Strength of Krag actions

[us019255]

Warning: I can not verify this post, as Fred Telke has been dead for ~30 years. It is true to the best of my knowledge.

My father-in-law shot a Krag competitively during the '20's to 30's. He experienced a cracked bolt lug. As a tool maker he had access to all the tools, and heat treating equipment needed. He had taken some college level metallurgy classes so he took the bolt to the prof. The professor concluded that the bolt was indeed brittle, but that one made of a different alloy, and heat treated properly would be much stronger. Fred made one and used it in competition for many years.

Unfortunately, after he married in 1939 the rifle was sold as he stopped service rifle competition.

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[Oldyoti]

Warning: I can not verify this post, as Fred Telke has been dead for ~30 years. It is true to the best of my knowledge.

My father-in-law shot a Krag competitively during the '20's to 30's. He experienced a cracked bolt lug. As a tool maker he had access to all the tools, and heat treating equipment needed. He had taken some college level metallurgy classes so he took the bolt to the prof. The professor concluded that the bolt was indeed brittle, but that one made of a different alloy, and heat treated properly would be much stronger. Fred made one and used it in competition for many years.

Unfortunately, after he married in 1939 the rifle was sold as he stopped service rifle competition.

This is an interesting tid-bit you've posted. Understanding the botched metallurgy of many if not all of the US Krag actions to some degree, coupled with the brittle bolt's single forward locking lug, backed up only by a non-bearing bolt-rib safety lug, it's obvious the reason for limiting these rifles to mid pressures at most.

By contrast there is the Norwegian Krag, which to my understanding was produced with correct metallurgy and processes, then it was case hardened. Work was applied to the bolt as well making the bolt-rib a true second locking lug, bearing against the action's rear ring through careful fitting at the factory. Though not as strong as most dual forward lug actions, the "Norge" Krag is quite a bit stronger than the US Krag...

If manufactured today with modern alloys, with both lugs working to lock the action, how strong would this smoothest of bolt actions become... any thoughts?