The Most Valuable Krags

[butlersrangers]

These three Krags, because of connection with historic or notorious events and persons of some fame, in my opinion could command the most money.

The Steyr made model 1894 Norwegian Krag rifle of Boer General Tobias Smuts. (Serial number may be #124, per South African Collectors viewing a clear original photograph of Tobias Smuts & Krag. Fate of rifle is presently unknown).

An altered U.S. model 1898 Krag rifle, briefly owned by Clyde Barrow and likely captured by Joplin, Mo. Police. (Serial number unknown)

A beautiful custom model 1899 carbine, #429596, that was presented to General Frederick Dent Grant.

The first two Krags have yet to be documented, by serial number, and their location is unknown.

The Grant carbine is listed on the Rock Island Auction House site - May 24, 2020, auction - with bid starting at $30,000. ("Whig" deserves credit for first posting this on KCA forum).

Do you have better candidates?

[Dick Hosmer]

Hmmm - that applied pistol grip looks VERY familiar!

[butlersrangers]

Trapdoor 'Officer's Rifle' ?

[King carp]

I think the most valuable Krag is the one you want and do not own yet.

[Dick Hosmer]

Trapdoor 'Officer's Rifle' ?

Bingo!

[psteinmayer]

I guess if I had to choose... the one that I personally would want most would be the Clyde Barrow sporter! That's one I would place in a class case on the wall!!!

[Whig]

How about Krag rifle Serial Number 1?

[butlersrangers]

Is there/was there ... a U.S. Krag rifle #1?

Have rifles #2 to #9 been seen since 1894? They are listed in Mallory's SRS tables.
(Well, I guess rifle #7 is listed as retired by the Savage Arms Company, in 1899).

Probably anything #95 or lower was a test rifle or presentation piece.

Original Ordnance 'Trial Rifles' would be precious.

I wonder what number was presented to the German Kaiser? Apparently it was in first 300 rifles.

Danke!

[Whig]

Since this is an exercise in wishful thinking and/or dreaming, it is irrelevant whether Krag rifle serial number 1 exists or not!

So, there! Blahhh!

(Just for fun, of course!)

[butlersrangers]

I was simply noticing that Mallory's SRS tables start with U.S. Krag, #2.

What is the lowest U.S. Krag serial number a KCA member has seen, in person?

I have never seen anything less than four digits.

IMHO - Some 'mega valuable' Krags could be floating around in plain view, commanding no great premium, because they have not yet been identified and documented, as to provenance.