First Krag

Sporterized and unofficial modified Krags
Griffin4567
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:41 pm

First Krag

Post by Griffin4567 »

Just acquired my first Krag, it looks like a well done sporterized rifle but wanted to get more experienced eyes on it and to find out as much as I can.
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MooseNugget
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2023 6:22 pm

Re: First Krag

Post by MooseNugget »

Hello Griffin4567 and welcome to the KCA.

Congratulations on obtaining your first Krag rifle! Be careful because they have a way of multiplying before your very eyes.

One thing that would be very helpful is to to provide or take a clear picture of the receiver’s model/serial number. The serial number will help with things like establishing the date of manufacture or if it started life as a rifle or carbine.

Clear pictures of the rear sight would add in its identification. Butler’s Rangers, our resident peep sight specialists, will hopefully provide his input.

I am curious about the front band that fastens the barrel to the stock. Ways of securing the front of the barrel on sporterized Krags have been a topic on many occasions.

Also, what’s the condition of the inside of the barrel or are there any marks that may indicate who sporterized it?

Once again welcome and I hope you enjoy your nice sporty Krag!

Griffin4567
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:41 pm

Re: First Krag

Post by Griffin4567 »

Thanks!
I’ll attach some more photos, could only do 5 and forgot to add more. My bad.

Serial number: 444994
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I don’t have the best pictures of the rear sight but I’ll try to get better ones when I’m by the rifle. I’ll do the same for the band on the barrel.
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The barrel has very strong rifling and the metal has minimum wear both inside and out. Which makes me think it could have possibly been replaced but I’m not sure. There are no marking on anything other than the receiver that I can see and nothing stands out as a gunsmiths signature or stamp.
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From what I can tell it does appear to be a savage barrel band. I’ll attach a photo of where it connects to the stock.
Last edited by Griffin4567 on Fri Jun 09, 2023 2:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ned Butts
Site Admin
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Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 5:02 am
Location: Western Catskills NY

Re: First Krag

Post by Ned Butts »

That is a nicely done sporter. Looking forward to a range report.

MooseNugget
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2023 6:22 pm

Re: First Krag

Post by MooseNugget »

Your sporterized Krag, serial number 444994, according to Poyer's book "The American Krag Rifle and Carbine", was manufactured Feb-Mar of 1903. It appears your Krag is a cut down rifle. Generally speaking, Krag rifles and carbines were 30" to 22" respectfully.

BTW: Poyer's book is a good and cheap resource for Krag info. Poyer's book can be found on eBay for around $25 to $30.

Your Krag is not listed in the back of Mallory/Olson's book "The Krag Rifle Story" appendix 20, "Serial Numbers of Known U.S. Krags". Krags listed in the "Springfield Research Service (SRS)" sometimes have more value attached to them because of the additional known history.

Your peep sight appears to be a Redfield Model 70K.

The bolt looks like it was jeweled (swirled curly patterns) and the front of the receiver was rounded for aesthetics.

The front sight is not original and maybe a Williams screw on ramp sight?

As far as value, because every person new to Krag wants to know?...your guess is as good as mine? Sporterized Krags do not sell as much as an all original krag but that certainly doesn't diminish the value you place on owning a piece of history original or not! Most sporty Krags go for around $200-$600 depending on how well it's been sporterized. Of course personal taste and desire comes into play when determining how much your willing to pay.

Like Ned says "It's a nicely done sporter" and I hope you have fun enjoying your newly acquired Krag! Unfortunately, ammo seems to be hard to come by these days. :cry:
Last edited by MooseNugget on Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: First Krag

Post by FredC »

Another welcome to the KCA.

Your Krag has the looks that seems to have been done by an experienced gunsmith or a very careful owner. I would appreciate a close photo of the bottom of the stock near the forward sling attachment. From the top it looks like it has a nicely done Savage barrel band. Without an original Krag band a sporter does need some kind of barrel band to keep from breaking the stock from recoil. Whoever built it crossed a lot of "i"s and dotted the "t"s as well.

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: First Krag

Post by butlersrangers »

'Griffin4567' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

It looks like you have a good Krag for Hunting and enjoying at the Range for distances out to 300 yards.

I agree that your Krag is a cut-down rifle with everything 'tweaked' to 1950 to 1970 tastes.

The metal has been refinished and the stock was likely completed from a Fajean or Bishop semi-finished blank.

Someone put some scratches in the recever's finish by once trying to pry off the magazine cut-off control.
(That device can be removed, but requires the spring-loaded detent pin to be pushed in, while the cut-off lever is pulled to the rear).

Your Krag has lost its historic appearance but has plenty of fun and utility value.

Your 'peep' sight is a Redfield 70K, but the version that mounts on the right-side of the receiver, with two drilled & tapped screws.
(There is a popular "no-drill" Redfield sight, also called the 70K, that mounts on the left-side using existing receiver openings).

BTW - Like FredC, I'm curious how your barrel-band engages with your stock. Happ shooting!

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psteinmayer
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Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:31 am

Re: First Krag

Post by psteinmayer »

Let me add my welcome to the forum also!

Very nice sporter! The stock appears to be a Bishop (it should say Bishop on the black cap at the bottom of the grip) with a Pachmayr recoil pad attached. Bishop stocks are often found on Krags that were sporterized for hunting purposes. It should be a fairly accurate rifle providing you decades of shooting fun!

FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: First Krag

Post by FredC »

butlersrangers wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:09 am '
BTW - Like FredC, I'm curious how your barrel-band engages with your stock. Happ shooting!
On my sporter I have no barrel band but a forward pillar glued into the stock. We did make that barrel band for RomeoJim.
This link mostly works except for page #4: http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.co ... 820#p31820

Since Griffin4567's band looks so much like a Savage band I wanted to see how it was done.

The pillar in my sporter is attached with 2 screws to the sight mount. Here is a link to some photos: http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.co ... 223#p33223
Those photos do not show full details, the pillar is glued into the stock and the screws hold the front sight/guard to the pillar. The brass cover on the bottom hides this from view. I made 3 covers with different engraving on them.

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: First Krag

Post by butlersrangers »

It is likely that the screw-in front sling-swivel plays a role in securing the barrel-band, but if so, things are pretty off-set.

It would be interesting to see how that is accomplished.

The Hunter's Creek 'band' has a similar appearance, but the screw and band are in-line.
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