Sporterized Krag - WTF?

[MeatMarket]

I saw a sporterized Krag in a gun shop in SC. It nearly made me cry in sadness and pity for the thing. I hate it when people ruin and erase history. Why bother, why not just buy a new hunting rifle instead of ruining a piece of history?

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[Patrick Chadwick]

It nearly made me cry in sadness and pity for the thing. I hate it when people ruin and erase history.

If the barrel has not been cut back, you could, of course, buy it and restore it to its (presumed) original configuration as far as is feasible. The forums here have many examples of excellent work of this nature.


Patrick

[kragluver]

In the 1920s and 30s the Krag had no historical value. It was just an inexpensive hunting rifle. While sporterizing one TODAY would be questionable, to blame our fore-fathers for taking a good, inexpensive rifle and turning it into a handy deer rifle that kept food on the table throughout the Depression or other hard times is short sighted. Who knew in 1920 or 1930 that the Krag (or any other milsurp rifle) would ever have value? Almost nobody.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

kragluver is correct. Even through the 60's great rifles like 1903's were considered to have little or no value. Commercial hunting rifles were very expensive so many people sporterized them. Some are almost works of art in their own rite.

My dad was in the Korean War. I remember him seeing an M1 Garand for sale cheap sometime in the sixties and he cussed it and said "who would want one of those heavy pieces of %$@#."

[mack]

Harlan and kragluver, thank you for saying what I felt.

When these rifles were sold in the 20's and 30's from the local state guard armories, they went for less that $5 in some cases. As you said the depression drove a lot of these rifles into sporter use to simply stave off starvation.

These rifles were cheap enough and that's the way they went.

I just finished restoring a Krag sporter and it turned out fine. She's back to her former glory., looking for all the world as good as the day she was issued.

I have previously done several 03 and 03A3's and I am proud of the restorations. Carry along a tape measure and check the barrel length.

[vintage hunter]

Meatmarket, this Krag you speak of, was it in a shop in downtown Aiken?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

It is interesting how the years change perspective on things. I am still sad when I see it even though sporerizing was completely rational at the time. I do wonder somtimes if there is anything currently produced that will illicit those feelings at some later date.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Unfortunately, there are very few military rifles that will ever be surplused out to civilians as those in the past since most have been full auto capabilities from the 60's onward. Another reason to take care of, and restore the ex-military rifles we are allowed to own.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Unfortunately, there are very few military rifles that will ever be surplused out to civilians as those in the past since most have been full auto capabilities from the 60's onward. Another reason to take care of, and restore the ex-military rifles we are allowed to own.

Good point. I will do my part to send "Bubba" into retirement. Along that same train of thought certainly looks like some folks are parting out a lot of Japanese 99s on E-bay. Since there was no surplus importation of Japanese rifles or rifle parts I do not see another explination other than that.

[Capt Mil Coll]

Its really hard to believe that anyone would take a nice old milsurp rifle and cut it all up. But in years past the military rifles were not appreciated. Just like the WWII Aircraft many were scrapped others sold at cheep rates. In the 50's and 60's
the WWII surplus was not appreciated like they are today. The 30-40 Krag Jorgenson was not a popular rifle when it was sold to the general public. Many were sporterized or bubbaed really. They were cheep. Not a popular round. And not a popular loading system.
After the Krags came Mausers, then Enfields then more Mausers and finally Mosins. In every case there were lots of rifles. They were cheep and people wanted to change them to hunting rifles or tack drivers or what ever.
They always want to refinish them. Or reblue them. Or cut them up.
I personally like the original finish even if its beat up. I think these old battle rifles are a piece of history and want to keep mine that way.