Model 1896 followed me home..........

[DRAGONFLYDF]

little to no finish left on it, but the bore is bright, stock is not cracked, no cartouches, serial 520** I picked it up for $400, Did I do good ?
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1767_stitch.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1783.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1782.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1781.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1780.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1772copy.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1771.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1770.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s97/MGUNSCH/azshooting/PICT1783.jpg

[Dick Hosmer]

Hard to answer that question, as I do not know what you were looking for. Did you get a "steal"? NO, you did not. Did you get taken? Well, that price is pretty much high retail for what you have (a . Another $100 or so and you could likely have found a full-length rifle still in military configuration. That one has been cut-down, and that REALLY hurts the demand, if not the wallet.

Sorry, NO personal animosity intended. But, I will, until my dying breath, as I have for nearly thirty years continue to say: "What should I look for?" is MUCH MUCH smarter question than "How did I do?".

[DRAGONFLYDF]

Who has the stock repair parts ? I took it to the range and it really needs the upper handguard. I also would need the bayonet mount the goes on the end of the front stock, after I find that piece.

[JBinIll]

Try http://www.ssfirearms.com for parts.They do have repro handguards and the stock repair forend for cut stocks.

The major problem with doing a restoration of a cut rifle,provided the barrel hasn't been cut,is that by the time your done you will have more in it than you could have bought an original un-cut rifle for.At one time it was a doable project,but as parts and wood become scarcer and more expensive it's almost cost prohibitive unless you're dealing with some model that is a great rarity.At a guess you're looking at a minimum of $250 using some repro parts and wood.The repro handguards are about $85,the real deal is going to be $125+.

[DRAGONFLYDF]

one advantage of doing a restoration is, I can do it a piece at a time as funds allow. The only was I was able to get this is I was able to put it on lay away. I have no plans on selling it, so the costs over the long run is not a issue. I have heard the same about restorations in the past about the costs are not worth it, but I have seen them become worth the effort. I helped restore a WWII AT-6 Texan in the 80s, We took it apart to the smallest piece and rebuilt it. We were told that we were nuts when you could buy a flying T-6 for less than what we had into it. Well, a few years later, our plane was worth more than the flyers from that time were, and we had a better plane.

[JBinIll]

one advantage of doing a restoration is, I can do it a piece at a time as funds allow. The only was I was able to get this is I was able to put it on lay away. I have no plans on selling it, so the costs over the long run is not a issue.

LOL I have done the same for the same reasons.It takes patience and some carefull shopping but it is fun to do and you learn a lot.I'm slowly accumulating parts to build a shooter with a new barrel off an unissued receiver and bolt I bought years ago.Like the song says,one piece at a time.:hello:

[Ken in Iowa]

One big advantage to your rifle is that the barrel has not been cut and has a good bore. The 1896 model is another advantage, although that also makes the correct stock harder to find. Only abot 20,000 were made during the 3 years of production, so finding one would be tough, especially with an 1896 cartouche.

When I see a cut down Krag, I see it as parts. Most often the sellers see it as a full-priced rifle. LOL!

[Mark Daiute]

Restore that rifle!

Ed Knisely has parts and he's a great guy to deal with you can get hand-guards and forends at:

http://www.partsforantiqueguns.com/

I know the argument about cost. Personally I think the well restored Krag might be worth as much as a beat up Krag in original condition. I had the satisfaction of seeing my Krag returned to it's original configuration and I don't regret it one bit, but then I didn't have a lot of cash in mine. If the bore is good then you will be doubly blessed. Then there's the satisfaction of seeing a job well done, the enjoyment found in the project and those things are worth a lot of cash.

Why block out the serial number? I've never understood the need for that....

You are already one-up on me. I failed to take before and after photos of mine.

Keep us posted and I'd like to know how it shoots.

Best,

Mark

[jon_norstog]

Dragonfly,

What I said on the other list. I think you got steered in the right direction with that krag. I think you'll be ahead of the game if the barrll is in "A" condition.

jn

[DRAGONFLYDF]

the reason for the blocking of the serial number is to prevent scum from calling the police and claiming that thier rifle was stolen and then saying they found it on the net..... kind of like ID theft.

[Dick Hosmer]

I THINK that to make that stick the scum would have to show a police report dated PRIOR to the appearance of the photo on the 'net (which I believe IS date-stamped, and thus possible to verify). Also, any reasonable PD would require a LOT more than just someone's say-so. The scumbag's story would soon fall apart. Of course, SN means ZERO to this posting - what pisses me off is the guy who says, frequently without "please" or "thank you" - "I have Krag (or whatever) #345XXX - where was it used, and who was it issued to?" (bad grammar intentional).

[DRAGONFLYDF]

If it was possiable to track it down to a unit or who it was assigned to, then I would supply what ever info is required, but since I am not asking that, I don't volunteer anything extra.
I took the action out of the stock this morning and the blueing under the barrel is in good shape, it would be nice if the rest of the rifle was that nice, but there is something to be said about the natural patina of a old rifle............
Off to the reloading bench, I had 60 rnds of 30 40 and shot it all on the first trip to the range..............

[madsenshooter]

I can recommend the handguards that Mark posted above. I can't recommend the ones from S&S. Got one that is cut very off center and will require a lot sanding. There's a fellow in Ohio that machines the forearm also, he sells on gunbroker, http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=174100400

[JBinIll]

I can recommend the handguards that Mark posted above. I can't recommend the ones from S&S. Got one that is cut very off center and will require a lot sanding. There's a fellow in Ohio that machines the forearm also, he sells on gunbroker, http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=174100400

Thanks for posting that.I've never bought wood off S&S and had no idea what the quality was.