Krag take down tools

[Fred]

Wow, I just bought 4 Krag take down tools for 10 bucks each from a guy who was selling them as 1903 tools. Ya never know...

[Dick Hosmer]

Good for you!

[Fred]

What do these go for now? 40 bucks or a bit more?

[Dick Hosmer]

Can't help you there - have never been a big tool person, for some reason. I know there is a difference between the Krag and '03, and recall that the two are widely confused, but couldn't tell you what it is.

[butlersrangers]

The real Krag tool, sometimes called '1894 tool' and sometimes '1897 tool' seems to sell for $55 to $90. They are getting hard to find. One must be very careful because early 1903 tools could be easily 'faked'. I have seen some bogus tools on ebay. They were pretty obvious. (Here is a picture showing an 1897 Krag tool next to an early 1903 Springfield tool. The second picture, showing a tool on a white background, is a fake I spotted on ebay. It appears to be an altered 1903 Springfield tool).

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[Dick Hosmer]

So the Krag tool has the long pin and no small screwdriver? Guess I should keep my eyes open. Actually, I suppose I "need" both. :-)

[Fred]

The Krag tool has the Short pin Dick... I'll post a picture of one here...

[butlersrangers]

Fred is correct. The Krag tool has a short 'punch'. I thought my comments and captions were clear, but, I guess not (I will edit the post). Here is a picture of a real Krag tool with a carbine sight protector. (In my previous post, the tool with the long pin and no small screwdriver is a 1903 tool that is an attempt to fake it as a Krag tool. The style of the "U.S." script is also a subtle clue).

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[Fred]

And here are two photo's of a Krag tool and a 1903 Springfield tool. Notice that the small blade of the Krag tool is narrower. The Krag tool is also Blued.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Kragtool1_zpsa99a4a1d.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Kragtool1_zpsa99a4a1d.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Kragtool2_zps4a41c7ab.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Kragtool2_zps4a41c7ab.jpg.html)

[butlersrangers]

Nice pictures Fred.

Caution is needed because early 1903 tools are very similar to the Krag tool. If the 3rd small screwdriver is ground off the tool's body and the 'punch is shortened, they will really fool a person. However, there are subtle differences in the size of the "U.S." that should allow detection. (p.s. If you 'click' on my pictures, they should enlarge).


Note: Occasionally, a Springfield worker would assemble a Krag or a 1903 Springfield tool incorrectly, with the 'punch' pointing in the "wrong" direction. (These are an interesting legitimate variation).

[Fred]

It appears to me that the 1903 tool on the right in your picture with the Krag tool looks like an early one! It's got a nice blued finish and the U.S. is seriff'd. I don't think that I've ever seen one so early. Neat!

[RCS]

Here is a photo of mine. Question, was the tool kept in the butt stock ?2998229983

[m1903rifle]

If one was wearing the McKeever pouch, there was a place for it inside the pouch. I don't know where it was stored if the cartridge belt was used.