Barrel source?

[snell]

I know this is an oft asked question but..... I have a beautiful, original model 1898 with a crisp 1899 cartouche, fine remaining finish and a sewer pipe for a bore. Clearly used in some association's honor guard. Has anyone stumbled across a source of original barrels anywhere? I recognize this is asking for a miracle but it breaks my heart to feel the patches snag as I punch the bore. Perhaps some small parts supplier has some come up now and then. I've checked the CMP barrel/receivers and their stuff is worse then whats on it now.
Any help would be appreciated.

Art

Information

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[John from the Cereal City]

Don't discount the barreled recievers that the CMP have, I've managed to find several that shoot very well after picking through the stack.
One barrel has a MW of 1, yet if you look at the bore, it looks heavily pitted & rough-yet I shot a 255-0x @ 100yds with it.
So it's worth trying out-you might be surprised at how it does shoot.

[hondo 1886]

John, Try Gunbroker.com Krag barrels show up from time to time.
Mike N-SSA

[Chuckindenver]

i have a nice 98 Krag barrel, it has some pitting on the muzzle, if the crown was touched up, it would look great, bore is fair.
you can contact me if you want more info, i was going to post it on the WTS forum later today.

[oakfarm]

Hey Chuck: Try S&S,I think they had some.Also,whoever sold Bill M's stuff,like most of us he must have had parts.Lee W

[Texasflyboy]

I don't know if it helps, but the last time I talked to one of the commercial barrel makers at the SHOT show they indicated that the Krag profile wasn't that difficult to make from a standard .30 blank. I recall they reckoned the cost per unit might be in the $300 to $400 range, but that it would be one fine shooting barrel once mounted.

I wonder if Krieger or one of the others might do a run on Krag barrels?

Food for thought.

[mack]

I have saved a couple of barrels (one from an original and beautiful Jungle Carbine and the other a WRA that throats at 1.5) and I used a cleaning rod and a bronze brush attached (now hang on) to a 18v battery-powered drill.

I have used a variety of cleaners and No. 9 is OK and some of the others work well too. Use the drill on a lower speed and keep pouring cleaner down the spout. Use all precautions and common sense, but this method works on old parade and ceremonial rifles. The sewer pipe is likely less corrosion than built up powder from firing blanks, so clean away and good luck.

Your rifle isn't worth a four hundred dollar barrel, but a good cleaning will likely help a good deal.

[snell]

Mack,
I appreciate the advise on cleaning as I to have used some aggresive techniques in the past myself. I'm particularly fond of elctro cleaners (I made one of my own with a wall wart and a stainless stell rod) but it won't help this old soldier. I borrowed a bore scope and checked out the barrel. There are actually sections of the rifling missing, as in rotted out, and pits in the lands that scrubbing won't help. It shoots at 200 yds OK but I really hate that scrapping feeling when I punch the bore I guess it's on to GunBroker to keep a check.
Thanks to everyone for the help.

Art

[Dan Shapiro]

Snell, I know the feeling. I've got a ceremonial M1917 barrel that pulls patches apart. The barrel is so corroded that bullets keyhole at 25 yards!