Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Sporterized and unofficial modified Krags
MonarchBlack
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Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:21 am

Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by MonarchBlack »

Hello KCA,

Many years ago, I got a Krag from my father. It's been sportered, so I'll post it in this category. My grandfather got a deer with it, my dad got a deer with it, and now I have it. I had it out tonight to freshen up the oil and I was trying to figure out what it was before it got modded. I was hoping someone here may be able to help, since you seem to be the largest still-active Krag group on Google.

I'm in the US, so I don't really know where to go for serial number lists and the sort. It is a bit of an oddball. It is a 1906 Norwegian production 6.5x55 with 20.5" barrel, so I think it's either a 1895, 1897 or 1904. (I don't think it's a 1906 due to the high serial number and them only making a couple thousand 1906s.) But then it has a German etch on it, which has it being seized much later. It has 2 serial numbers. The bulk of the gun is 8128, with the trigger guard and butt plate being 8110. (see photos)
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The action is still buttery smooth. You can still work it with your pinky (see vid https://youtube.com/shorts/DyiyXc3FXYg?feature=share ), so I was thinking about getting the surface cleaned up a bit and using it since it is a capable round. I do have a couple hundred rounds for it. My eyes aren't what they used to be, so if anyone knows a place online to get a scope mount, that would be great. If not, I'll find a local gunsmith.

Any insight you can give would be very appreciated. I'm a fan of history and have always wondered what this gun's story was, since it seems to be all over the place.

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

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by butlersrangers »

'MonarchBlack' - Welcome to the KCA Forum. That is an interesting family hunting rifle that you inherited.

I don't know who did the alteration work on your Norwegian Krag.
I would guess, based on the Nazi Eagle 'etched' into the metal finish, the work was done during the German Occupation of Norway, 1943 to 1945.
(Maybe it was a shooting prize, gift or presentation piece for a German Officer or Political Official)?

It appears your 'sporter', serial #8128, was made from an altered model 1904 'Royal Engineers Carbine.

Norway actually did not begin manufacturing this model until 1906. 1,500 were produced that year in two serial number blocks: 7,781 to 8,530 and 9,281 to 10,030.
Your receiver serial number is in the first block of numbers. Your stock/butt-plate number is also from that block of model 1906 Engineer Carbines. Your sporter stock appears to be a re-worked Engineer stock.
Last edited by butlersrangers on Tue Aug 23, 2022 5:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

MonarchBlack
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Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:21 am

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by MonarchBlack »

Thank you for the timely info Butler. That is very interesting. It sounds like the the only part that isn't semi-original is the William's rear sight. Very cool. I did not realize.

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

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by FredC »

Nothing to add to Br's info. Nice looking sporter. I did hunt deer with a 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser. Texas hill country deer are on the small side, so I used 120G bullets with a moderate charge of powder. It worked quite well, for much larger deer or moose I would use 140 g bullets.

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by butlersrangers »

BTW - It would totally destroy the collector interest and value of your Norwegian Krag, if the receiver was drilled & tapped for a scope mount.

Scopes placed on a Krag receiver need to be off-set to the left to allow for ejection of fired cases. The scope also interferes with using the issue 'safety' lever.

A viable solution is a long eye-relief "Scout" scope, mounted on the barrel.
You may have threaded screw-holes on your barrel that would allow the mounting of a Weaver or Picatinny-type scope block on your barrel.
Weaver-type scope rings are plentiful, strong and inexpensive.

(The modern Williams barrel-sight is your Krag's largest blemish. Replacing it is no "crime").

MonarchBlack
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Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:21 am

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by MonarchBlack »

Yeah, a long-relief scope on the barrel is what I was thinking. It has the two screws for the original adjustable rear sight, plus the tap where the Williams is. I was thinking rail on there with some risers that bring the scope back, then a long-relief scope. Probably can't go too beefy with the scope, as those taps aren't real heavy gauge, but could get something with a better sight picture than shallow-v iron sights.

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by butlersrangers »

I am posting a couple of photos of a KCA member's "scout rig". If you use the KCA search tab, you can explore old pages on this subject.

I am taking the liberty of posting a couple of you picture details on 'Gunboards Forums'. Some Scandinavian Experts will likely know more about your German Markings.

Also attached are some photos of a 'model 1904 Engineer carbine'.
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krag scout2.JPG
krag scout2.JPG (112.56 KiB) Viewed 982 times
Krag scout1.JPG
Krag scout1.JPG (97.59 KiB) Viewed 982 times
IMG_0745.JPG
IMG_0745.JPG (154.87 KiB) Viewed 982 times
IMG_0746.JPG
IMG_0746.JPG (142.59 KiB) Viewed 982 times

MonarchBlack
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:21 am

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by MonarchBlack »

Sure. Ask away. My degree was in archaeology, so it's always a good idea to consult outside sources with different experience. (I'm not working in it obviously, they don't tell you there is 1 job for every 20 graduates.)

Yeah, something like those pics is what I was thinking. I'll have to check out some past posts. I was looking at maybe a Leupold or Burris handgun sight, then some rings like I have on my AR. Probably don't need them that tall though, since the Krag doesn't have a straight stock. Just need enough to get it up over the bevel on the receiver and back another inch or so.
Image

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by butlersrangers »

Pistol scopes tend to be expensive. Barrel-mount LER Shotgun scopes are cheap & bright and nice for Wood's distances.

Krag ejection is almost straight up. It is good to have the ocular lens well forward of the path of ejecting cartridge-cases.

A 'centered' low barrel-mounted scope, allows a nice 'cheek-weld' on a military Krag stock comb.

MonarchBlack
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:21 am

Re: Sportered, German marked. Any insight to model?

Post by MonarchBlack »

If you know a shotgun scope with a 16" eye relief (what I'd need if the scope is forward of the ejection port), I'd be interested to see a link. The only thing I've seen with that is Leopold, Burris and Nikon pistol scopes up to the 6x-ish range, if adjustable. There is a Leapers one or two, but I don't trust their numbers. I have a couple Leapers, and while nice value scopes, their eye relief on both feel over-advertised when holding them.

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