Newbie intro

[1911Ron]

Greetings I have recently purchased a Springfield Model 1898 in 30-40 Krag it looks to be in great shape all of the wood is there, is it original i don't know. The serial #4882xx the inspectors cartouche is nice and clear the date is 1903.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

[butlersrangers]

'1911Ron': Welcome to the KCA Forum.

That is a mighty nice looking Model 1898 Krag. #4882XX is one of the highest numbers reported and would be at the end of production in 1903.

That Arizona Sun is pretty hard on wood. You should send it up to KCA member, 'psteinmayer', in Michigan for storage!

[Dick Hosmer]

Very nice rifle, but I'd re-check that number - which I believe (per Farmer's Notes) is out-of-bounds - could it be 4382XX?

[psteinmayer]

I think Butlersrangers has a great idea! I'll take really good care of it, and only feed it mild loads to keep it healthy... LOL

Very nice looking rifle! Welcome to the forum, and to the wonderful world of Krags!!!

[reincarnated]

What is the highest verified number?

And do we have any discussion of what is in Farmer's notes?

[Dick Hosmer]

482872 is highest number observed - may not be the ultimate, but unlikely to be off by 6,000, unless the "spare receivers" made in FY03/04 were Krags. They could have been either that, or 1903s, but, according to Joe, the records do NOT state which model. Since we had to pay a royalty on the Krag - one would not think that large amounts of spares would be run off at end of production, when a new rifle was coming.

The book is a trip - WELL worth the $40, though that fact does NOT sink in at first glance. It would impossible to describe to someone who has not read it, and, not everyone will like it. The text is excellent, if a bit quirky, but the photography is truly abysmal, a fact which he does not contest.

[1911Ron]

Very nice rifle, but I'd re-check that number - which I believe (per Farmer's Notes) is out-of-bounds - could it be 4382XX?

Dick I rechecked the number and the second number is definitely an 8, i seem to have a knack on getting Rifles that are out of the Serial number range or oddity, i have a Rock Island that has serial number that is after Rock Island stopped production. I found out that they shipped Rock Island marked receivers to Springfield Armory to be built by Springfield and serialed by them.

[butlersrangers]

FWIW - The Appendix in F. Mallory's "Krag Rifle Story", 2nd. ed., lists four Krag serial numbers higher than "1911Ron's":

#488438 and #499036, (1898 rifles destroyed at New Cumberland, 05/17/29).

#497288, (1898 rifle sold at Raritan Arsenal, 07/15/22).

#759246 (Justice Dept. San Francisco, 03/06/33). This last one is so high, I'm sure it's a reading or recording error - IMHO.

[Dick Hosmer]

I know.

I was surprised by Joe's info, myself. The 1903/04 spares must have been Krags, and, at least some of them must have found their way onto guns.

Would be nice to get his take, but his current vacation from the forums seems to be lasting longer than previous ones.

[reincarnated]

Was the royalty paid on spare parts (replacement actions) or on completed military rifles? No royalty was paid on the GPRs.