Need advice on a 30-40 krag!

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 10:38 AM

I recently purchased an old colt D.A. 38 and a springfield 1898, my only problem is that when I was cleaning the guns off last night I realized it didn't have the big plated side trapdoor loading part that I've seen in a lot of pictures. I don't know much about these rifles so I'm not sure whether they made them without that or I got some kind of a reproduction fake?? Any info on this would be a huge help because it's been driving me nuts!

g.willikers · June 19, 2014, 11:17 AM

While I've never actually owned one, I have read quite a lot about them.
There were many variations, including single shots.
Most were used that way with the magazine intact and a mag cutoff/interrupter.
It wouldn't be hard to imagine that someone, who used it as a single shot, would have removed the mag entirely.
Just a guess, though.

blackhawk45 · June 19, 2014, 11:18 AM

Are you sure its a Krag ? and not an 03 Springfield ?

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 11:20 AM

Do you know of any major things to look for to know for sure that I have a real rifle and not a fake? Because it seems to be in great shape! But this has me worried that I got taken...

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 11:22 AM

The side plate say US then below that- model 1898, springfield armory 376457

Scorch · June 19, 2014, 11:39 AM

Pictures would help a lot.

kraigwy · June 19, 2014, 11:41 AM

What's the chances of seeing pictures?

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 12:02 PM

http://imgur.com/a/IAhiG

Jim Watson · June 19, 2014, 12:11 PM

Mucho sporterized.
The right side magazine box/hatch removed and the cocking knob turned down that I can see. Looks like the bolt handle has been altered and I think there is a quarter rib down the barrel.

This was not uncommon. Flush magazine conversions were done to make the rifle look trimmer as a hunting gun. Capacity was typically reduced to two or three rounds.
Yours has no magazine hatch. Does it load to the magazine from the top or is it now a single shot?

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 12:14 PM

I haven't got any ammo for it yet but it looks like it would hold a few shells from the top. I'm new to this site and didn't see it in the rules but is it ok to ask value opinions?

kilimanjaro · June 19, 2014, 12:20 PM

There were some 3,000 Danish Krags produced in single-shot, 1892-1903, in the Danish caliber, not 30-40, for Inuit hunters in Greenland and cadet target use.

Maybe some attempt to make one for US owner.

I would hang on to it until getting more information. Wish I could tell you more.

Jim Watson · June 19, 2014, 12:21 PM

You may ask a value.
You won't get much of an answer, guns like this don't change hands often enough to establish a book value.
I am sure you paid what you thought the Colt and Krag were worth.

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 12:24 PM

At first I assumed it was modified but I don't even see where the loading hatch would've been connected at? Hopefully I can find someone that can tell me for sure what I have

kilimanjaro · June 19, 2014, 12:26 PM

Jim nailed it, sportered. Unaltered Krags run $850-$1000, sporters are common and much less.

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 12:28 PM

Well I didn't pay a lot for it but was hoping it was worth somewhere close to 800, I probly have around 250$ in it

g.willikers · June 19, 2014, 04:04 PM

It's easily worth what you paid.
The best part of a Krag is the action.
So, even if the round capacity has been reduced, and the neat magazine is gone, it's still a smoooth Krag.

Ty0021 · June 19, 2014, 04:28 PM

Oh it's the smoothest action I've ever felt by far!! I was actually surprised when I first felt it and that was one of the main reasons I bought it

kilimanjaro · June 19, 2014, 05:16 PM

The Krag is known for the smoothest and fastest action of all the military bolt rifles. If you sell later, you'll get your $250 back and a bit more. You have a good deer rifle.

Won't be worth it to restore it, let someone else do that.

cjwils · June 19, 2014, 06:53 PM

This cannot be a Danish Krag because it says Springfield on the side. For lots of info about Krags, check the forum here:
http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/

At the forum for the krag collectors association, extremely knowledgeable Krag people can tell you eveything.

mete · June 19, 2014, 08:32 PM

The Krag action has one locking lug .Sometimes people would try to hot load it and end up with cracked lugs. Always have the gun checked for those cracks before use. Bullet weights of 180-220 grain would be best for deer and black bear and even moose..
Originally designed in Norway .The first ones here were made in Norway then made here with some modifications .

SaxonPig · June 20, 2014, 07:31 AM

You paid $250 and you were hoping it was worth $800? You ARE ambitious...

Somebody tried to make the rifle "sleeker" looking by removing the magazine and fitting a stock that covers the magazine port. Here's what it should look like.

