Source of '95 Norwegian Krag Carbine

Historical threads originally posted to the 'Krag Forum' board
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thorsrig

Source of '95 Norwegian Krag Carbine

Post by thorsrig »

Hello! Some of you have asked where I got this from. I have shown the photos on another list and told them where it came from. Here's the story.

Hello! I'm getting sort of a chuckle out of the comments! I suppose I could
relate how this came to me... About four years ago, I was working out in my
yard and took a phone call from the local gunshop on my portable phone.
Usually I will let the phone ring, but this time I picked it up. Barb (Owner
of the shop) wondered if I would mind looking at a Krag that someone had and
wanted to sell. She didn't want it as it looked to her as it had been
sporterized. The owner was willing to come out to my home. Normally, I don't
do this, but I broke my rule this time. He showed up with another fellow
about a half hour later. The driver got out of the car and assisted the
passenger to get out. He was obviously blind. Passenger pulled out a guncase
and after the introductions had been made, he offered the cased gun to me to
look at. I pulled out what you see the pictures of, although then the wood
was a bit dirty. Turned out to be oxidized stock oil of some kind. Anyway, he
explained that he had been a shooter all his life and then about 5 years
prior, became blind. He did not explain how. He loved guns and as he could no
longer shoot, had to think of some way to stay involved with them. He started
to take rifles apart as sort of a challenge to himself. He was in the process
of getting rid of some he had so that he could get some he was not used to
taking apart. Thus the Krag was for sale. The wrist of the stock was cracked,
but not fatally. I did not know for sure what it was, but I knew it had not
been sporterized. I knew it was an unusual Krag and I knew it was pretty. I
asked him what kind of a price he had in mind and he replied that he thought
$150 would be fair. I did too and he took my check. We talked a bit more
after that and then he left. It took about a half hour with my Brophy Krag
book and I then knew what it was! Not only was it a Norwegian Krag Model 95
Cavalry Carbine, but a Civilian issue, #180 of 418 made in total. I repaired
the stock wrist. I did it under magnification and actually alligned the
pieces of the grain and glued. Turned out slick. Removed the old oil and put
on 14 hand-rubbed coats of Tung Oil. (The real stuff. I had to add a drier to
it to get it to dry!). Bore shows use but has strong rifling. It's too pretty
to shoot. Your eye goes right to it in my gunroom. Sometimes a person gets
lucky and finds something that is really nice. This one came with a little
story that was also nice to hear. I've often wondered what I would do if I
lost my sight, as shooting is definately a sighted sport. Now I guess I know!
Two "senses" work well with no sight: Touch and a 'sense' of history!
I guess I need to ask if anyone has an idea as to the dollar value of
this Krag? I do not intend to sell it, so it won't be a matter of holding
anyone to an estimate. Just curious. Again, thank's for taking a peek at the
photos. I enjoy showing some of my rifles to folks who appreciate them.
Greg T.



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