a circle on the bottom of the wrist. Occasionally stocks are stamped with rack numbers.

 

[clcustom1911]

Correct, the stock has no serial number. What I'm saying is the only marking on the actual receiver of the rifle is the serial number "9999". There are no other make or model markings at all on the rifle that I can find.

 

[Dan M]

Sorry, confused the two rifles depicted.

Model 1892 US krag rifles weren’t marked with the word model, just a date. The Model 1901 rear sight and correct handguard shows the rifle was modified. How long is the barrel? Model 1892s originally had a flat muzzle crown, and were fitted with a cleaning rod under the barrel.

 

[clcustom1911]

Sorry, confused the two rifles depicted.

Model 1892 US krag rifles weren’t marked with the word model, just a date. The Model 1901 rear sight and correct handguard shows the rifle was modified. How long is the barrel? Model 1892s originally had a flat muzzle crown, and were fitted with a cleaning rod under the barrel.

30" barrel, rounded crown, likely the original dovetail front Sight:

Rear sight:

Receiver:

When I had the stock apart, it had "99" stamped somewhere in the barrel channel area.

Front of magazine door there's a "9" and either a "U" or the lower half of an "S"

 

[Dan M]

Not an original s/n. Receiver markings have been polished out. You may be able to see vestiges of the original markings using strong light and looking at the receiver at an oblique angle.

 

[clcustom1911]

Not an original s/n. Receiver markings have been polished out. You may be able to see vestiges of the original markings using strong light and looking at the receiver at an oblique angle.

That's what I was beginning to think as well....

Looks like a "3" ??

The "A" and "Y" for "Armory"

 

[Dan M]

Probably an 8...look along the same plane as that number to see other traces of the original stamped markings. The 9999 was hand stamped and not original...isn’ In the correct location as well.

 

[lash]

FWIW, I’ve seen both old varnish and old lacquer have that same bubbled up textured look after long years of storage. It’s not uncommon and not necessarily any indication of heat exposure.

 

[clcustom1911]

Probably an 8

8 for maybe model 1898? Seems logical.

 

[Dan M]

Could be marked 1894, 1895. 1896 or 1898...looking at pics on my iPhone..makes it harder to evaluate images vs monitor. Hard to tell if it is the first 8 in the date of last 8 from 1898.

 

[clcustom1911]

Probably an 8...look along the same plane as that number to see other traces of the original stamped markings. The 9999 was hand stamped and not original...isn’ In the correct location as well.

Get outta my brain!! I was just looking at the other one I got!!

 

[clcustom1911]

Could be marked 1894, 1895. 1896 or 1898...looking at pics on my iPhone..makes it harder to evaluate images vs monitor

its an 8. On my clearly marked 1898, the distance from the right edge of the 8 in 1898 to the right edge of the Y in Armory is 1.875". On the one in question, the distance between the two visible "8" and "Y" markings is the same.

 

[Dan M]

That is definitely an Italian yellow walnut stock.

 

[clcustom1911]

Here's the "nice" one after ridding it of most of the linseed oil finish.

I just got delivery of my Graf brand 30-40 Krag brass (100 pieces). Now to slug the bore and select a projectile.

My micrometer indicated .310" at the bore. Slugging will confirm/deny that.

 

[sandwarrior]

I know a lot of old rifles like these get "sporterized", "Bubba'd", or "customized" and to the collectors it ruins the value. I like seeing the originals too. But, back when these were $1.49 sold as surplus, a lot of people could get these. And they didn't have to have all the weight that a military rifle had. They cut them down to walk the hills and hunt with. Or, as in the case on another post, made into target rifles (Springfield target rifle).

With provenance they have their own set of values, especially considering how well it looks or shoots (or doesn't). But, I still like to see these rifles taken out and used. They may not be exactly like the original, but they still work pretty good, in most cases. In that way, you may not be pushing pure history when you take them out and use them, but you are continuing the memory of great rifles of the past that played a role in history.

Good luck shooting this, I hope you'll like it.

