Springfield Model 1898 30-40 Krag

Car12 · January 19, 2016, 11:34 PM

I have a Springfield Model 1898 30-40 Krag, serial # 392736 made in 1902. The rifle is about 49" long, has the original leather sling, and the wood stock is 98% pristine, maybe 99%. It has a 2,000 yd. rear sight. The front sight is original and intact. No missing parts and no modifications. My father gave it to me about 45 years ago and it has been in storage for the last 15 years, sealed in bubble wrap and cardboard carton. I shot about 30 rounds with it about 40 years ago and it was wonderful. Does anyone know the approximate value?

elmbow · January 20, 2016, 12:39 AM

Find a comparable on Gunbroker or Gunsamerica, knock twenty percent off the price and that will be close to what you will realistically get out of it.

Scorch · January 20, 2016, 01:50 AM

I know someone who paid $2000 for one last year. I don't believe it was as clean as the one you have.

kilimanjaro · January 20, 2016, 02:03 AM

I paid $900 for one 3 years ago with wood not as pretty as yours, and saw one last year in literally mint condition for $1600. Should have bought it, if they're running $2,000 elsewhere, but I wanted to eat for the next two months.

Check on Gunbroker.com for the next 3 months, get several sales to look at, and visit some gun shows. Don't take it to a gun show, you'll be pestered all day by lowballers. If you're looking for quick cash on Gunbroker, check out the SOLD listings and see what you can do.

There seems to be a spate of 1902-dated bayonets for these out there, if you can find one for less than $150-$200 in great condition, that would be a good thing to add to your package, whether you sell or not. For that price, you should get bayonet, scabbard and hanger, no issues on any of it. Just the bayonet runs around $75, maybe less.

If you do put it on Gunbroker, add about another six pictures to what you have, good lighting and dark backdrop, show the arsenal markings and cartouches, if any, and make sure every inch of the rifle is in the photo set. When folks only show one side of the rifle or omit the fore end, something like that, buyers think something is being hidden.

Dragonflydf · January 28, 2016, 10:56 PM

value is dependent on what you are planning on doing. If it is for insurance, using the highest value you can find on sites like Gunbroker, if it for sale, it is worth how long you want to wait to get the best price or how fast you want to sell it will be a lower price, but since it was from your dad, it could be priceless to you.

I love shooting my Krag, it is one of my favorite rifles and takes many trips to the range.

kraigwy · February 10, 2016, 09:23 AM

They make great rifles for 3-gun matches when paired with the M1911 and Model 97 Winchester. Need the bayonet for those close targets.

James K · February 10, 2016, 01:31 PM

For giggles:

Several years ago, some self-proclaimed gun expert found a reference in old Ordnance documents to the Model 1898. He wrote an long article in a now-extinct gun magazine "proving" that the U.S. Army secretly issued thousands of Model 1898 Mausers to American troops. This was all done in secret by Teddy Roosevelt because true-blue, red-blooded Americans would never accept American use of a foreign rifle. The "expert" had apparently never heard of the Model 1898 Krag, a foreign design.

Jim

SIGSHR · February 10, 2016, 03:11 PM

Of course photographing troops armed with M1898 Mausers was forbidden and ruthlessly enforced.

kilimanjaro · February 10, 2016, 03:50 PM

To this very day, the Army regularly sends dozens of recruits out to the firing ranges, to police up the brass shell casings, without telling them that the tradition began in 1898 when the troops had to scour the battlefields and pick up every tell-tale US-made rimless cartridge, lest the Spaniards find out the truth that the so-called Message to Garcia delivered by Frederick Funston was actually a certified check, to the Spanish traitor who sold the Mauser design drawings to the US.

The government's lies are always with us. Only here can the truth be found.

mapsjanhere · February 10, 2016, 04:43 PM

Springfield 1898 seem to go around $900 to $1200 at the local gun shows. There's one getting $1,500 on gunbroker right now but it seems to have a lot more blue left than yours.

James K · February 10, 2016, 07:26 PM

Hi, Kilimanjaro,

There was actually a silly story published to that effect involving double agents, beautiful blonde German spies, etc., to tell how we got the plans for the Mauser 98 so we could copy it and call it the Model 1903 (!). Actually, had Army Ordnance wanted to bother, full information on the Mauser was available by 1896 in a hidden location called the U.S. Patent Office. No blonde spies needed.

Jim

Tinbucket · February 10, 2016, 11:22 PM

As for policing brass, in 68 Basic Training we had to police the brass. Every casing had to be accounted for.
We were there a long time after the instruction until they found the last one.

kilimanjaro · February 10, 2016, 11:54 PM

You see, the truth is out there. Bet the Army didn't tell you about the 1898 coverup, either. Further proof of the vast conspiracy.

Denial of the conspiracy is part of the conspiracy itself, you know.

Wyosmith · February 12, 2016, 03:19 PM

Around here, a Krag in that condition will sell for about $1600-$1800 IF and only if it has a perfect bore.

If the bore is about 90% it will bring about $1300
If the bore is rough it brings about $900

James K · February 12, 2016, 03:40 PM

Hi, Tinbucket,

I don't know if they still do, but at that time and earlier, the Army salvaged range brass to make blanks. Boxes of blanks almost always had mixed headstamps.

Jim

kilimanjaro · February 12, 2016, 06:58 PM

In 1968 the Army needed to be training recruits how to live through the first two weeks of Vietnam, long enough to learn the ropes, not picking up brass shell casings.

They were still painting the rocks leading to the boss's bunker a nice white, too. Made it easy for a VC to figure out which one to run for.

