Restored 1898 Rifle
Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:22 pm
I recently picked up a pretty nice Sporter '98 rifle from a friend that hadn't been butchered too bad (full length barrel with stock cut down above the lower band). I was able to source a reproduction fore end and a complete upper band to replace the missing parts. I also picked up an original 1901 hand guard (not shown in the pictures since I haven't received it yet) to replace the poor reproduction HG it came with.
I reattached the fore end using a wooden dowel as a "spine" and some brass all thread along with Brownell's Acro-glass Gel dyed black. I stained the butt stock and fore end to match with Fiebing's Light Brown Leather Dye and sealed that in with a thin coat of tung oil. The metal parts are in original finishes although I may refinish them in the correct types of bluing (rust, nitre, etc.) since its a hodgepodge of different colors / levels of wear.
This is the second rifle I've restored after the '96 I did several years ago which, incidentally, lead me to this group. My new '98 rifle was originally built in 1900 and I'm pretty sure the stock is original to it with a very faint cartouche that appears to be "1900" in the right light (it's almost impossible to tell). It's also got an excellent bore (better than my '96 which is really pretty good) so it should make a great shooter in CMP Vintage Bolt Action Rifle matches.
Overall I think it turned out pretty well and, since this rifle is literally the first Krag I ever shot, it has some additional significance beyond just being a nice rifle.
I'm already working on my next project, a '99 carbine. If anyone has an unmodified carbine stock fore end (or a good deal on a '99 carbine stock ) let me know.....
Stretch
I reattached the fore end using a wooden dowel as a "spine" and some brass all thread along with Brownell's Acro-glass Gel dyed black. I stained the butt stock and fore end to match with Fiebing's Light Brown Leather Dye and sealed that in with a thin coat of tung oil. The metal parts are in original finishes although I may refinish them in the correct types of bluing (rust, nitre, etc.) since its a hodgepodge of different colors / levels of wear.
This is the second rifle I've restored after the '96 I did several years ago which, incidentally, lead me to this group. My new '98 rifle was originally built in 1900 and I'm pretty sure the stock is original to it with a very faint cartouche that appears to be "1900" in the right light (it's almost impossible to tell). It's also got an excellent bore (better than my '96 which is really pretty good) so it should make a great shooter in CMP Vintage Bolt Action Rifle matches.
Overall I think it turned out pretty well and, since this rifle is literally the first Krag I ever shot, it has some additional significance beyond just being a nice rifle.
I'm already working on my next project, a '99 carbine. If anyone has an unmodified carbine stock fore end (or a good deal on a '99 carbine stock ) let me know.....
Stretch