What sort of handle

[Dick Hosmer]

Oilers are not scarce/rare, or expensive, at all. They show up on Ebay, Gunbroker, etc., also, many of the parts suppliers (such as S&S) listed on www.trapdoorcollector.com also handle Krag parts.

Brass muzzle covers are another matter entirely. Used (1980s) to see them all the time for $10/15 or so - now they are a $150 item - one of the most spectacular price increases of which I am aware, and it was sudden, too. The spring-steel carbine sight protector is even worse ($200) but they were always somewhat scarce so the increase was nowhere near as pronounced.

[butlersrangers]

The Krag (butt trap) oiler is about a $15 to $25 item. The rifle muzzle cover/front sight protector seems to sell for about $65 to $85 on eBay.

[psteinmayer]

I paid $20 for my oiler at an antique arms show. I paid $80 for my muzzle cover on EBay.

[Dick Hosmer]

I paid $20 for my oiler at an antique arms show. I paid $80 for my muzzle cover on EBay.

I guess the muzzle covers must have come down - I have enough for my wants/needs, so have not kept really close tabs on the market. Oilers have never been a big-buck issue.

[butlersrangers]

A word of caution. - I have only seen the reproduction 3-section rods in person. (Numrich sells them). The threads and diameter are different than originals. I have noticed that the S&S Firearms Catalog lists reproduction oilers and muzzle-covers. So, there are 'copies', (potential Fakes), Out There.

(Photos - bottom rod-set and bottom rod are reproductions in the photos. Muzzle Cap and Oiler are original).

Krag-rod.JPGKrag-rod threads.JPG

[butlersrangers]

Re: deadin's brass rod accessory.

The more I look at the picture, the more I think Form is the Clue to Function. I don't think the brass knob on the Krag rod-section was a 'handle'. I think it was used as the 'Head' on an improvised loading-rod. Maybe for a muzzle-loading rifle or shotgun (Range-Rod). IMHO.

KragRod.jpgKragRod-knob.jpg

[Dick Hosmer]

I sincerely disagree.

It makes perfect sense for use with a Krag, in that it (1) answers the length issue, and (2) would provide an immeasurably better grip for working a patch back and forth than just gripping a set of threads.

Now, what we do not know, devoid of context, is whether the owner/maker even had a Krag - he could have bought the rods as cheap "army surplus".

We'll NEVER know, but I tend toward the simpler solution, rather than thinking of all the other things that it could be if inverted, which would mean another clumsy grip, ill-suited to ramming.

Just my .02, YMMV (beginning to sound like my friend 5MF, whose book I appreciate more as time goes by)

[Fred]

I swear I've seen the exact same type of brass knob on a Krag cleaning rod section before years ago. I'm pretty sure it was at a gunshow.

[butlersrangers]

FWIW: I was just trying to think 'outside the box'. Like many once common and utilitarian surplus items, the Krag Rod could have been 're-purposed' - (Like, maybe a cleaning rod for a .45-70). I realize, we can't know for sure. However, if I wanted a 'handle' on my cleaning rod, I think I would make it a different shape, (unless there was a space requirement).