Krag Collectors Association Forum

Wow you see the price they are asking for handguards on Ebay ... they have really gone up ... I was thinking about making one and seeing how it turns out ... They had the spring clips on Ebay so I got clips and some nice copper rivets and I ordered some some nice Walnut on Ebay ... If you need some nice walnut one of the best places to get it is at the thrift stores ... It comes on award trophies and cutting boards it is all over the place ... have a look ..

Definitely interested in seeing the progress, I have a extra Kirk Stokes short rifle stock, a 1898 receiver and various other parts I'm planning to assemble with a new barrel to make a great shooter and the handguard price is holding me back, I was hoping the repros would come back in stock but still none so far, I'm trying to make a enjoyable short rifle to appreciate the rare and expensive configuration without taking an original into the field.

this was my first attempt to made a handguard ... Ok how I did this was screw two pieces of wall nut together 1x2x10 inches . the end of the receiver is 1.30 inches so you can use a 1 1/4 inch hole saw to cut out the first inch ... then use a 3/4 inch drill to drill a hole the rest of the way through the walnut .. and next I used a gun barrel to sand out the middle and do the taper ..

I do not have any wood working tools I just do every thing by hand so it is posable to make make these with out a lot of tools ...

Clever repurposing of walnut!

Parashooter made an excellent handguard from a chair leg and pallet strapping (for spring-clips).

Riveting is the biggest challenge. He made his "rivets" from common steel nails.

you can get nice copper and brass rivets on ebay ... and also you can file them down to match the originals ... using strapping is a grate idea it is hardened and springy ...

Original rivets appear to be iron or steel. I suppose copper could be stained black.

That’s beautiful work. I’ve been shopping for a handguard for my 1898 , they are hard to find and expensive .

Simply amazing!
Do you have photos or details on the clip making process?
-JP

Yes, any details on your experience making the clips would be much appreciated. I am starting down this road in about a week for two new hand guards.