Krag Collectors Association Forum

Well my Springfield Krag quest has taken some turns along the way. Lately I am on a 30-40 binge. I am looking at some Remington Lee 1899's and looking for a really good original unmodified version. Also I was looking at a Ruger #1 30-40 on Gun Broker but the listing was somewhat strange and the purchase procedure had some quirks so I hesitated and missed out on that one. It went for more than I really wanted to spend but looking back I wish I had. I prefer the #1 over the #3. The #1 is a much more refined piece. The #3 is a little too much 10/22 looking but I had a wild hair and found a safe queen in great shape and went ahead with that one. Then I got poking around at Boyds and others to see if I could maybe change it up a little. I found a guy in Nevada that makes some beautiful stuff, expensive but beautiful. I still have to decide if I am going for the whole shebang or not. If anyone has a lead either on the Ruger #1 in 30-40 or a pristine Remington Lee let me know.

If you still on a .30-40 binge and are considering "modern", Uberti makes their "Winchester" High Wall single shot in .30-40. A real High Wall it ain't, but mine is reasonably accurate. They come with a crescent buttstock, enhances the recoil. I put a real Winchester Winder Musket buttstock on mine. Lots more fun to shoot.

I consider the model 1899 Remington-Lee an overrated and weak design. The Michigan National Guard came to regret that the state purchased 2,000 of them.
The Michigan Remington-Lee rifles had multiple small fragile parts, lacked interchangeability of parts, and featured a stock vulnerable to breakage.

Michigan State Troops were happy to be issued Government Krag rifles around 1903-04.
The Remington-Lee rifles were relegated to serve as 'Drill Rifles' for the Naval Reserves and eventually the Michigan State Police.

Being a Michigan Boy, I was driven to own a model 1899 Michigan rifle, 'just because'.

I also own one that was turned into a 'Deer Rifle'. This white elephant is fun to play with!

(P.S. - The 'Cuban Constabulary' hated their purchased .30-40 cal. Remington-Lee carbines and sent them back to Remington)!

I would love to have a strong single-shot rifle in .30-40 caliber.

Thanks. Great info. I recently started looking at the Remington only because i searched by caliber one day. Visually it isn't a bad looking piece but if it has all the problems you describe............they can keep it!!! I don't want junk. I tried to post a pic of that stock I looked at for a Ruger #3 in 30-40 but couldn't post it. If you visit TreeBone Carving's site you can see some of his stuff. There is a great pic of a #3 in Western Maple.

A while back a had a close friend that I worked with and hunted with and did gun things with. When he retired he moved to New Mexico so I rarely see him. He had a penchant for Shiloh Sharps and had several custom made. He knew I was a Krag fanatic and he had a Sharps built in 30-40 !!!! We used to joke about how that would be mine someday......He is nearing 80 now.......I may have to see if he wants to part with it.

Thoughts on the Winchester 1895 lever gun??? I have looked at those also and just can't decide. I really have a hard time looking at the new versions by other makers.....

Also there is a posting on GB for a Winchester model 70 in 30-40......I did some digging and there were either a few..... or one in known existence. It's listed at nearly 15k Wow!!! The model 70 is a great rifle but.... that is definitely out of my range.

Bill Rogers wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 2:16 am Thoughts on the Winchester 1895 lever gun??? I have looked at those also and just can't decide. I really have a hard time looking at the new versions by other makers.....

You want to get one under 19k serial number range. Those would be made in 1898. You also want to check that both feed lips are intact. You need a right to return clause so you check the carrier, carrier cam lever, carrier cradle for the letter A. Then you want to see a fired case, from the last day or so on the chance the chamber is severely eroded and ringed. Ask me how I know.

Plus guys think they can get 2800 for a 800 to 1100 gun just becauae it aays Winchester.

That is if you want an early rifle or musket.

Bill Rogers wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 3:05 am Also there is a posting on GB for a Winchester model 70 in 30-40......I did some digging and there were either a few..... or one in known existence. It's listed at nearly 15k Wow!!! The model 70 is a great rifle but.... that is definitely out of my range.

I did not look at the Winchester "Model 70" in 30-40, but the 1920s Winchester Model 54 was factory-made in .30-30 for a few years. Rechambering to .30-40 Krag was a relatively common modification of a less-than-common rifle.

OK, I went to GB and looked. Sure enough, it seems to be a Model 70 in .30-40. I didn't know they existed. How well would it work with a rimmed cartridge? Lots easier & cheaper to find a Model 54 already set up for rimmed cases.