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Hi everyone, I just picked up this Krag from 1904. The normal sights have been removed, the stock and barrel have been bobbed. I don't recognize that rear sight. Anyone have some help for me here with info. Only paid 200 and it should be a nice shooter. I would love to here the experienced tell me what was done and what if anything I could do to bring it back to original
Not just the rear sight, but what's the story on the front sight? They were just silver soldered on and that one has a sleeve like a 1903 sight.
Sorry I don't have a story, bought it from a nice young man that lives out in the desert west of phoenix. Thought it was interesting and is the first modified milsurp I have besides the Mosin I played with.
I think you should just enjoy it as is, they can be surprisingly accurate. But some guys just gotta go restoration. That'd be pretty costly. You'd need a new barrel, available from the CMP for less than $200, a new forearm to graft on, around $70, another rear sight and its screws, maybe up another $70, shop around for that, and a minor repair to the wood on the left side, easy enough to do. Oh, upper band, they sometimes bring upwards of $100 now. Also a reproduction handguard, another $70. Maybe another front sight stud and blade too. The Pacific receiver sight that is on it could bring up to $70 to help finance part of the restoration. Also rear sling swivel, and middle band with swivel, stacking swivel for the upper band you'll have to buy. So you'd have around $600 to put in it, plus your initial investment and likely never get anything like that out of it.
I didn't really mean you, there are several here that live Krags and I was hoping when they jump in to answer your other question, they'd answer mine. I've seen some school guns that had a Springfield 1903 sights tooled on and wonder if this might be a case. Thing is, it looks like a Krag sight put on a Springfield base...odd...anywayzzz, it'll make a nice shooter. Much like I'm doing with mine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailct41
Sometimes the sight studs were removed when the barrel was shortened and lots of ways were contrived to put them back on the shortened barrel. I have one front sight here that appears to have had a homemade band riveted to the original stud, another one was welded onto a homemade band. That one was an oldie, the blade is held on with pin that is more a rivet, and old 92 sight. I guess once they got fiddling with the front blade thickness and height they saw the folly in that method of attachment. I really can't see enough of the OPs sight to say what it is.
Oh, I discovered how to enlarge the photo. Looks similar to the one I have that has the band riveted to an original sight stud. After enlarging, I can see that the stock might be an 1896 stock, has a scalloped cut around the bolthandle.
That is a nifty rifle. Leave it as it is! It has a very nice dark patina stock with crisp finger grooves. These are becoming a piece of Americana and cross over into vintage sporting collectibles. I can see it hanging in an old hunting cabin in Alaska or Montana or anywhere the deer run. Salt Flat
I don't know Jack about Krags that is why I picked one up. Your posts have been helpful and I will leave it as I found it. I did however put a little bore cleaner and chucked up a 30 cal brush and removed about 75 years worth of grime. now the bore is clean although not really shiny, a little frosted. the ammo gets here tomorrow so it will be nice to try it out this weekend. Does anyone reload for this on the forum?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...05/large-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...05/large-2.jpg
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Got this example about 20 years ago. $125 at a gun shop in Bakersfield. I call it 'Edgar'.
It's a real tack-driver at 50 yards but unfortunately the head space is excessive. Sone day I'll custom-tailor some reloads with the case shoulder blown forward.
By all means, enjoy yours for what it is: poverty hunter's low-buck deer-getter.
I reload, I use a 150 gr FMJ (30 cal) of course and a lower load of IMR 4895. Standard rifle primer...trim case to length. They are milder loads and don't stress my brass, which is in short supply around me.
Sailcat,
If the barrel is good, you have a good rifle. It is what it is. My only suggestion is, if you take it into the field, loctite the thumbscrew on the peep sight. Don't aSK me how I know this.
Good luck!
jn
Your after-market sight is the Pacific K1.
Attachment 53881
sailct41: Your barrel band seems to be an 1899 Carbine band put on backwards, so friction will hold it in place. Normally, the Band's "U" mark is on the right side or bolt handle side of a Krag.