+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 11 to 16 of 16

Thread: Krag Rifle Identification Help

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #11
    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
    03:03 AM
    Actually we've seen lots around here that have been done up...
    Regards, Jim

  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. #12
    Legacy Member butlersrangers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-26-2024 @ 09:38 PM
    Location
    S.E. Michigan, U.S.A.
    Posts
    737
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:03 AM

    Arrow

    'polandaj' - A clear well focused picture of your front-sight and muzzle crown area would tell a lot about your barrel's origin.

    There were almost 30 manufacturing operations or steps in the making of a U.S. Kragicon barrel.

    The 15th operation was the machining of a dovetail and the bronze brazing of a 'lug' that would eventually become the front-sight base.

    This 'lug' was a manufacturing reference point and helped position the unfinished Krag barrel for rifling, outside-contouring, rear-sight hole positioning, and barrel-thread timing.

    At first glance, a Krag front-sight base appears 'at one' with the barrel steel. On close examination, a faint bronze colored seam can be seen.
    Springfield Armory did a fine job with the Krag front sights and this discrete bronze 'outline' is often hidden by oxidation, patina, and crud.

    The original muzzle-crown contour of Krag carbine and rifle barrels is seldom duplicated on cut-down barrels.

    Krag carbine barrels are exactly 22 inches long, when measured from the muzzle to the (closed) Bolt-Face with a cleaning rod.

    There was a time when lots of spare Krag parts were available on the civilian market. Dealers and hobbyists could put together rather convincing 'parts carbines'. This may have been done just to provide a useful gun for hunting, shooting, or display.

    Of course, there have always been fakers who assembled bogus carbines for profit!

    Springfield Armory did not put 1896 rifle sights on carbines or cut down rifle barrels to make model 1896 carbines.

    Attached photos with arrows to show front-base seam.

    Attachment 111987Attachment 111988

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #13
    Legacy Member polandaj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Last On
    01-21-2021 @ 12:23 PM
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    6
    Real Name
    Andrew
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:03 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by butlersrangers View Post
    A clear well focused picture of your front-sight and muzzle crown area would tell a lot about your barrel's origin.
    Snapped some photos that hopefully help. There is a curvature to the barrel crown, making the crown it slightly recessed. I measured the barrel with the cleaning rod against the bolt face (with bolt closed as you suggested) and it's right on 22". If it's off, it's off by less than 1/32".

    There are also what look like some tool marks on the barrel under the handguard - perhaps a sign of a person that installed a new barrel but "bit" into the metal while doing so, or didn't care if they marred it up since it's covered.

    Attachment 111996Attachment 111995Attachment 111994Attachment 111993Attachment 112000Attachment 111999Attachment 111998Attachment 111997

  6. Thank You to polandaj For This Useful Post:


  7. #14
    Legacy Member butlersrangers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-26-2024 @ 09:38 PM
    Location
    S.E. Michigan, U.S.A.
    Posts
    737
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:03 AM
    'polandaj' - Your front-sight base and barrel 'crown' look good to me. I think you have an original carbine barrel.
    (The front blade appears to be a rifle blade).

    I think you are correct; someone used a pipe-wrench, to assemble a carbine barrel on a rifle receiver.

    I see a 'parts gun' that has some good carbine parts on it. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Thank You to butlersrangers For This Useful Post:


  9. #15
    Legacy Member polandaj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Last On
    01-21-2021 @ 12:23 PM
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    6
    Real Name
    Andrew
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:03 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by butlersrangers View Post
    'polandaj' - Your Kragicon, #187XX, is a U.S. model 1892, that was assembled around July or August, 1895.

    With the model 1901 rear-sight & hand-guard and 'hold-open' pin on the extractor, it likely that it was up-dated, later, to more of a model 1896 configuration.
    (It is likely your receiver was later 'notched' for the hold-open pin on your extractor. IIRC - This alteration was done to early receivers in 1897 and 1902).
    The rest of the thread made me go back and check the 1892 sporter again. The 1901 pattern rear sight has the "C" mark on the base and the leaf is graduated to 2000 yds. I'm guessing the person that commissioned the work or gunsmith that decided to modify this rifle was able to obtain a carbine sight to match the 22" barrel modification. You can also see where wood was added to fill in where the cleaning rod channel would have been exposed by the tapering down of the stock. Filled in very well.

    Attachment 112042Attachment 112043Attachment 112044Attachment 112045

  10. Thank You to polandaj For This Useful Post:


  11. #16
    Legacy Member butlersrangers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-26-2024 @ 09:38 PM
    Location
    S.E. Michigan, U.S.A.
    Posts
    737
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:03 AM
    'polandaj' - Your m-1901 sight is a 'mixmaster'.

    The leaf for the 1901 carbine sight goes to '23' (for 2,300 yards) and the 'slide' does not shift to the 'left', as you move it up the leaf.

    The m-1901 rifle leaf only goes to '20' and has the built in correction for 'bullet drift'.

    (The Kragicon carbines were not showing the same bullet deviation and drift issues as the full length rifles so there was no drift compensation built into the leaf).

    You have a 1901 carbine sight 'lower base' and a 1901 rifle 'upper base'. It doesn't really matter on your nice sporter.

    The wood patch in the 'cleaning-rod' groove of your stock was done at Springfield Armory. This was part of the updates done around 1897 and 1902 to make model 1892 Krags into a model 1896 configuration.

    Your Krags tell some interesting stories!

    Attached - 1901 rifle (bottom) and carbine (top) leaf & slides compared.

    Attachment 112055
    Last edited by butlersrangers; 11-01-2020 at 11:10 PM.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2

Similar Threads

  1. Rifle Identification
    By ClassicMark in forum Martini Henry Rifles
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 02-06-2024, 05:33 AM
  2. Rifle Identification
    By welsh13ik in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-04-2017, 12:30 AM
  3. 30/40 krag identification help
    By Foxx9914 in forum Krag Rifles
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-08-2017, 05:53 PM
  4. Rifle Identification
    By mbs4n6 in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 06-27-2015, 08:11 AM
  5. 30-40 Krag Identification
    By RCS in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-27-2011, 04:56 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