New Member, and "New" Krag!

[Brian Carp]

Actually, I owned a sweet Krag about 20 years ago, but stupidly sold it (and have kicked myself repeatedly since!)....

Anyways, I picked up this "sporter" at a gunshow recently. It's a M1898, serial #482520, 22" bbl, cut-down military stock with clear cartouches, Pacific receiver sight installed.

The most unique aspect is that it has the Hart Arms Co. magazine conversion, with the hinged flat side plate replacing the original box mag.

Paid $300.00 for it. What can you tell me about a '98 with such a high serial number?

[butlersrangers]

Brian: That is an attractive "Sporter" you obtained that has probably served a few hunters over the years. The magazine conversion would usually be a real 'turn-off' to me but your nice pictures show the clever latch system and the Hart Conversion stamping on the cover. Sporter Conversions are a legitimate, but subjective, part of the Krag Story. Is it possible the second digit of your Serial Number is a '3' or '6' and not an '8'? Sometimes deeply stamped digits are misread on Krag receivers. Number 482520 seems too high and outside most references. What style of front sight does your Krag have? Let us know how well that Hart magazine conversion works when you take your Krag to the Range. Chuck

[Brian Carp]

Brian: That is an attractive "Sporter" you obtained that has probably served a few hunters over the years. The magazine conversion would usually be a real 'turn-off' to me but your nice pictures show the clever latch system and the Hart Conversion stamping on the cover. Sporter Conversions are a legitimate, but subjective, part of the Krag Story. Is it possible the second digit of your Serial Number is a '3' or '6' and not an '8'? Sometimes deeply stamped digits are misread on Krag receivers. Number 482520 seems too high and outside most references. What style of front sight does your Krag have? Let us know how well that Hart magazine conversion works when you take your Krag to the Range. Chuck

Thanks, Chuck. The Hart conversion took me aback when I first looked at it, but since the gun is sporterized anyways I've decided I quite like the unique feature. It sure does streamline the rifle!
The "8" in the serial number is not deeply struck, and that's definitely what it is...! :-/

[knute]

Brian,
I'm curious of how many cartridges that can be carried in the magazine with the conversion. Just curious. Interesting specimen, thanks for showing.

[Brian Carp]

Brian,
I'm curious of how many cartridges that can be carried in the magazine with the conversion. Just curious. Interesting specimen, thanks for showing.

The magazine now holds only 3 rounds. With one in the chamber, that's sufficient for hunting purposes, I reckon!

Here's a pic of the front sight. Is it a military sight? It has a small capital "M" stamped on the left side.

The barrel has some markings just behind this sight: what appears to be a flaming ordnance bomb, with "12-36" stamped underneath....

[Brian Carp]

BTW, the cartouche is dated 1900, but when I enter the serial number at this website, a manufacture date of 1904 is shown:

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslookup.php?file=us_krag.dat

So, I'm baffled by all that...! :-?

[Dick Hosmer]

Nothing baffling at all, really.

The barrel and front sight are from a 1903 Springfield, made in December of 1936 (which, coincidentally gives us a "not before" time frame for the sporterizing).

The Krag stock selected for the final assembly by the unknown gunsmith was not the one originally on the Krag rifle when it was made. The most interesting part of the arm, by far, is the commercial flush magazine conversion. It looks quite nice, should be a fun shooter.

As to the serial number, I own 482440, and even higher ones are known - close to 490000, IIRC.

[butlersrangers]

Brian: It is likely the gunsmith, who created your Krag Sporter, put a decent looking cut-down rifle stock on her. It is not surprizing if this is not the original stock. Maybe your High # Receiver was never assembled into a completed rifle at Springfield Armory? Your barrel appears to be a 1903 Springfield barrel manufactured in December, 1936. It was common practice for gunsmiths to replace bad Krag barrels with '03 Springfield barrels. The '03 barrels were shortened at the breech and rechambered for .30-40. This is not a bad thing in a Shooter/Sporter, if properly done. Your front sight is an '03 Springfield sight. Look and see if the rear of the guide rib on your bolt makes contact with the Receiver. Gunsmiths often fitted 're-barrels' this way to strengthen the action. I'm attaching a photo of a Sedgley Sporter I have that shows the re-use of a 1905 dated '03 barrel. A lot of inexpensive hunting rifles were created from Krags and surplus parts during the Depression. I think the Flat or "Slab-sided" look was influenced by the Reigning Lever Guns in hunting.

[Brian Carp]

Thanks, gents, for all of the info (very glad I joined this forum!).

The rear of the guide rib does indeed butt up against the reciever, as you described....

[butlersrangers]

Brian: The work was done by a clever gunsmith!