Printable View
I recently acquired a Springfield 1898 and I can't seem to find another rifle that looks like it online, so I assume it has been altered at some point in the last century. Can anyone tell me anything about it's life or at least what it was used for if it isn't original? I traded a cheap .22 rifle for it so if it's worth at least $150 I'll be happy, even happier once I get it to the range and see how it shoots.
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
Welcome to the forum, yes it's a Krag rifle that has been converted to .22. The bolt is an early type cocking piece, the stock completely changed. The rear sling hooks are civilian. I'd love to know when or by whom. .22 Krag rifles existed but not very common... Looks like this one was rebarrelled but I can't see for sure. This one's been completely changed over to sporting. There'll be more along soon.
Did he say it was in 22 caliber? The receiver is too early to be a GP ( Gallery Practice )
It is .30-40 caliber, though .22 would be kind of cool.
Guess I just read that completely wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bash
Such military arms, when heavily modified - as that one is - are not highly valued and are slooooow movers when offered for sale. Aesthetics also play a very large part, and (bite my tongue) that one lacks the grace of some other examples. That said, the smooth action, and adequate power makes for a wonderful hunting rifle. Your $150 is certainly safe, but not by a huge margin. Ammunition is a chancy thing, sometimes you can find it, sometimes you cannot - most .30-40 shooters load their own. Cases will last a long time if used in just one rifle and neck-sized only.
As Dick says, I've loaded most of the 30-40 I've shot, it's not readily available around me at all. Even dies had to be reached for a long distance. Now with brass and dies in hand I'm reluctant to part with them in case another comes along.
'Bash' - That should be a real enjoyable Krag for 'Hunting and plinking'. Such altered Krags deserve recognition for their role in keeping families fed, during the Depression Years, and selling a lot of American Hunters on the bolt action rifle.
FWIW - Your model 1898, #166968, was likely assembled around January, 1899. Your rifle's bolt has the 'headless cocking piece', which was an economy move approved in April, 1899, and discontinued in October, 1900. It actually proved to be more expensive than the more common 'Knobbed cocking piece'. The 'headless cocking piece' was used on rifles, and not just carbines, as once believed.
Your commercial receiver sight is the Redfield 102-K. This sight is very practical and required no extra holes or Gunsmith expertise to install. A loose 102-K sight sells for about $100 with its extra long side-plate mounting screw.
I like the drop of the comb on theOP's stock, it should get your eye right in line with that Redfield peep.
On some of the forums today, enthusiasts are noting Remington .30-40 ammo is available through some of the big online distributors, at about $35 a box of 20.
Thank you everyone for the replies, it's amazing to me that this rifle is almost as old as my state and is in pretty good condition all things considered. I'm going to the range tomorrow to try it out and I plan on using it to hunt whitetail this fall. There are two empty threads on top of the barrel like there was a scope at some point, is it easy enough to mount one? If it isn't I'll just use open sights.
'Bash' - The threaded holes on the barrel are likely the original holes to mount one of the many models of Krag military rear-sights. All Krag models used the same location and spacing for the rear-sight holes.
Krag rear sight screws measure .156" diameter X 30 TPI. A very unusual thread nowadays.
There is a company named "Kraghaus", that makes a 'Scout-style' mount for the Krag, using these holes.
Try www.kraghaus.com .
(p.s. I believe site is wrong on TPI for Krag sight screws).
That's a pretty decent-looking hunting rifle, though the stock has a lot of drop. Assuming the barrel is good, you got a good deal there. In any case, you don't have to worry about damaging a rare collectible relic firearm by taking it into the field.
Good luck!
jn