My first Milsurp

[Aragorn243]

This is the first Milsurp I ever bought. I've had it for over 20 years. It was bought at a gun show if I remember correctly and other than wiping it down occasionally, I've never done anything to it. Bore is bright and shiny with no pitting and solid grooves. The stock is very clean.

I'd like to know how much of it is original and correct. It appears to have served some time in a national guard unit.





















The sling I know is not correct. I don't even believe it is military. It was manufactured by Red Head Brand with the logo in gold leaf. It also has 158T stamped into it just below the logo.

Information

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[mustanggt]

That is gorgeous!!! I thought I had a nice one. Not anymore. You take her out at all? These rifles are a cast shooters dream. I don't have enough experience to tell you specifically what is or isn't correct but I will hazard a guess that it is correct. Someone will come along to tell you for sure.

[andiarisaka]

Can't make out the serial # to see if the 1902 cartouche is correct. But it's as original as can be otherwise. You've got eight choice for which state it served in National Guard with:
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana

Not all marked their rifles, but I think Michigan was in the habit of doing so. Even if the serial # doesn't come up as produced in 1902, swapping stocks was a common thing. Many rifles are in stocks cartouched with a year other than than that of their production. That is a nice one, the wood was referred to as Italian walnut. I have a Japanese type I rifle, which was made by the Italians for Japan, and the wood is the same color.

[Aragorn243]

While I have thought about it many times, I have never fired it. I did get so far as to buy a box of ammo for it but it hasn't been to the range.

Serial number is 366095 which matches 1902 manufacture from the sources I could find. Pretty close to the middle for production that year.

I do have a bayonet with an early scabbard but no cleaning kit or appropriate sling.

[rich v]

Most definately the finest example i've ever seen and i'm a graybeard, even joe paterno would be envious of you ! Instead of 'WE ARE' it's now 'YOU ARE' in my book...

[Aragorn243]

I don't know what to say other than thanks for your comments.

I was nervous about posting photos of it although it was the one I really wanted to know about. When I first started coming here, I was interested in reading about the Krags and the Martini-Henry's because that's what I had and every Krag seemed to have miss-matched parts. I figured it was time to take the plunge and find out what I needed to get for it.

Now I better work harder to find that sling.

[Long Island]

Aragorn,
Beautiful rifle in great condition, enjoy.

Andiarisaka mentioned that it is Italian walnut. Is there a set block of serial numbers that has this Italian walnut ? I have a sporterized 98 Krag serial # 443456 with a walnut stock thats almost the color of yellow pine. Its a military stock with the original butt plate and finger groove forend. Could this also be an Italian walnut stock ?
Thanks
Bob

[DeputyBill]

That is a nice one, the wood was referred to as Italian walnut. I have a Japanese type I rifle, which was made by the Italians for Japan, and the wood is the same color.

First off, I must say I'd be proud to have such a fine-looking example of a Krag! Thank you for sharing it on this forum.

As others have pointed out, a refinishing has been done on your rifle. I would like to add that the original color (obtained by staining the walnut stock with an ox blood mordant) would most likely have been a consistent deep red, almost purple. While pictures don't usually do justice, it appears that your rifle's stock has had some color loss due to refinishing. A couple shots seem to show uneven color tone, again, the possible result of the furniture being sanded & refinished. I concur with the observation that the proof mark was (over) sanded -my guess to remove bruises in the stock wrist caused by racking the rifle in the arms roomrack.

I don't mean to come across as a critic; please accept my comments in the spirit in which they're given. I hope you've been edified
Again, very nice rifle!

[docbob]

aragorn,
that's a beautiful Krag! I had a decent one but let it get away for something else. Wish I had ol' 385570 back. They are great shooters with cast bullets. Take care of the ol' girl.
doc

[bandook]

It looks like a good one and it is probably too late in the production cycle to think that it was refurbished after issuance, like many of the older ones were. The screws look nice, slot-wise and the sight looks like the 1902 model, which would probably have been put in place originally. The Italian walnut is generally though to have been used on stocks made in 1901. They never scrimped on stock wood in those days.