New to me sporterized 1898

[Kyle M.]

So I know how everybody including myself feels about sporterized rifles, but I've wanted a handy Krag-Jorgensen carbine for years. When I was 16 I traded my way into a 1898 carbine which was mostly original, the handguard had been lost and a smaller barrel band fitted, and the cutoff had been replaced with a pacific peep sight. The guy I got it from believed it to be a sporterized rifle, so did the guy I sold it to. It wasn't until several owners down the line did we discover it was a legtimate carbine.

Over the past 15 years I've passed on some nice Krag rifles and a few sporters, fast forward to last Saturday and I traded my way into what is not only one of the best looking sporterized rifles I've seen but definitely the best sporterized Krag I've come across. This appears to be a model 1898 made in 1901 based on the Serial # 329228 with a mint bore. Whoever did the work kept the original stock and handguard and did an excellent job of checkering and carving a Schnabel forend, as well as adding a pistol grip and filling in the cutout in the handguard for the rear sight. I don't think the recoil pad was necessary but it was also fitted well. They also added a Pacific peep sight that fits into the hole for the magazine cutoff, I'm not sure what the front sight is as it doesn't appear to be marked. I'm guessing the rifle was reblued and that was also done well as none of the markings appear to be heavily buffed. The barrel was shortened to 26".

I have a set of dies and 100 pieces of brass on the way from Grafs, I have several bullet molds from 150-220 grains and sizers for .309", .311", and 312". I also have about 500 .308 jacketed bullets from 150-200 grains so I should be good for awhile.

Here are a few pics.

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