New to Krags

U.S. Military Krags
Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Butlersrangers....
Thank you very much for the info!
For my first Krag I'm happy with it! I'll make it a shooter and have fun with it.
Thanks everybody for the help. I'll keep you posted on how it shoots once I get a rear sight and some ammo.

FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: New to Krags

Post by FredC »

If Br is correct (and probably is) the sight was moved by someone doing a lot of them and had the procedure down pretty good. Looks good. Anyway, if you were expecting to put a scope on it, there is a supplier making 2 and 3 screw bases. to fit where the rear sight goes. If you choose the 3 screw one, it will be a stronger mount, but you will need to drill and tap for the third screw or have a gunsmith do it. Several members here have done it and used long eye relief pistol scopes.

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butlersrangers
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Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: New to Krags

Post by butlersrangers »

'Travelworn' - To summarize the stock:

The U.S. model 1892 Krag carried a long cleaning-rod in the forearm.
This required a long open groove in the front part of the forearm and a long 'tunnel' in the rear part of the forearm.
The cleaning-rod screwed into a steel 'stop', that was inserted into the stock just below the front of the action.
(Only the model 1892 stocks will have this 'stop').
Because of the cleaning-rod provision, the barrel-channel of the model 1892 stock was solid, (without lightening chambers).

The later Krag stock models, and some updated model 1892 stocks, had a butt-trap that housed a three-section cleaning rod.

The model 1896 and model 1898 stocks were given chambers in the forearm to lighten the stock.
These long lightening channels are visible, when the inside of the barrel-channel is exposed.

When these later stocks are shortened, the lightening channel is exposed requiring a 'squarish' wood plug to improve appearance.

Your stock does not have an exposed lightening channel or plug (at area marked by black square). It does have what appears to be a cleaning-rod groove with 'plug'.
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Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Nice, thanks! I don't plan on putting a scope on mine. I'll find a rear sight to put on and use it as a plinking gun and a brush gun for hunting. It will be a fun shooter. Atleast now I have a much better idea of what I got and which direction I'll take with it.
I've always wanted a Krag for the "cool factor". This one came along and I'm happy with it.

Thanks again fellas!

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butlersrangers
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Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: New to Krags

Post by butlersrangers »

The Krag issue rear-sights are 'screw-specific'.
It appears the screws in your photo are the 'thin head' type, that were used with the model 1902 sight.
(They also were used with the rare model 1898 sights and may be made to work with the model 1896 sights).

The model 1902 rifle sight is rugged, relatively common (thus cheaper), and adjustable for windage.
Only 1,000 of the 1902 carbine sights were made, so they are very hard to find and expensive.

Your front sight-blade is short. It may have been used with a model 1896 rear-sight.

If the front-blade is too short, the rifle will shoot 'high', when used with a lot of the Krag rear-sights.
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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: New to Krags

Post by butlersrangers »

The Krag front-sight base was shaped from a steel block bronze brazed into a dovetail in the barrel-blank.
The final contour machining left the base looking very much like an integral part of the barrel steel.
Only a faint line or seam of bronze shows the outline of the attachment.

Usually when a front-sight base is removed from a Krag barrel and reattached to a shorter barrel, it is pretty obvious,
(silver or lead solder, crude dovetail, crooked or uneven tilt, and often hammer marks on sight-base).

I think Travelworn's front-sight base is better than most reattached bases, but I don't see the discrete bronze brazing, the dovetail looks too shallow, and the contour of the barrel crown looks "off".
Photographs can fool and I could be wrong, but when checked in person, a correct sight-base is pretty obvious.

This barreled action could be made into a nice model 1896 carbine replica

attached photos that may help OP make a definitive call on his barrel's origin: 'Travelworns' photo contrasted with two known carbine muzzles.
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Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Here are a few more of the sight and muzzle crown. If you need anything better please let me know. Since I was told about cropping the photos I can post them easily enough now!
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butlersrangers
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Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: New to Krags

Post by butlersrangers »

It looks like someone 'staked' your front-sight base to hold it in place, (in a shallow new dovetail), before lead or silver soldering it to the barrel.

Bevel on barrel-crown is not correct muzzle-contour.

My verdict: Not Springfield Armory work.

(But it will make a nice replica carbine for shooting)!
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Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Thanks for everything Butlersrangers! Atleast now I know exactly what I got! I plan on getting a good bit of enjoyment out of this piece!

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