Thank You!!!! You are spot on with your post!! I was closely examining the proper Safety Lever for my Krag and also saw that slight bevel at 12 o'clock that you spoke of. Figure it was there for a purpose so I did install the new one at that position and as hard as it was to install its was still easier at that position as you mentioned. As with the old lever I did have a friend that suggested the same, that it was drilled and tapped by a previous owner and made to stay in place as being a safety off position. I've had this Krag for about 3 years and always tried to find more info on them and also the proper safety lever. Not much out there about them, though found the Army Manual and a few other things on it. I finally stumbled over a site called Popperts Gun Parts and they had a few of the Safety Levers for sale.
https://poppertsgunparts.com/ My Krag now seems to be all there for the correct year now that the safety has been replaced with a proper version. Also will say I do love shooting it. At 100 yards so far she is spot one (iron sites) I wont bastardrize her mounting a scope. When I did get it the stock was dried out with a cracked hand guard. Searching for a replacement I bought one at a gun show (unfinished the kind that use to be sold by S&S but the guy long past away that made them) but by mistake its made for the carbine. I should take photos and sell it here for someone who might need one. I still haven't found a replacement hand guard, but always looking. The stock has since been carefully cleaned (NOT SANDED NO STEEL WOOL) and rehydrated with proper wood treatments so it has come back to its original beauty. How life takes some odd twists, when I bought it, it came with a nearly perfect bayonet. As it turned out the bayonet matched perfect for my 1903 Springfield. And about a month later while helping a lady clean out a basement she had some early 1960's hunting shotguns from her late husband, but I spotted this pristine1898 bayonet with the proper scabbard and close inspection it was original! I asked her while biting my lip if she would sell it. Well she said, how about $85!!! I couldn't get the bills out fast enough.
Also found a guy in NH that does re-loads of the older 1800s firearms, so I acquired the re-load dies and 4-5 times a year I ship him the dies, brass, primers etc and he does the reloads for me (way, way cheaper than buying new rounds) along with 45-70 rounds for my Trap Door Carbine. When reloads are ready I take a 3 hr road trip spend a wonderful day at his place, pick up my reloads, we also shoot on his own 100 yard range. We make it a fun day overall. (Should note I reside up State NY and this socialist State recently banned mailing ammo.).
Anyway again thanks for you help!!!!