June 19, 2014, 10:38 AM	#1
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	Need advice on a 30-40 krag! I recently purchased an old colt D.A. 38 and a springfield 1898, my only problem is that when I was cleaning the guns off last night I realized it didn't have the big plated side trapdoor loading part that I've seen in a lot of pictures. I don't know much about these rifles so I'm not sure whether they made them without that or I got some kind of a reproduction fake?? Any info on this would be a huge help because it's been driving me nuts!

June 19, 2014, 11:17 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	While I've never actually owned one, I have read quite a lot about them. There were many variations, including single shots. Most were used that way with the magazine intact and a mag cutoff/interrupter. It wouldn't be hard to imagine that someone, who used it as a single shot, would have removed the mag entirely. Just a guess, though. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 19, 2014, 11:39 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Pictures would help a lot. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

June 19, 2014, 11:41 AM	#7
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	What's the chances of seeing pictures? __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

June 19, 2014, 04:04 PM	#16
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It's easily worth what you paid. The best part of a Krag is the action. So, even if the round capacity has been reduced, and the neat magazine is gone, it's still a smoooth Krag. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 19, 2014, 11:18 AM	#3
blackhawk45 Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2007 Location: Millersville Pa. Posts: 114	Are you sure its a Krag ? and not an 03 Springfield ?

June 19, 2014, 11:20 AM	#4
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	Do you know of any major things to look for to know for sure that I have a real rifle and not a fake? Because it seems to be in great shape! But this has me worried that I got taken...

June 19, 2014, 11:22 AM	#5
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	The side plate say US then below that- model 1898, springfield armory 376457

June 19, 2014, 12:02 PM	#8
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	http://imgur.com/a/IAhiG

June 19, 2014, 12:11 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Mucho sporterized. The right side magazine box/hatch removed and the cocking knob turned down that I can see. Looks like the bolt handle has been altered and I think there is a quarter rib down the barrel. This was not uncommon. Flush magazine conversions were done to make the rifle look trimmer as a hunting gun. Capacity was typically reduced to two or three rounds. Yours has no magazine hatch. Does it load to the magazine from the top or is it now a single shot?

June 19, 2014, 12:14 PM	#10
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	I haven't got any ammo for it yet but it looks like it would hold a few shells from the top. I'm new to this site and didn't see it in the rules but is it ok to ask value opinions?

June 19, 2014, 12:20 PM	#11
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	There were some 3,000 Danish Krags produced in single-shot, 1892-1903, in the Danish caliber, not 30-40, for Inuit hunters in Greenland and cadet target use. Maybe some attempt to make one for US owner. I would hang on to it until getting more information. Wish I could tell you more.

June 19, 2014, 12:21 PM	#12
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	You may ask a value. You won't get much of an answer, guns like this don't change hands often enough to establish a book value. I am sure you paid what you thought the Colt and Krag were worth.

June 19, 2014, 12:24 PM	#13
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	At first I assumed it was modified but I don't even see where the loading hatch would've been connected at? Hopefully I can find someone that can tell me for sure what I have

June 19, 2014, 12:26 PM	#14
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Jim nailed it, sportered. Unaltered Krags run $850-$1000, sporters are common and much less.

June 19, 2014, 12:28 PM	#15
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	Well I didn't pay a lot for it but was hoping it was worth somewhere close to 800, I probly have around 250$ in it

June 19, 2014, 04:28 PM	#17
Ty0021 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 9	Oh it's the smoothest action I've ever felt by far!! I was actually surprised when I first felt it and that was one of the main reasons I bought it

June 19, 2014, 05:16 PM	#18
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	The Krag is known for the smoothest and fastest action of all the military bolt rifles. If you sell later, you'll get your $250 back and a bit more. You have a good deer rifle. Won't be worth it to restore it, let someone else do that.

June 19, 2014, 06:53 PM	#19
cjwils Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Location: Washington state Posts: 401	This cannot be a Danish Krag because it says Springfield on the side. For lots of info about Krags, check the forum here: http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/ At the forum for the krag collectors association, extremely knowledgeable Krag people can tell you eveything.

June 19, 2014, 08:32 PM	#20
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	The Krag action has one locking lug .Sometimes people would try to hot load it and end up with cracked lugs. Always have the gun checked for those cracks before use. Bullet weights of 180-220 grain would be best for deer and black bear and even moose.. Originally designed in Norway .The first ones here were made in Norway then made here with some modifications . __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

June 20, 2014, 07:31 AM	#21
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	You paid $250 and you were hoping it was worth $800? You ARE ambitious... Somebody tried to make the rifle "sleeker" looking by removing the magazine and fitting a stock that covers the magazine port. Here's what it should look like.

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