A rifle that I just bought for $800.00...

[Fred]

I wanted to share some photos of this rifle for your enjoyment or disappointment. It has the rods and oiler in the butt.
I hope you enjoy the photos.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=35999&stc=1

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36000&stc=1

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36001&stc=1

[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36020&stc=1

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36021&stc=1

[Dick Hosmer]

Very nice find - that is one of the sharpest, most crisp, bolt-handle cuts I've ever seen.

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36023&stc=1

[Fred]

For some reason, only one or two photos downloaded with maximum Pictl's. That photo should've been much sharper. I'll keep trying.

[5MadFarmers]

Sling, muzzle cover, rods and oiler included.

The stock is a replacement, not anything surprising there, in absolutely incredible shape. New more or less. Very nice rifle.

You stole it.

[Fred]

Sling, muzzle cover, rods and oiler included.

The stock is a replacement, not anything surprising there, in absolutely incredible shape. New more or less. Very nice rifle.

You stole it.

Thanks Very Much for your input.
I'll attempt to download sharper images for you to look at in better detail.

Thank you Everyone for your input!

[Fred]

I got this rifle from an old army buddy of mine. He also has two 98 Krag rifles that are 7 numbers apart and are just as nice.
Both as a pair for $2,000.00

[bruce]

For $800 you got a smoking deal! Sincerely. bruce.

[SMOKEY]

I don't know much but I know I like it. Beautiful wood and steel

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36026&stc=1

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36028&stc=1

[Dan Shapiro]

Very nice rifle!

[Fred]

I've never before seen an 1896 stock and handguard in what appears to be Italian Walnut.
The serial number places it's assembly somewhere around 11-96 to 12-96 calendar year.

[Dick Hosmer]

I believe (due to lack of the JSA cartouche, and the seemingly greater wear to metal than wood) that that is a field replacement stock, which could well have been produced during the latter time frame when SA was using the Italian wood. Still an extremely nice rifle, and well worth the money spent.

[Major Tom]

Fred, you sure do take great photos!

[sdkrag]

Beautiful 96. As nice as they come.

[Fred]

Thank you fellas for your input and approval! He's got some neat stuff still. I'll get with him around the end of July when I go back to Kansas City for the big Missouri Valley Antique Gun Show. He and some other buddies of mine will be having four or five tables there.
That's the show that the N.R.A. will be having their convention at and with this year at the same time. What a week end That will be!

One of the things that I want from him is a framed autographed photo of Theodore Roosevelt. He's got a lot of Spanish American War stuff including a 500 grain 45-70 bullet that has a 7mm Coppro/Nickel looking jacketed bullet imbedded into its side. They collided in mid flight. It came from a battlefield in Cuba. It was found and brought back with him by an old S.A. War veteran. A buddy of mine who recently passed on obtained it from the veteran back around 1940. I got it from him back in the 70's for $5.00 and sold it to my buddy the Sgt. Major for $20.00. He's the man who I just got my Krag from.
Interestingly, my old army buddy the Sgt. Major who I got the Krag from is a grand nephew or some such of General Omar Bradley.
He, my buddy George, can remember sitting on his uncle's knee as a little kid listening to the stories that man had to tell.

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36055&stc=1

[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36067&stc=1

[jon_norstog]

For $800 you got a smoking deal! Sincerely. bruce.

I agree 110% on that. That is one in a thousand. I wonder if the unit stamp on the buttplate is from state service? H co. 3rd regiment I'd guess. Be fun to find out. By the look of it this rifle never saw Cuba or the Philippines.

jn

[Fred]

That's interesting. There was a 3rd New York State Infantry made up of notable men of Society that mobilized and never went to Cuba or the Phillipines. H Company was mentioned in the article I recently read on the subject.
The unit languished in malaria and sickness in the south while they attempted to keep moving to cleaner locations for the health of the men. Maybe a horse stepped on the original stock and a field replacement was put on it by the Compny Armorer.

[Fred]

Or...maybe some commissioned or noncommissioned officer noted the stock in the armorers room and asked that it be put onto his rifle. Who knows?

[Fred]

just messing around and dug out the two stripper clips that I'd bought from the man who initially came up with the idea and development of these things. He made these two.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36069&stc=1

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36070&stc=1

[Fred]

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[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36073&stc=1

[jon_norstog]

That's interesting. There was a 3rd New York State Infantry made up of notable men of Society that mobilized and never went to Cuba or the Phillipines. H Company was mentioned in the article I recently read on the subject.
The unit languished in malaria and sickness in the south while they attempted to keep moving to cleaner locations for the health of the men. Maybe a horse stepped on the original stock and a field replacement was put on it by the Compny Armorer.

