1901 Springfield Armory Model 1898 30-40 Krag

[luvmy40]

I picked up a 1901 mfg. Model 1898 at the gun and knife show today. I've wanted a Krag-Jorgensen 30-40 for a while but hadn't found "mine" yet. This one walked up to my table at the Berea Gun Show today and introduced it's self. It's far from pristine and has been sparingly sporterized. Just the stock cut down, not the barrel and some home cooked checkering.

The serial # puts it in the 1901 mfg year and the rear sight matches that, but the top hand guard is from an earlier model. The rear sight was installed backwards as the top wood didn't allow for it to be oriented properly. As the wood had already been modified for a scope mount(not present), I had no compunctions against hogging out the extra material to allow for the proper installation of the rear sight and gluing up a split.

It shows some signs of neglect but not abuse, some slight pitting here and there but no major rust or damage. The rifling is crisp and after a thorough cleaning and Eezox treatment I thinks she's in fine shape for a 113 year old hunk of steel and wood.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/guns/IMG_2401_zpsd199bb04.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/guns/IMG_2401_zpsd199bb04.jpg.html)
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/guns/IMG_9834_zps06ebd553.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/guns/IMG_9834_zps06ebd553.jpg.html)
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/guns/IMG_8787_zps0eeb22fd.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/guns/IMG_8787_zps0eeb22fd.jpg.html)

I'll be on the look out for some original condition wood to bring this back to it's former glory. I have no idea whatsoever if that will be an easy or impossible task though.

[lifewithoutparole]

There is one in original condition at a little gun shop locally. The owner has several vintage rifles and I almost bought one of them and got to handle the Krag while I was there. The guns were priced very reasonably and I will stop in and see if he still has the Krag. It may be that you could buy one that is complete and then have a parts gun too? Just a thought. Cool gun. I should have bought the one I was looking at when there. It was a trapdoor Springfield rifle from 1889 and in great condition for its age but I figured I probably wouldn't shoot it and didn't buy it.

[Alpha-17]

I've found one in my local area. I was shocked once I realized what it was, and just had to play with it. Even being that old, the action is still slick as snot. Very, very smooth. Too bad they never worked out a good stripper clip system for it.

[luvmy40]

I've only seen a few in true original configuration and they were priced at a premium. I'll keep my eyes open for vintage wood or a parts gun but I'm not holding my breath. Most of the military arms collectors at the shows I frequent as a vendor tell me that original condition wood is scarce and expensive. Since it's not cosmetically beautiful, I'll probably go re pop on the wood someday. Even that's not cheap. The stock and hand guard will be nearly twice what I paid for the rifle. Then I need the front metal as well.

BTW, I hope to hit the range with her sometime this week. I hope she's a shooter!