.30-40 Krag

[Carlos Cabeza]

Hey All, I was hoping someone could give me an idea about how much is a .30-40 Krag would be worth ? My Father has decided that he no longer has much use for his gun collection and has given me my choice of his rifles. I have always liked the .30-40 and it is in VG condition. Not that I would ever consider selling it, just out of curiosity. I don't know much about these rifles and am guessing it is a Swedish milsurp ?????

 

[dev_null]

• Year?
• Markings?
• Rifle or Carbine
• original, modified, sporterized?
• Condition of stock?
• Condition of bore?
• Shootability (headspace, action, etc.)?

I've seen beat up chop jobs (rifle cut off to make fake carbine) worth $100 and I've see pristine genuine carbines with authenticated history worth many times that.

You might also try http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.com/ or http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/krag/krag.pl? for info.

BTW, if it's a Krag-Jorgensen rifle or carbine, it's American made, as used in the Spanish American War, the Phillippine Insurrection, etc. It was the US' first GI bolt-action metallic smokeless cartridge rifle, IIRC.
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[telewinz]

Beware! Many Krags have cracked locking lugs, have the bolt magnafluxed to be safe. Also, quite a few rifles were converted so that they look like carbines. I had a 30/40 Krag sporter that I loved. Their is no smoother action in the world but their certainly are stronger actions. The 30/03 (pre-30/06) cartridge was developed using the Krag Action but their is not a sane gunsmith that would use it for that purpose now.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Thanks for the replies Dev and TWinz, I should have gathered some additional information before starting this thread. It is in very good condition as far as I am concerned, but I'm not an appraiser either. It is a bolt action rifle with a dark colored stock. The stock shows some wear and has not been modified from original (That I know of). It looks like a GI but which g'ment I don't know. My ol' Pops said it was Swedish milsurp. Then again he can't remember he served in 'nam or Korea either "It was one of them" he says.........But don't get him started either, he's full of those "stories"

 

[dev_null]

They certainly are one of the smoothest feeling bolt actions around. Hard to believe a gun that's over 100 years old can be that silky smooth (sounds like a commercial!) and accurate. Not to mention the loading mechanism, which, while unorthodox, is so simple it's ingenious.

But you're right, having only one locking lug is a good reason to have it looked over by a good 'smith before firing (have them check the headspace at the same time).

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[dev_null]

Carlos:

You should see a date rollmarked on the receiver. There should also be a cartouche stamped on the stock with a year and inspector's initials.

If you can get a good description (or some photos) and a s/n, I can look it up for you.

It's a Norwegian (not Swedish) *design*, but the rifles were made in the USA. It certainly wouldn't have been issued anytime since the First World War, AFAIK.

Unless it's really a Swedish Mauser? Also a nice rifle, but newer and definately a different beastie.

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(Edit: changed "Danish" to "Norwegian.")

 

[mete]

Krag was a norwegian military officer. The norwegians adopted his rifle in 6.6x55. The swedes adopted the same cartridge but the Mauser M96. Our Krag was adopted in 1892 and was replaced by the 1903. It only has one locking and threrefore should not be loaded hot . Becuse of the metallurgy of the time ( more art than science ) do not fire until bolt has been checked for cracks. The gun is designed for the 30-40 cartridge and pressures of only 40,000 psi.

 

[Tamara]

Does the action have a funny looking box sticking out of the side?

Like so: http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=39370

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Yes Tamara ! That is what it looks like only with the stock showing ALOT more wear.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Also I asked the ol' man and he said it is not a carbine length.

 

[dev_null]

Yup, that's a Krag, then. See if you can get the s/n and any markings.

Don't worry about the stock in Tam's picture, it's apparently either new or refinished.

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[Carlos Cabeza]

Thanks Dev Null, I will use the suggestions in your previous post to get the SN and other pertinent information. I am very excited that my Dad would let me have this rifle because it is the first rifle I had ever shot when I was a youngster in TX.

 

[BigG]

If it's foreign it's prolly in 6.5X 55 or 8mm Danish Krag (IIRC). The US Rifle would be marked Springfield, Mod. 1892 or 96 or 98. Sumpin like that.

 

[ButchG17]

The picture is from: http://members.aol.com/bigpopa671/krag.html

and here's another: http://home.sprynet.com/~frfrog/kragrifl.htm