James K · February 12, 2016, 10:24 PM

I wasn't in the Army that late, but AFAIK the Vietnam era basic training was eight weeks, the same as it had been for years. I was not aware that it was cut short or changed significantly in 1968.

Jim

January 20, 2016, 01:50 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I know someone who paid $2000 for one last year. I don't believe it was as clean as the one you have. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 28, 2016, 10:56 PM	#5
Dragonflydf Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2014 Posts: 217	value is dependent on what you are planning on doing. If it is for insurance, using the highest value you can find on sites like Gunbroker, if it for sale, it is worth how long you want to wait to get the best price or how fast you want to sell it will be a lower price, but since it was from your dad, it could be priceless to you. I love shooting my Krag, it is one of my favorite rifles and takes many trips to the range. __________________ Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!! https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.guns.of.history

February 10, 2016, 09:23 AM	#6
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	They make great rifles for 3-gun matches when paired with the M1911 and Model 97 Winchester. Need the bayonet for those close targets. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

February 10, 2016, 04:43 PM	#10
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Springfield 1898 seem to go around $900 to $1200 at the local gun shows. There's one getting $1,500 on gunbroker right now but it seems to have a lot more blue left than yours. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

February 10, 2016, 11:22 PM	#12
Tinbucket Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2015 Posts: 355	Springfield Model 1898 .30-40 As for policing brass, in 68 Basic Training we had to police the brass. Every casing had to be accounted for. We were there a long time after the instruction until they found the last one.

January 20, 2016, 12:39 AM	#2
elmbow Member Join Date: August 9, 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 81	Find a comparable on Gunbroker or Gunsamerica, knock twenty percent off the price and that will be close to what you will realistically get out of it.

January 20, 2016, 02:03 AM	#4
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	I paid $900 for one 3 years ago with wood not as pretty as yours, and saw one last year in literally mint condition for $1600. Should have bought it, if they're running $2,000 elsewhere, but I wanted to eat for the next two months. Check on Gunbroker.com for the next 3 months, get several sales to look at, and visit some gun shows. Don't take it to a gun show, you'll be pestered all day by lowballers. If you're looking for quick cash on Gunbroker, check out the SOLD listings and see what you can do. There seems to be a spate of 1902-dated bayonets for these out there, if you can find one for less than $150-$200 in great condition, that would be a good thing to add to your package, whether you sell or not. For that price, you should get bayonet, scabbard and hanger, no issues on any of it. Just the bayonet runs around $75, maybe less. If you do put it on Gunbroker, add about another six pictures to what you have, good lighting and dark backdrop, show the arsenal markings and cartouches, if any, and make sure every inch of the rifle is in the photo set. When folks only show one side of the rifle or omit the fore end, something like that, buyers think something is being hidden.

February 10, 2016, 01:31 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	For giggles: Several years ago, some self-proclaimed gun expert found a reference in old Ordnance documents to the Model 1898. He wrote an long article in a now-extinct gun magazine "proving" that the U.S. Army secretly issued thousands of Model 1898 Mausers to American troops. This was all done in secret by Teddy Roosevelt because true-blue, red-blooded Americans would never accept American use of a foreign rifle. The "expert" had apparently never heard of the Model 1898 Krag, a foreign design. Jim

February 10, 2016, 03:11 PM	#8
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Of course photographing troops armed with M1898 Mausers was forbidden and ruthlessly enforced.

February 10, 2016, 03:50 PM	#9
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	To this very day, the Army regularly sends dozens of recruits out to the firing ranges, to police up the brass shell casings, without telling them that the tradition began in 1898 when the troops had to scour the battlefields and pick up every tell-tale US-made rimless cartridge, lest the Spaniards find out the truth that the so-called Message to Garcia delivered by Frederick Funston was actually a certified check, to the Spanish traitor who sold the Mauser design drawings to the US. The government's lies are always with us. Only here can the truth be found.

February 10, 2016, 07:26 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Kilimanjaro, There was actually a silly story published to that effect involving double agents, beautiful blonde German spies, etc., to tell how we got the plans for the Mauser 98 so we could copy it and call it the Model 1903 (!). Actually, had Army Ordnance wanted to bother, full information on the Mauser was available by 1896 in a hidden location called the U.S. Patent Office. No blonde spies needed. Jim

February 10, 2016, 11:54 PM	#13
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	You see, the truth is out there. Bet the Army didn't tell you about the 1898 coverup, either. Further proof of the vast conspiracy. Denial of the conspiracy is part of the conspiracy itself, you know.

February 12, 2016, 03:19 PM	#14
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	Around here, a Krag in that condition will sell for about $1600-$1800 IF and only if it has a perfect bore. If the bore is about 90% it will bring about $1300 If the bore is rough it brings about $900

February 12, 2016, 03:40 PM	#15
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Tinbucket, I don't know if they still do, but at that time and earlier, the Army salvaged range brass to make blanks. Boxes of blanks almost always had mixed headstamps. Jim

February 12, 2016, 06:58 PM	#16
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	In 1968 the Army needed to be training recruits how to live through the first two weeks of Vietnam, long enough to learn the ropes, not picking up brass shell casings. They were still painting the rocks leading to the boss's bunker a nice white, too. Made it easy for a VC to figure out which one to run for.

February 12, 2016, 10:24 PM	#17
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I wasn't in the Army that late, but AFAIK the Vietnam era basic training was eight weeks, the same as it had been for years. I was not aware that it was cut short or changed significantly in 1968. Jim