Is this gonna get me in trouble?

[RicKrager]

Greetings fellow Krag shooters,
Now that I have browsed the many topics I am stepping forward to admit to having had my eyes opened by all I have read.

Some history: my first .30 cal centerfire rifle was a gunshow 30-40 that had been sporterized (if we dare call it that). It was funky but it was cheap and it made this pistolero pleased to handle such a smooth piece of machinery. Never mind the weird wood work, the darn thing shot really well. My impression was the wood was original. After a bit, I was inspired to modify the trigger. I hope this that follows doesnt get me drummed out of the group. I ground off the hump which gives the Krag its two-stage trigger. Then I drilled and tapped in a sear engagement screw. To deal with the over travel of the trigger I drilled and tapped the trigger guard and put in an over travel screw. Each screw is loaded with a spring to prevent random motion.

The trigger action is solid but gives the classic glass rod release and is not a hair trigger. Shooting at Whittington Center along side a Mauser action custom in a custom stock I found I was getting equal results. Since then, shooting in a sort of Krag vacuum I loved my funky Krag for the fine rifle it is. Now I learn there is much more to know about these rifles and their passionate owners. I guess we all agree, the Krag is a remarkable firearm.

My Funky M1898 Krag is 471xxx S/N, mfg. 1907. Besides the trigger job, I bead blasted and hot blued the metal. The barrel is 21 1/4 muzzle to receiver. The front sight is a Redfield blade dovetailed in to a base that wraps the barrel. The rearsight is a micrometer peep with variable aperture options and elevation adjustments. 175 gr. cast bullets with gas checks bounced a bucket at 200 yards off-hand. I learned a bit when I found reference to the square insert in the nose of the stock. I recently referred to it as UD, Ugly Duckling. Boy do I love that old shooter.

[Whig]

Hello Mr. Rick and welcome to KCA! We all have our own little quirks, likes and dislikes regarding Krags so don't feel put out by your passions. When you have a sporterized Krag that has left the military configuration behind, we don't mind what you do to alter and customize your Krag to your heart's delight. We just don't like to see good military configuration Krags damaged in a way that they cannot be returned to their military comportment. That would make you someone we refer to as "Bubba".

You high number M1898 Krag rifle was manufactured late 1903 to early 1904. Some parts were assembled later but records weren't kept well for that. By 1903, the Model 1903 Springfield was born and starting to replace the Krag rifle for official use.

I know that altered Krags are not allowed to be shot officially in Camp Perry competitions, so, you'll have to keep your Krag away from there for now.

You have really worked up a fancy trigger job. I didn't follow exactly what you said you did but it sounds fascinating. I'd love to see pictures of your rifle as would others here. We like to share in the enjoyment of others' Krags and pick on small details that we find to fascinate you with our knowledge of this historic rifle. We can also learn from each other every time we do this so it's just for good fun!

Thanks again. I'm sure others will chime in and reflect on your project.

[butlersrangers]

'RicKrager' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

BTW - A smooth two-stage trigger is a beautiful thing, if the 2nd-stage 'breaks' clean.

Whatcha doing 'Whig' .... executing Bubba for ruining that Norwegian Krag rifle by turning it into a Horse Pistol?

[Whig]

I want a Krag pistol!

[butlersrangers]

Be careful what you ask for!

Ole Krag lost out to JMB's model 1911, which was adopted by Norway as the model 1914.

(A Krag semi-auto pistol is probably mighty hard to find in North America or anywhere).

[FredC]

Rick,
As mentioned we like to see all kinds of Krags. If you check the sporter section there are many modified rifles and carbines there many nice ones and a few really ugly. Even an ugly one gets discussed and sometimes we can find a few good points in them also. Only 2 things raise the ire around here, one would be bubba-ing a nice original Krag and the second is breaking up a nice Krag for profit on the parts.
40 years ago before the internet allowed a person to find parts I broke the trigger on my dad's rifle by trying to drive the pin out the wrong direction. Back then there were only a couple of dealers that sold parts for old guns. I ordered a new trigger and it was a cast piece of junk the geometry was a joke, pin hole was way oversize, cast finish was terrible. I was working at a screw machine shop at the time and the only machines available for side jobs were a drill press and a surface grinder, so I built a trigger and made it better than original (in my opinion) by changing the profile. It has a generous first stage and no travel on the second before it fires.
If you post photos of your trigger mod in the sporter section I can post a couple of mine. I did find the junk trigger in the junk box. Some will get a laugh out of what was passed off as a working trigger.

[Whig]

I'd be interested in seeing how you two have modified the triggers so I can learn if I ever wanted to do so myself. Thanks.

[FredC]

Mine was built from scratch. The donor material came from a piece of junk I found out in the field on a ranch were I was working. So I started with a big piece of steel and whittled it down leaving extra material for the 1 and 2 am stage. Not an option for most people.
The other thing I can not remember how I did it, 40 + years ago!

Rick's will be interesting as it was a modified original and thus others could copy it.

[Parashooter]

Here's a way to reduce the second stage without harming the original trigger. Done right, it works very well -

[FredC]

Parashooter,
I just remembered your paper clip thing and was going to try to find the link.
You did it for me, thanks.

Looking at your picture, I think it was the "A" are I left the most additional material, with the idea of eliminating all but a tiny bit of the second stage.
One thing to be careful of with Parashooter's modification there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Too much will lower the engagement with the cocking piece and could lead to accidental discharge if the bolt is lifted. Just like ice cream too much of a good thing can harm you.