 

[Ledzep]

I know a lot of old rifles like these get "sporterized", "Bubba'd", or "customized" and to the collectors it ruins the value. I like seeing the originals too. But, back when these were $1.49 sold as surplus, a lot of people could get these. And they didn't have to have all the weight that a military rifle had. They cut them down to walk the hills and hunt with. Or, as in the case on another post, made into target rifles (Springfield target rifle).

With provenance they have their own set of values, especially considering how well it looks or shoots (or doesn't). But, I still like to see these rifles taken out and used. They may not be exactly like the original, but they still work pretty good, in most cases. In that way, you may not be pushing pure history when you take them out and use them, but you are continuing the memory of great rifles of the past that played a role in history.

Good luck shooting this, I hope you'll like it.

I wouldn't mind finding a not-totally-butchered Krag for cheap to bed into a Manners and make a 6.5mm wildcat compatible with the magazine/bolt face/pressure. Set up with a nice set of irons would be a fun target or hunting rifle.

 

[sandwarrior]

I wouldn't mind finding a not-totally-butchered Krag for cheap to bed into a Manners and make a 6.5mm wildcat compatible with the magazine/bolt face/pressure. Set up with a nice set of irons would be a fun target or hunting rifle.

While I gotta say I like the idea I would caution against pushing it hard to compete with other 6.5’s. It would be a fun fun gun and only for personal accuracy satisfaction. The reason I say this is both the action and the brass you would make a 6.5 from would not be as strong as modern actions using modern rimless cartridges.

But, the actions are so smooth, how could one not revel in a day at the range cycling that action and hitting accurately. And yes, I have seen Krag’s accurized very well.?

 

[clcustom1911]

My Graf Brass has landed and is some of the most consistent I have ever had... weighed 10 random pieces of the 100 I got.

So, for case volume consistency as it relates to velocity....... . I'm rather excited

 

[Ledzep]

While I gotta say I like the idea I would caution against pushing it hard to compete with other 6.5’s. It would be a fun fun and only for personal accuracy satisfaction. The reason I say this is both the action and the brass you would make a 6.5 from would not be as strong as modern actions using modern rimless cartridges.

But, the actions are so smooth, how could one not revel in a day at the range cycling that action and hitting accurately. And yes, I have seen Krag’s accurized very well.?

No doubt, probably a 140 or 147 at 2500-2650. Be a real pussycat to shoot, though.

 

[Dan M]

I wouldn't mind finding a not-totally-butchered Krag for cheap to bed into a Manners and make a 6.5mm wildcat compatible with the magazine/bolt face/pressure. Set up with a nice set of irons would be a fun target or hunting rifle.

Why not just find a sporterized Norwegian Krag in 6.5x55?

 

[lash]

Why not just find a sporterized Norwegian Krag in 6.5x55?

That sounds like fun.

 

[sandwarrior]

Why not just find a sporterized Norwegian Krag in 6.5x55?

I just had an OMG/D'oh! moment thinking I had seen a nice one on GB a couple days ago. Can't find it.

Anyhow, here's one on Auction Arms (Gunauction):

Unknown Custom Norweigen Krag Rifle 6.5x55 Swedish

Consignment rifle from an estate: The basic action of this rifle is the Norweigen Krag but it's in a 6.5X55 caliber. I don't have and information as to whom t

www.gunauction.com

 

[Ledzep]

Well... Didn't know there was such a thing. That's pretty cool.

 

[Dan M]

There are 3 versions of Krag rifles...US, Norwegian and Danish.

As an aside, Norway and Sweden were once the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway from 1814-1905...and they shared the superb 6.5x55 service cartridge in their respective service rifles.

 

[polish handgunner]

I managed to take this orphan home last year. It was ‘customized’ but is fun to shoot using 200 grain cast bullets and a mild charge of smokeless.

 

[clcustom1911]

Source of Bullet?
Brass brand?
Powder? Charge?
Which Primer?
Overall length?

 

[sandwarrior]

Source of Bullet?
Brass brand?
Powder? Charge?
Which Primer?
Overall length?

Knowing Polish Handgunner, he cast them himself?
...Because he can?