What should it be?

[mark1]

The parts are available. There is Gun broker and Ebay beside the other mentioned sellers.

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.

[butlersrangers]

Somewhere along this thread, it was falsely stated that only the model 1896 carbines had the saddle-ring (and bar).

This is incorrect. The 5,002 model 1898 carbines, when originally built, had a short carbine stock (almost identical to the model 1896 carbine stock) and were equipped with the saddle-ring & bar. (BTW - The bulk of these model 1898 carbines were in the 117K to 125K serial number range).

The saddle-ring disappeared with the adoption of the Krag model 1899 carbine.

Eventually when model 1896 and 1898 carbines were rebuilt, many received a longer carbine stock, that dispensed with the discontinued 'saddle-ring'.

IMHO - the OP's 'plated' Krag action and worn & overly short barrel are beyond practical redemption.

Assembling all the needed metal and wood Krag parts to make this a functioning arm, will far exceed the cost of a solid 'cut-down' Krag rifle with a good bore, that could be readily altered into a 'replica carbine'.

[oldfoneguy]

Somewhere along this thread, it was falsely stated...

IMHO

Falsely? Incorrectly, mistakenly, prehaps wrongly but certanly not Falsely. There was nothing malicious about my statement. If I was in error I'll apologize but I would never intentionally give false information.

In Your Humble Opinion? Are you kidding me? You don't have a humble bone in your keyboard cowboy fingers. It must be a great burden carrying around such pompous smugness throughout your life.

[tiriaq]

...- the OP's 'plated' Krag action and worn & overly short barrel are beyond practical redemption...

Agreed.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, the cost of parts will be beyond belief...but if one was to watch over time and gunshows you could scratch them together. I would already have glass beaded that clean and removed the barrel just as a start. If OP does rebuild, I still want to see.
Here's a company too...

https://cfnparts.com/index.php?route...egory&path=823

[tiriaq]

There is also the chance of finding a rifle with a damaged receiver. That could be the most economical way of getting the parts.

[mattgunguy]

Oh I definitely agree, absolutely not worth the cost in parts. Could definitely just buy a chopped down rifle cheaper. I'm not known for doing the smart thing.
I don't belive in putting something out to pasture just because it ain't cheap or easy or correct. I enjoy the hunt for parts & pieces. It's fun. So yeah, I'll rebuild the sucker just for the fun of it.

[butlersrangers]

Geez! I did not intend to offend or make enemies out of any forum members.

If a statement is wrong or incorrect, it can be regarded as "false", with no evil intent attached or suspected of another contributor.

I apologize, if I have offended any members of the Milsurps Forum.

My goal was to give useful information and an objective perspective to the OP, (and help him avoid a likely money pit).

The OP hopefully has a clearer vision of how he will proceed.

My motives were simple and I bear no hostility toward others involved in this thread.

[ssgross]

Matt, I did my krag the other year starting at almost the same place, just old rusted receiver (sans the plating that yours has). It cleaned up real nice. I posted here start to finish on my work, but most of the pics were lost in our great shutdown. I think after all my parts, including a NOS bolt from grandpasgunparts, new wood from prestigious in Canada that has already been mentioned, and a new criterion barrel, I think my final cost was ~$1200.

I have an extra stock from a local shop I didn't end up using because there wasn't enough meat on the forend to properly fit the lower band, and I bought an extra criterion barrel because I could, and I knew they wouldn't be making anymore. SS-firearms sells repro front sight bases you will need to hand fit and silver solder. I slow-rust blued all to perfection, even the extra barrel. A kind member on this forum mailed me his finish reamer.
For an action wrench, all you need is a very large (24" handle) crescent wrench from harbor freight, wrap the jaws in aluminum tape and position carefully.

The prestigious stock was well made. Outer profile, especially the forend, was a bit fat. Inletting was ok, although not as much material. I would have preferred more to work with. There wasn't really much I could do. The fit was good enough, but I would have liked more material to make it perfect. there was not enough wood under the tang, and I had to glue in a small piece of walnut and shape it down (can't tell it's there now). Jesse at prestigious kindly accepted my feedback, so I think the ones he is making now are likely better. I've been thinking of doing another, and would buy from him again when I do.

