+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: .22 Krag

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM

    .22 Krag

    Good morning:
    I recently acquired a .22 Kragicon in a rather complicated trade deal, and am wondering a bit about it. It appears to be the Gallery Rifle, and is stamped on the side with the usual US Springfield Armory Model 1898, but with the addition of a Cal .22. The serial number is 4764XX. The rifle is full wood, full length, and appears to have a full bore centrefire magazine and feed well, and also the usual bolt, but a .22 barrel. I haven't gotten out to the range with it yet, but I've chambered a spent .22 casing and it appears that the .22 chamber must be very slightly offset so that that standard centrefire firing pin in the bolt whacks the casing just inside the rim. I would think it should fire just fine. The rifle is complete except for one screw holding in the rear sling swivel assembly.

    I haven't been able to find a lot about these, but it seems they were purpose built AFTER the Krag was withdrawn from service? Was that because the reserves or militia were still armed with Krags, or was it just because there was a demand for small bore military weight rifles and there weren't enough Springfields made yet? Were there many of these made, and do many survive? Were they in a specific serial number range or just higgeldy-piggeldy? I live North of the 49th, and generally collect Rosses and Lee Enfields, but also have a reasonable collection of small bore trainers from different countries. For US stuff, I've run across the Springfield M2 of 1922, Mossbergs, etc, but never a Krag .22 before. It seems very practical and very nicely done.

    I can post some pictures if anyone is interested. If no one is interested, I might post some anyway just for the heck of it.

    Ed
    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.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    You should post some pics because we're interestd. I'd love to have one of those rifles.
    Regards, Jim

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Thread Starter

    Pictures of the rifle

    Here are photos of the rifle. I laid it out next to my regular Model 1898--the 22 is the bottom rifle in the first photo. The rifle has one cartouche on the underside of the stock, but no inspector cartouche on the left hand side as with the other Krags and Springfields I have seen. I don't collect much US military weaponry, so am not certain, but assume that the second cartouche is not there because this was not an issue item? If anyone has any questions, or wants to see any other part of the rifle, let me know. I took the photos indoors because I just had surgery on my knee and didn't want to take it outside, but I may try to get some better, daylight, photos in a few days.











































    Hope people enjoy seeing the photos.

    Ed
    Last edited by boltaction; 05-23-2012 at 12:04 AM.

  6. The Following 4 Members Say Thank You to boltaction For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Love it. What's the hole in the left side of the reciever from?
    Regards, Jim

  8. #5
    Legacy Member gsimmons's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Last On
    02-23-2024 @ 02:42 PM
    Location
    Western North Carolina
    Posts
    1,368
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:38 AM
    According to the serial number the rifle was made in 1903. They were a military issue rifle. It's hard to say why there is no cartouche with date, it may be a replacement stock done while in service. Its a very nice rifle and quite rare.



  9. #6
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    Love it. What's the hole in the left side of the reciever from?
    I have no idea. I have a couple of Danishicon Krags, a Norwegianicon, and a US M1898, and the book on the Scandinavian Krags, but no references on the US ones. Until I looked at my other M1898, I thought it might be a US Kragicon thing. There's only one hole, so it's not some dumbass drilling it for a scope. I searched the Gallery rifles on the internet, and found this reference from Cowan's Auctions, which specifically mentions a hole in the receiver, so maybe it's something to distinguish the 22 from its big brother??? I also found a reference to the rifle on the NRA Museum website saying only about 850 were made in .22, but it doesn't mention the hole

    * Springfield Model 1898 Krag Gallery Practice Rifle, - Cowan's Auctions



    I also found a reference to the rifles on a Gunboard called Culver's Shooting Page (ain't Google great?), in which one member told another that the Gallery Practice Rifles only had an undated, script cartouche stock. I don't know if that's correct or not--the fellow might be wrong, in which case I don't want to perpetuate an error....

    .22 Gallery Practice Krag

    However, there was also a story about a Gallery Rifle on the Krag Collector's Forum, which mentions that the rifle the fellow bought had no cartouche, which he attributed to sanding, so perhaps it is correct these rifles never had one--restocked when converted perhaps? The hole is still a mystery though.

    Krag Collectors Association

    Ed

    Ed

  10. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    daveM96's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Last On
    04-21-2014 @ 03:20 PM
    Posts
    8
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:38 AM
    That's a beautiful example of a Kragicon Gallery Practice Rifle! There's some excellent information on the GP rifle in both Brophy's book "The Krag Rifle" and Mallory's book "The Krag Rifle Story". The hole in the side of the receiver is where the extractor cam is located inside the receiver. This modification was necessary because of the poor performance of the regular .30 cal extractor.

    There appeared to be only 841 (Brophy) manufactured, so they are relatively rare....especially in the condition yours appears to be.

  11. #8
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    I'd still love to have one of those. I've always found the full sized rifles converted to .22 facinating and fun to shoot. So tame by comparrison.
    Regards, Jim

  12. #9
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    Agreed! The Lee-Enfield and Mauser .22 conversions are a hoot to shoot, and it's always fun unloading one out of a gun case at the small bore range, as there is invariably someone who thinks you're about to blast the .22 silhouettes with a .303.......

    My main collection has always been Lee Enfields, Rosses and Mausers, and this rifle has joined more or less by accident. If I decide to sell it, browningautorifleicon, I will let you know.

    Cheers

    Ed

  13. Thank You to boltaction For This Useful Post:


  14. #10
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    I'd love to add a Kragicon, .22 conversion and a hard to fine collector piece all at the same time. I won't think about the cost for now. It would be frightening...
    Regards, Jim

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Looking for this Krag
    By Fred G. in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-26-2010, 12:43 AM
  2. New Krag
    By Calfed in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-23-2010, 12:15 AM
  3. Krag help
    By pdh in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-20-2010, 08:55 PM
  4. krag help
    By ivanho01 in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11-27-2009, 07:29 PM
  5. Help with new krag
    By nc_leatherneck in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 06-17-2009, 05:06 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks