Picking up my first Krag

[Warpspasm]

Warpspasm, Mark out where the cuts will be made using a super sharp pencil or very fine sharpie. Use a fine blade to cut. Mark out the area to be relieved where the handguard goes over the receiver. Use a rotary sanding drum to slowly remove material, checking fit over and over until its right. Or you could use a small gouge to remove the material. Go slow, check often. Really it will be easy. You can make the spring clips from steel tubing or I'm sure you can find some online. Rivets are avilable at most hardware stores. When in doubt make a practice piece for like the riveting so you don't split that hand guard. Salt Flat

I've been looking online for the spring clips, but have had zero luck finding any. I wish I had a handguard that had one, so I can see what they're supposed to look like and how thick they are. I read somewhere that they don't have to be spring steel because they slide over the barrel as opposed to snapping on. I can't figure out how you can rivet them to the wood handguard without cracking it. I looked online for a video of someone doing something similar, but no luck there either. Gorilla Glue maybe??

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[browningautorifle]

I read somewhere that they don't have to be spring steel

Oh, they're springs alright.

[butlersrangers]

The 1903 Springfield butt-plate looks a lot better than the rubber butt-plate that arrived on your Krag!

FWIW - Some Mauser hand-guards, like the Model 1909 - Argentine Mauser, have steel 'spring-clips' retained by small wood screws (on the underside).

[Warpspasm]

The 1903 Springfield butt-plate looks a lot better than the rubber butt-plate that arrived on your Krag!

FWIW - Some Mauser hand-guards, like the Model 1909 - Argentine Mauser, have steel 'spring-clips' retained by small wood screws (on the underside).

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday modifying the repro 1898 handguard into a carbine handguard that will accept a 1902 rear sight. It's actually coming along better than I thought so far. I shortened the back end and used a Dremel and some cheap wood gouges to inlet the underside to fit over the receiver. LOTS of trial an error to get it to fit. And... man that walnut is hard as a rock. I still need to take out some wood where the big 1902 sight comes to rest on the top of the guard and shorten the front end and reduce it to fit under the front carbine band. I ordered the band last night. I didn't want to order it until saw if I could actually modify the handguard. At some point I need to decide what to do about those rivets, strip everything and refinish it with BLO. It's been enjoyable so far.