SRS Check on Springfield Krag Jorgensen + Mysterious Markings?

[TheHappyGunner]

Hi guys, this is my first thread that I've started as a new member. I'm aware that some of you have the resources to track serial numbers of Springfield rifles, so I'm posting the number on my Krag in hopes that it will get a hit:

Serial Number: 173147

It's an arsenal refurbishment as told by the stock. Also, on the side of the receiver forward most of the bolt (the small bit of receiver that falls flush with the magazine box), there are some markings I can't find any information on anywhere. They're half hidden by the stock (which I haven't been able to remove) so I can only see a few. The markings are stamped in no particular order in all sorts of angles. There's a 3, a V, a K, an H, and maybe even a large T? I'll post pictures later if nobody has any idea from this post.

Thanks for your time, hope to hear from you soon!

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.

[JOHN42768]

Hi, Welcome. You lucked out. 1898 rifle listed: CO C 30TH USV INF. Serial number puts it around March 1899 for DOB. Can't help on the markings. You may want to try researching the 30th USV. Have fun, John

[TheHappyGunner]

Fantastic! Thanks a lot, that's great! Now, I've been researching the 30th United States Volunteer Infantry... rather TRYING to research it. Confused as to whether the 30th United States Volunteer Infantry is the same as the 30th United States Infantry. Do you have any idea? If they're the same, this rifle was at Mindoro in the Philippines in 1901, as the 30th United States Infantry was the only division assigned to that part of the Philippines. If anyone has any knowledge about this division, please let me know! John, thanks a lot for the information you supplied on my rifle!

[TheHappyGunner]

Well, I've found some information. It's a bunch I've gathered from bits all over the web, but here's what I've found:

The 30th United States Volunteer Infantry regiment shipped out for Manila, Philippines, in late October of 1899. This is the trip my rifle would have been on, most likely. The National Archives says that the 30th United States Volunteer Infantry was raised specifically for the Philippine Insurrection in 1899, and was disbanded in 1902 after the conflict. That seems to be the extent of its history. I haven't found any information relating to company C specifically, but the National Archives has a picture of some members of the 30th USV Inf company G at a stateside fort from 1899 (I'll try and post it here). I don't know what these men did while they were in the Philippines or how long they were there, but hopefully that information will reveal itself with a little more digging.

The search continues....

[JOHN42768]

Hi, If you are looking for step by step assembly and take down, check out Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle | Rifle Articles | Forum Discussion . Make sure you remove the bar-rec straight up from the stock. Don't try to lever it. Before removing the HG, take off the rear sight and slide the HG forward. Don't try to pull the HG straight up or a good chance you will split it. Keep digging on the history, you never know. John

[TheHappyGunner]

I haven't taken my Krag apart yet, primarily because now I know that it's a real piece of history and I don't want to risk breaking anything even with sufficient instructions. I have a picture of the mysterious markings I took with a really nice camera, but the site won't let me post it because the file is "too large". If anyone knows how to fix this, please message me.

Anyways, I do have a picture I took of my Krag the day I bought it back in October. Here it is:

[A square 10]

good looking rifle , congrats , its always fun to get one with known history but not all that common ,

[TheHappyGunner]

Thanks for the compliment. I was gonna take her out coyote hunting in a few months, but now I don't think I will. We'll see. She turned in a 1", 3- shot grouping at 100 yards back in November. Anyways, I have another question. How do you identify an Italian walnut stock for these? The field replacement stock on mine has 3 wood knots on the butt-stock (if you take a hard look at the picture I posted of her, you can see one). I figure this is sorta uncommon for American walnut rifle stocks and wondered if this one was Italian. Is there any surefire way to tell?

[JOHN42768]

Matt, The Italian stocks were a light yellowish blonde color. Unless it was stained, I would say no. Just my opinion. Take a look on GunBroker under Krag. There is one listed on the first page of postings. It appears darker then mine. John

[jon_norstog]

You can buy a reprint of this article on the 30th US Volunteers:

" A reprint of Sgt. James Hilliard's rare article from The American Oldtimer magazine, printed in two parts in February and March, 1941 in Manila. 11 pages"


here: Website store - Spanish American War


Good luck!

jn