Krag Collectors Association Forum

Good fortune smiled on me at Saturday's Michigan Antique Arms Collectors Show.
I sold some stuff that I no longer wanted and a slender wristed 'piece' from Missouri was added to my Krag battery!

This is my first early U.S. Krag, (serial #19XXX, produced in August or September 1895).
It was first built in 1895, as a model 1892, and was likely altered to model 1896 configuration in 1897.

This rifle is a neat 'time-capsule'. It appears to have been 'refurbished', updated to 1896 features, and put into storage.

The rifle has a thin wrist stock with a 'filled' cleaning-rod groove, (round-filler), and an 1895 J.S.A. 'acceptance cartouche'.
The stock was made for the recurved butt-plate, with a butt-trap. The bolt, side-plate, and sights are model 1896.
The magazine cutoff-lever is the last type for the model 1896 and works like a model 1898 cutoff. The front barrel-band is slotted, like a model 1898 band.

The bore is excellent, but not quite 'mint'. The 'browning', (blue finish), of the barrel and appropriate parts is in a wonderful state.
There is no bayonet wear of the barrel finish at the muzzle.
The stock appears to have been expertly scraped and arsenal finished. There is a beautiful 'Circled-P' proof. The acceptance cartouche is clear, but, if it was a bellybutton, it would be an "outie".

I believe this model 1892 - updated to model 1896, accurately reflects the appearance of a Krag as it left the Armory after refurbishing/rebuilding.

Some more pictures:

... and a few more:

Very nice find, congrats!

Great score!!! A fine addition to your collection

That is certainly a nice looking Krag! Is it the same one discussed here: viewtopic.php?p=42549#p42549
or perhaps you bought two this weekend?

On photo #682 you have to sets of arrows added. Is the one with 2 arrows a spliced in piece to reinforce the stock (narrow wrist)? The second one looks like a filled hole, is that part of the splice? If so, the armory did nice work.

'FredC' - Yes, this "model 1892 Krag, altered to model 1896 features" is the same acquisition discussed in my other post.
(In that earlier communication, I was just trying to discuss some of the trickiness in advising and establishing a Krag rifle's value and price).

I did indeed, only buy one Krag last weekend.
I didn't expect or plan to purchase a Krag beforehand.
The stars just aligned to make it possible!

I didn't really want to repeat details about the transaction in this thread.
I just wanted to focus on aspects of this rifle model and what I believe are good examples of Armory 'rebuild part finishes'.

Two of the arrows, in image #862, are intended to show the margins of the walnut 'patch' that Springfield Armory workmen fitted into the cleaning-rod channel of the model 1892 stock forearm.
The third arrow highlights one of the wood cross-pins, that along with wood glue, retained the cleaning-rod patch in place on the altered stock.

These were a couple of the measures used to alter the model 1892 stocks in 'the 1897 update program'.

Looks like a sister to my 1892/1896 rifle in the 20xxx range. One of the "magazine" rifles Farmer wrote about? Looks like the circled "P" proof mark may be double stamped. As we discussed back in 2018 the stock may not be original to the receiver/barrel due to the refurbish process. But all done at the Springfield Armory. Sure is a great looking piece. Happy for you that you got it.

Thanks Knute!

It would be interesting if you could post some pictures of your "magazine rifle", from the 20XXX serial number range.
I don't think anyone has shown an example and the details of this specific 'critter' on the KCA Forum.

I imagine your rifle still has a cleaning-rod carried in the forearm, a model 1892 hand-guard, and a butt-plate with a re-curve in the toe?

That is a nice early "updated" Krag rifle. It's a nice piece to have in your collection. I really like seeing the filled ram rod channel on these early Krags. It is interesting how so many variations exist and the mix of early and later parts that we often see on these Krags. Nice that it has a good bore, also, since so many of the earlier M1982 Krags have seen a lot of corrosive ammo put down the barrel.

The front barrel and barrel band sure look to have had newer bluing done. It just looks real shiny. I do think most of the details look correct for this Krag. The "outey" cartouche I have seen before and the presence of such seems to have occurred from the stock's exposure to high heat for a period of time. What other causes could have caused this?

I hope you get a chance soon to shoot it and report back. Nice Krag and it's great that you can enjoy it and care for it now and kept it from the hands of a profiteer who would certainly dis-assemble it and sell the parts like so many other Krags we have seen!

BTW, I'm still amazed, or should I say amused, that so many people still feel it important to hide serial numbers from the world. I see that almost every day in posts on different gun blogs and have heard all of the reasons. None of them really make much sense to me. I guess I'm just an old curmudgeon. No harm done, just an observation!