Kracked Lugs?

[meterman]

There is one on display at our Legion post with a cracked bolt. 1898, rifle version.

[us019255]

"...e Krag were associated with inconsistent metallurgy couple with widely varying peak pressures associated wit..."

My father in law, who died ~30 yrs ago, was a competitive Krag shooter in the 1930's, He had a Krag bolt crack (I don't know what ammo). Being a tool maker and gunsmith he took the bolt to the University of Minnesota engineering school. A kind professor checked and his report was bad metallurgy. Using his advice my father in law then made a bolt which he used for years. I'm sure that it cost Minneapolis Honeywell Regulator Company many dollars for his time.
As a side, when he married he took a honeymoon to Alaska. Loved it and decided to get a grub stake together move there and open a machine shop for fishing boats and a gunsmith business. Unfortunately, this was 1939 and the war prevented this. He was not drafted and spent the war on an essential job toolmaking for Honeywell defense contracts so he did his part/

[kragluver]

Interesting story.

In the ordnance reports discussing the lug cracking issue they describe some rifles standing up to many thousands of 2200 fps test rounds and others that cracked or encountered excess headspace right away. Very similar problem as the early 03 s had (same processes and same steel alloy).

[madsenshooter]

Like I said on the KCA forum, I think the fit of the locking lug in the recess sometimes played a role in determining whether or not a bolt cracked with the added pressure. I know that's not the only factor, just another one of the variables.

[Ned Butts]

I know I have somewhere, came out of a sporter that was probably over loaded. Pictures when I dig it out

[sdkrag]

I've encountered a couple in 35 years of Krag trading. I think I still have one around somewhere. Bought the rifle that way so I have no idea of the history.