My 2nd Krag - May 1903 Rifle in 1900 Stock

[Hammer]

I picked up my 2nd Krag with SerNo 451574 and I hope that my Krag “collection” is now complete

Couple months back I posted about the first Krag I had bought and it had the JFC overstamp on the JSA cartouche. It’s a nice 1902 that had the 1901 rear peep site that the Marines preferred and that’s why I got it because of its potential Marine Corps connection.

While working on my first Trapdoor rifle acquisition at a LGS earlier this week I saw this Krag rifle hanging on the wall and the shop owner said he had it on consignment from an older gentleman who really could use the money if I would buy it so I gave him $795 out the door which looking online in today’s market seems to be a good price. Is bore is sharp and clean and I’ll take this one to the Range to shoot.

I really appreciate Butlersrangers and Whig advising me what to look for on this old Warhorse. I hope someone can help me figure out how to use the flip up peep hole plate on the 1902 rear site

[Hammer]

Are those inspectors stamps and numbers on the underside butt plate flap and on the boat handle?

[Hammer]

And I can barely see the circled script P behind the trigger guard.

[Hammer]

How does the flip up peep plate work? I’m afraid to push hard on it don’t wanna break or bend it.

[waterman]

It pivots right to left in an arc. The slotted screw is the axle (?) or pivot pin. You can see by the wear markings that the peep has been moved before. The circular indent in the peep face will slip into the hole bored into the rear of the main sight body. You ought not to break anything. It was made for soldiers.

[Hammer]

Thank you. I thought that may be how it went but I wanted to make sure I didn’t do something wrong the first time trying to flip it up.
Wow that’s a tiny peep hole for sighting!!!

And is the platinum line on this 1902 Krag rear site what they used for the idea of the platinum line that was initially on the early Springfield Model1903 rear sites?

[butlersrangers]

'Hammer' - You can purchase a spare 'Sgt. Peep' plate and pivot-screw, from S&S Firearms (Glendale, N.Y.) or 'Grampa's Gun Parts', for a very reasonable cost.

You can then enlarge the sight-hole, on one of your 'plates', for easier sighting.

Most KCA Members just use the 'V' notch. The swing-up 'Sgt. Peep' (plate) is very easily bumped and put in a useless position.
I just keep things simple and use the platinum-line and 'V' notch.

Your new Krag looks like a solid rifle, with a very nice bore!

[Whig]

Nice Krag at a good price.

You must be joking to think that your Krag collection is "complete". Ha! They are addicting. Ask many of us!

[Hammer]

Well I’m holding hard on my modest collection of just six rare and hard to find M1 Carbines, and just three very nice M1 Garands, and 3 rare Springfield M1903s, and four rare Finn Mosins, and one nice M1917, and a Vet bring back Type 38 Arisaka, and my new 1884 Trapdoor that was issued to a Spanish-American War unit.

So… I really hope I can hold with these two Krags but MAYBE I should try to find a Krag Carbine

[Dick Hosmer]

Or perhaps a .22 Gallery Practice rifle? Then there is the whole 1892 and 1896 arena. Short and long-stocked carbines, a "school gun"? Lions & tigers & bears, oh my!!