Word of caution when fitting up...you need to fit the lower and upper bands from the top of the stock after you balance the inletting. The bands must fit snuggly and contact the barrel, but without binding. The proper amount is so that the bands won't slide off by hand, but comes off easily with a very gently light tap of a plastic hammer. Also, the front of the new criterion barrels are slightly larger diameter than the originals, requiring the upper band to be open up slightly. Save your old barrel, tape a piece of fine sandpaper onto it at the correct spot, and use it to open up your upper band until you get a perfect fit on the new barrel...if you go that route.

I have only seen 1 original stock come up for sale in the last several years. the price was not worth it.

[mattgunguy]

Matt, I did my krag the other year starting at almost the same place, just old rusted receiver (sans the plating that yours has). It cleaned up real nice. I posted here start to finish on my work, but most of the pics were lost in our great shutdown. I think after all my parts, including a NOS bolt from grandpasgunparts, new wood from prestigious in Canada that has already been mentioned, and a new criterion barrel, I think my final cost was ~$1200.

I have an extra stock from a local shop I didn't end up using because there wasn't enough meat on the forend to properly fit the lower band, and I bought an extra criterion barrel because I could, and I knew they wouldn't be making anymore. SS-firearms sells repro front sight bases you will need to hand fit and silver solder. I slow-rust blued all to perfection, even the extra barrel. A kind member on this forum mailed me his finish reamer.
For an action wrench, all you need is a very large (24" handle) crescent wrench from harbor freight, wrap the jaws in aluminum tape and position carefully.

The prestigious stock was well made. Outer profile, especially the forend, was a bit fat. Inletting was ok, although not as much material. I would have preferred more to work with. There wasn't really much I could do. The fit was good enough, but I would have liked more material to make it perfect. there was not enough wood under the tang, and I had to glue in a small piece of walnut and shape it down (can't tell it's there now). Jesse at prestigious kindly accepted my feedback, so I think the ones he is making now are likely better. I've been thinking of doing another, and would buy from him again when I do.

Word of caution when fitting up...you need to fit the lower and upper bands from the top of the stock after you balance the inletting. The bands must fit snuggly and contact the barrel, but without binding. The proper amount is so that the bands won't slide off by hand, but comes off easily with a very gently light tap of a plastic hammer. Also, the front of the new criterion barrels are slightly larger diameter than the originals, requiring the upper band to be open up slightly. Save your old barrel, tape a piece of fine sandpaper onto it at the correct spot, and use it to open up your upper band until you get a perfect fit on the new barrel...if you go that route.

I have only seen 1 original stock come up for sale in the last several years. the price was not worth it.

Thank you for the information. It's greatly appreciated. I'm fortunate in that I've already got probably any tool that I many need. Action wrenchs, barrel blocks, files, vices, etc etc. Will probably need a new set of headspace gauges & finish reamer, but I might still have those squirrelled away.

It'll be some sometime before I get to this most likely. I've got a few other projects to wrap up before I dive into another. L4a5 Bren gun, Yugoslavian M92, wife's Sharps, Makarov (it may be truly dead), & a couple barrel jobs. But I'll be looking for parts in the meantime.

Thank you.

---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------

Geez! I did not intend to offend or make enemies out of any forum members.

If a statement is wrong or incorrect, it can be regarded as "false", with no evil intent attached or suspected of another contributor.

I apologize, if I have offended any members of the Milsurps Forum.

My goal was to give useful information and an objective perspective to the OP, (and help him avoid a likely money pit).

The OP hopefully has a clearer vision of how he will proceed.

My motives were simple and I bear no hostility toward others involved in this thread.

Didn't offend me at all. I know fixing this receiver up doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense. But I enjoy the work & it'll make the wife happy when it's done. Kids will enjoy it when we're dead & gone too. We'll, at least one of them will. Not so sure about the other two.