That could be a possibility. I don't know of any state units that got Krags during the conflict - some of the US volunteer regimens got them, for instance the first and third. But that rifle could have found its way to a state militia unit later on, say when the regulars were getting the 1898s or even later.

I like the idea of some soldier with pull glomming on to a nice piece of wood for his sweetie.

Jn

[kragluver]

This is one of the most beautiful, nearly perfect Krag rifles I've seen. I wonder what its back-story is?

[Fred]

Thanks kragluver. However the bore shows wear from shooting. The rifle has sure fired a lot of rounds. The stock was replaced. I think this rifle has been overseas and was used. The original stock must've been damaged in the field.
The rifle is certainly solid though.

[psteinmayer]

I just noticed the charger in the picture... looks like one of Para's originals!

Is it possible to have been in Europe in the Great War? My 1898 was in France in 1917-1918. It also has a replacement stock which shows a great deal of wear! Just curious...

[Fred]

Yea, the brass charger is the very one used by Para in his short film of loading a magazine with it. I also have his very best Copper one. However I won't be using them for reloading the rifle. I just bought them because they were neat.

I don't know of any evidence of Krags being used in combat in France during the Great War. Just for parades and such before the British Royal Family. Was this one of them? Beats me.

I don't think that the rifle was used heavily after the stock was changed. I DO think it's possible that the rifle could've been used in the Philippines with its original stock where the bore would've been worn by a lot of firing.

[psteinmayer]

Yeah, I really don't know if mine ever fired a shot over there or not... just that it was there and used with rear echelon troops. The rifling is quite sharp, and shows just average wear. It is absolutely my favorite rifle!

Yours is simply beautiful!!!

Para was kind enough to give me the pattern for the charger... and then graciously allowed me to produce them for (minimal) profit. He's someone I have a great deal of respect for!

[Fred]

Thanks. I'm glad that you enjoy the photos! The stock sure is nice isn't it.

[kragluver]

psteinmayer - I'm curious... how did you track the provenance of your Krag's use in France? Please tell the story.

[psteinmayer]

The man who carried it in France was a friend of my father's father. He returned with the rifle and upon his discharge, took said rifle home and promptly placed it in storage where it remained for approximately 50 years. This man died, and his son, a good friend of dad's did not want to keep it, and gave it to my father. I can document the man having been in France, and know that he had the Krag with him. I really wish I could back this all up with records of the Krag's issue to him, but this is where the trail goes. I realize that it's hard to actually prove the provenance beyond that... but that's the story.

[madsenshooter]

I do so like the Italian walnut! I might like one of those seldom seen yellow ones better!

[Parashooter]

To me, the stock appears to be American black walnut (juglans nigra). The handguard, however, seems to show the closed grain and distinctive yellowish hue associated with European walnut (juglans regia).

[madsenshooter]

Easy way to tell, under the barrel or in the butt trap, if it's orange there, it's Italian.

[Fred]

By golly, I do believe that the stock is American Black Walnut and that the hand guard is Italian Walnut.
I removed the butt plate and the wood is dark. I removed the rear sight and peeked at the wood inside on the side and it's orange like. Both the hand guard and stock must've been selected for color and grain.
The stock fits to the metal like bark on a tree too and the contours and edges of the butt plate are absolutely even in level and contour with the wood. Absolutely a kiss my ass perfect fit! Wow.

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36127&stc=1

[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36137&stc=1

[Fred]

Those early pre-WWI 1903's were fit the same way. Like a Swiss Watch.

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36138&stc=1

[kragluver]

Thanks - great history there.

[psteinmayer]

They sure knew a thing or two about quality manufacturing and pride of workmanship back then!!!

[Fred]

I just noticed that Parashooter's Avatar shows the exact brass magazine feeder that I bought from him long ago. It has a piece of ebony on the top, affixed with little brass nails. Really neat. The brass tabs retain a memory. The beautiful Copper feeder I also bought has tabs that are easily opened up and then are easily closed again with no stress to the metal. The tabs stay to wherever they're moved. Interesting. Both are very well made feeders.

[Fred]

Here's the Copper feeder.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36146&stc=1

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36148&stc=1

[Fred]

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