'03 Safety Lever - What's wrong with this picture?

[moleary]

Anybody see a problem with the lower safety lever in the photo below? I bought it today at a local show from an old guy with a motherlode of '03 parts (also found a correct smooth buttplate and grooved lower barrel band...all for next to nuthin'). I was so tickled to find one with no-serif lettering that I failed to notice there was no groove milled to mate with the firing pin.

Am I missing something here? Is it a safety for a different rifle? A fake? I can't find anything on ViShooter or in the book I have that shows the different safety lever designs...but I can tell you from experience that this one don't work when you try to assemble the bolt! Trust me...and they're hard enough to install in the first place!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

It appears to be from a Krag. At least it matches the drawings I have here...

[moleary]

It appears to be from a Krag. At least it matches the drawings I have here...

Thanks Jim...that's gotta be it after looking at your drawing. I'm not a Krag guy, but it amazes me that the design/dimensions are exact enough between the Krag and '03 that this safety lever fit and rotated perfectly in the '03 bolt sleeve. Except for the slotting, it's a twin. Looks like the Krag just has a very wide slot for this safety on its firing pin.

Another $5 history lesson!

(BTW...anybody need a Krag safety lever??)

[Cosine26]

That is probably a reversed safety used on NM1903"s in the late 20's and early 30's, Too bad you did not get the firing pin rod and sleeve.

[Calif-Steve]

Not a reversed safety. Krag? Perhaps.

[Cosine26]

You are correct. Don't know what I was thinking.

[moleary]

Verified with a little visit to surplusrifle...check the photos in the bolt disassembly thread...

Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle (2006) - U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model of 1892, 1896, and 1898 (Krag) Bolt Disassembly & Reassembly

[Kirk]

Were Krag safeties marked? Or, were some marked?

[RCS]

It is a Krag safety and worth something too, also used on rod bayonet 1903 restorations

[John Beard]

The safety lock is from a WWII Sedgley M1903 cadet rifle.

J.B.