New to me Springfield Krag found at LGS

[tgoldie00]

Hello all!
I’m new to this platform but not to Milsurps or other US rifles. This was a big hole in my US rifle collection (all post Civil War beginning with a trapdoor carbine). While not a comprehensive collection it’s fun and covers the eras well - but I needed this one and have longed for one for quite some time.

So here she is! Looks like ~1900 production. Bore is excellent and crisp. I stripped her down to check under to wood line and found a little bit of rust but nothing scary. I wiped everything down, left a light coat of oil, and de-gunked where necessary but this one appears to - generally speaking - been well cared for over the past 120ish years.

The only questionable thing here to me is whether or not many parts have been refinished as I don’t have a known good copy alongside to compare. Either way it appears it will be functional. All bolt internals look great, follower is functioning as designed, etc. in addition to the metal - the stock is either a replacement (but vintage) or was sanded and refinished, removing all traces of Arsenal markings.

The cover plate for the magazine is broken off (no big mystery to solve there). The screws were in far better shape than I was anticipating.

The rear sight was pretty well frozen in-place for windage adjustment but I resolved that with a couple of light taps of a brass punch. Someone bubba’d the rear notch and affixed a lever style rear sight wing - kind of funky but that can be rectified. The upper wood Handguard is in pretty good shape. It appears some remnant of a finish is on it (a strange texture) but I am not going to mess with that as it’s stable and the clips are in great shape.

Any info experts can lend me in addition or correction to my observations above would be greatly appreciated. Now to find some ammo....

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

Looks pretty good alright, we don't see to many of those but I had one of each...rifle, school gun and carbine. Had bayonets too, this one should shoot fine after it settles in.
You say...

The cover plate for the magazine is broken off

How so? Reparable or replaceable?

[artyldr01]

I can't tell, is the barrel near the muzzle turned down about half an inch like the attached photo? If yes, good chance its an actual school rifle. If not, it is likely a "Bannerman" or "Kirk" rifle created by those legendary surplus dealers in the early 20th Century. All very nice rifles to have. There is one at a shop near me that keeps me twitching but the price is beyond what I'm willing to pay. :-(

[tgoldie00]

I can't tell, is the barrel near the muzzle turned down about half an inch like the attached photo? If yes, good chance its an actual school rifle. If not, it is likely a "Bannerman" or "Kirk" rifle created by those legendary surplus dealers in the early 20th Century. All very nice rifles to have. There is one at a shop near me that keeps me twitching but the price is beyond what I'm willing to pay. :-(https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5d3b8508-1.jpg

As far as I can tell the barrel is straight as can be!

---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:55 PM ----------

Looks pretty good alright, we don't see to many of those but I had one of each...rifle, school gun and carbine. Had bayonets too, this one should shoot fine after it settles in.
You say...
How so? Reparable or replaceable?

Sorry for wrong verbiage I was referring to the tab on the hinge pin tab (cover) is broken off - as many are.

[artyldr01]

I'm a complete dork. On second looks that is a full length rifle not a short rifle. I must have constabulary rifles on the brain! I apologize.

[tgoldie00]

I'm a complete dork. On second looks that is a full length rifle not a short rifle. I must have constabulary rifles on the brain! I apologize. https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...67e6145f-1.jpg

All good sir! It’s full length for sure. Seemingly well kept under previous ownership. No offense taken. I’m new to this platform and am soaking as much in as I can.

[browningautorifle]

I must have constabulary rifles on the brain

I hear you on that. That's the school gun I had...turned down at muzzle and took a bayonet. They were neat.

[butlersrangers]

'tgoldie00' - Congratulations on your first Krag. It appears your stock is one of the Italian walnut ones; the Italian stocks were of a lighter 'golden' tone (than American black walnut) and often have 'tiger striping' and a distinctive grain.

If there is varnish, shellac, or a 'True Oil' finish on your stock, I would recommend that it be carefully removed and the original linseed oil finish renewed. (FWIW - Sometimes, the Italian stocks were darkened with stain to better match a military unit's other rifles).

I would recommend you replace the magazine hinge-pin. The missing flat-metal plate is a spring and a cover. It protects the 'carrier/follower arm' cam and helps retain the pin in the action.
With the action out of the stock, the cover can be rotated 'open' to inspect and lubricate working surfaces.

It appears you have an original Krag sling. It is wise to take this off the rifle and store separately. Old original leather slings have become valuable, tend to be brittle and break easy. Leather requires a quality preservative/dressing. (Leather and metal storage are not good for each other).

A close/focused photo of your rear-sight and an indication of your serial number would allow further observations.

Joe Poyer's inexpensive book on the American Krag, would help increase your knowledge and understanding of your rifle.

[tgoldie00]

'tgoldie00' - Congratulations on your first Krag. It appears your stock is one of the Italian walnut ones; the Italian stocks were of a lighter 'golden' tone (than American black walnut) and often have 'tiger striping' and a distinctive grain.

If there is varnish, shellac, or a 'True Oil' finish on your stock, I would recommend that it be carefully removed and the original linseed oil finish renewed. (FWIW - Sometimes, the Italian stocks were darkened with stain to better match a military unit's other rifles).

I would recommend you replace the magazine hinge-pin. The missing flat-metal plate is a spring and a cover. It protects the 'carrier/follower arm' cam and helps retain the pin in the action. With the action out of the stock, the cover can be rotated 'open' to inspect and lubricate working surfaces.

A close/focused photo of your rear-sight and an indication of your serial number would allow further observations.

Joe Poyer's inexpensive book on the American Krag, would help increase your knowledge and understanding of your rifle.

Great info on the stock!

I had a bit of a mystery with the rear sight- but it’s solved.

The rear sight is a bubba-job stag horn rear on an otherwise 1901 pattern sight. See below:



The owner took out the slide aperture and replaced it with the above seen piece of metal - and not delicately. This person ruined the slide base by bending it. It was broken on the side and CA glue repaired (not readily visible until disassembled). My plan was to remove the slide from the ladder, remove the non-original piece - and then replace the aperture.

But- it fell apart. I knocked out the pin and as I gently started to remove the top plate the base crumbled at the bend (exposing the previous repair). At any rate it’s a loss. I have a new complete 1901 ladder assembly in the mail now to resolve that issue.






I also ordered a new hinge pin for the reasons stated - so that should get us pretty close to original condition.

I’ll get to the stock - the roughness in part of the finish feels like shellack - back to BLO it will go sooner rather than later!

I appreciate the insight. How did the Italian stocks end up on these?

Also - serial below:

[tgoldie00]

Sling mystery solved - I found very faint stamping from Rock Island Arsenal and a W.T.G. Inspection stamp (WT Goodrich as I understand it).

There is also a D stamped at the round end of the leather - I’m unsure what that one means.

I have some Pecard Antique Leather treatment in the mail to help preserve this a bit better going forward. Other than the surface cracks it’s largely still pliable and soft.