new Krag!

Hi all, finally found a good condition Krag for my collection. These are beautiful rifles and super pleased with this one. Un-messed with, has the sling and a bayonet. From the serial number it seems to have been produced in December of 1898 (which stinks because I just paid an FFL transfer fee to pick it up because the seller only knew/saw the 1899 cartouche date, lol). Anyway, I think it's a Type 1 sling according to Joe Poyer's "The American Krag Rifle and Carbine" book.

What's most interesting to me are the unit marks on both the butt and possibly on the brass sling claw. MNG - Minnesota Natl Guard? Mass? Montana? 46 could be a rack number, but the E? And G 33 on the brass sling claw could be G company? Not sure what the number could be. If it's a rack number though than that would make the sling not original to the rifle if the rack number is also on the butt. Anyone have any ideas?

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Originally Posted by kotkinjs1

that would make the sling not original to the rifle

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I'd doubt the sling would be able to stay with a rifle all this time... Those are VERY hard to find in any shape at all.

Very nice rifle, nice catch. I find no hit in the book for it.

The BATFE uses M1898 s/n 152669 as the last of the "antique" Krags. Yours is much higher than that and is, indeed, a 'firearm'. Here, in New Jersey, any cartridge long gun for which ammo is commercially available is a 'firearm' no matter when made. That includes all .30-40 Krags and .45-70 Springfields. :cool:

When where the claw hooks first introduced into the services the sling is crazed and old but I have reservations it is original to the rifle if your going to fire the rifle and use a sling I would remove that one and put a new one on as that may not handle the stretching of being used without parting ways.
Nice looking rifle.

Hooks go back to the Civil War at the very least. First was a single hook in the middle, made of round stock, next (1873?) came the pair but of very thin metal, next (1890?) were the claws as shown, which lasted at least into the Korean War. The sequence is correct but the dates are NOT exact. This should clarify that the sling shown absolutely COULD be contemporary to the rifle.

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Originally Posted by Dick Hosmer

COULD

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Yup...but what are the odds...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Yup...but what are the odds...

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That's why I'm trying to decipher MNG and G 33 to see if there's any connection. Taking a leap, the MNG could be Michigan Natl Guard; I found a source saying "The [Michigan] regiments organized in the spring of 1898 were designated the 31st, 32nd, 33rd, and 34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry." That would then match the 33 on the sling. The Michigan units that took part in the battles early in the campaign in Cuba were issued Springfield Trapdoors. But Michigan troops that later went to Puerto Rico & Cuba were eventually issued Krags, circa 1903.

Michigan units did not keep the arms issued to them for actions and service in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Michigan State Troops, eventually named "National Guard", had a brief period when they were issued model 1899 Remington-Lee rifles in .30-40 caliber, (approximately 1899 to 1903). These were purchased by the State of Michigan. I believe some were marked " MNG".

Around 1903, Michigan "Militia" units began using Krag rifles provided by the U.S. Government. (These would remain in use till about 1913).

There may be a 'gray era' when Michigan units retuned to their pre-Spanish War single digit numbers, but, eventually the 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, and 35th were used.

Eight great states start with the letter "M". Michigan N.G. is one possibility for your Krag, but, seven others are likely just as valid!

Anywayzzz, it's the hard sling to find now days. I never even got a sniff of one around here.

Original Slings are desirable and getting quite pricey. It is wise to use a replica model 1907 sling for shooting. The Krag sling was a 'carry strap' and not designed as a 'shooting aid'.

I've even found a British canvas Mills Sling for the SMLE and No.4 rifle to be good for both carry and shooting purposes!

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Originally Posted by butlersrangers

It is wise to use a replica

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That was the way I had to go...

The British canvas Mills sling was a better item than the U.S. version. It works!

Old leather slings tend to be valuable and brittle.

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Originally Posted by butlersrangers

The British canvas Mills sling

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I'd have even settled for a repro when I had my school gun, couldn't even get one of those here. I just made a copy of the shorter Krag sling.

Of course the school gun and the regular rifle had the same swivel spacing - I put a Mills on mine to give it a 'tropical' flavor. A side note here is that there is some disagreement as to whether the (US) Mills is actually a rifle sling at all - it MAY have been intended for other uses, or even have had multiple applications.

The mills sling I have came on a canteen.